Can you enter the UK with a Schengen Visa and How to apply for a Schengen Visa from the UK?

ILR holders who have stayed in the country for at least three months can apply for a Schengen Visa for UK residents.

If this is your case, to get your Schengen Visa from the UK, you need to submit the following documentation:

·                     A copy of your passport, which should have been issued no more than ten years before the time of your application. It should also contain at least two blank pages;

·                     Proof of your ILR status in the UK. Alternatively, you can provide a copy of your Biometric Residence Permit.

·                     Your Schengen Visa application form;

·                     A passport photograph complying with the Schengen standards;

·                     Travel insurance with a minimum cover of €30,000;

·                     A confirmed travel itinerary, including transportation and accommodation reservations;

·                     Proof of sufficient funds to cover your journey;

·                     A cover letter stating your purpose to visit Europe.

Can you enter the UK with a Schengen Visa?

Although it is an EU state member, the UK is not part of the Schengen system. Consequently, if you are a non-EU or EEA national, you cannot enter the UK with a Schengen Visa.

Since the UK has an opt-out from the Schengen policy, border officers can check people coming from the rest of the EU. In other words, not all travelers may be entitled to enter the UK. However, due to EU rules on free movement of people, the UK must admit EU citizens unless they are committing any immigration fraud.

To pass the UK border checks, non-EU nationals need a Standard Visitor Visa. You can submit your application at the British Consulate General of your home country. If you are already travelling abroad, you can still lodge your application with every British consulate in the world.

Before you apply for a national visa, it is worth checking if your home country falls under the list of countries that need a permit for the UK.

Can you get a Schengen Visa and a UK Visa at the same time?

TheSchengen Visa and UK national visas are different permits. Subsequently, you must submit two separate application to the UK embassy in your country and the consulate of your destination in the EU.

If you wish to visit the Schengen Area and the UK as part of the same trip, you can combine the two destinations. You still need to meet the requirements for both permits and have the required number of blank pages on your passport.

If you are travelling and you wish to apply for Schengen Visa in the UK, the process will differ based on your immigration status in the country.