Schengen Visa Requirements and Application
Guidelines for the UK Residents
Although the United Kingdom is not a member of the
Schengen Area, British citizens can travel across Europe visa-free for a
maximum of 90 days. Also, from 9 June 2014, all British Overseas Territories
citizens (BOTCs), British Overseas citizens (BOCs), British Protected Persons
(BPPs), and British Subjects (BS) are allowed to travel visa free to the EU
Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days.
Who can apply for a Schengen visa in the
UK?
To apply for a Schengen visa from the UK, your UK
residence permit must be valid for at least another three more months beyond
the date you plan to leave the Schengen Area. If this condition is not
fulfilled, the Consulate where you lodge your Schengen visa application will
reject your application immediately.
Non-residents such as travellers and tourists
currently on a visa in the UK, cannot file their visa application at the Schengen
embassies in the United Kingdom. Instead, they should apply for a Schengen visa
at the appropriate Schengen embassy in their home country.
Use the Schengen visa eligibility
checker tool to find out if you qualify to apply for a Schengen visa from the UK.
If you have a 3-month UK visa you can extend it for
three more months in order to be eligible to apply for a Schengen visa from
within the UK. You must apply for an extension before your visa expires and
while you’re still in the UK. Find out more on how to extend your UK visa.
Please, note that if you are not a resident in the
United Kingdom you should apply at the Embassy/Consulate in your country of
residence.
Visa application documents and requirements for the UK
residents
All Schengen states are represented in the UK by
Consulates and Embassies and they might have specific requirements for
applicants. However, there are common requirements for each country and visa
type.
The following list of documents are required in order
to obtain a Schengen visa in the UK:
• A valid
passport or Travel document. Please make sure:
o Your
passport has been issued within the previous 10 years,
o Your
passport has 2 full blank pages, one for the visa stamp and an additional spare
page,
o Your
passport should be valid for at least three (3) months after the date you exit
the Schengen Area.
• A valid
UK residence permit or other form of Identity Card. The UK residency permit
must be endorsed in the actual passport (or on a new biometric ID card)
• One
application form filled out completely and signed by the applicant.
• One
photo, which must be glued on the application form. Applications with stapled
photographs will be rejected. The photo must also comply with the other photo
requirements and specifications
• A cover
letter explaining the purpose of the visit to the Schengen area
• Proof of
travel arrangements: Round trip
flight/travel reservations or other proof of intended transport
and complete itinerary (if several Schengen States will be visited or if the
trip covers several Schengen States and non-Schengen countries).
• Travel
Insurance stating that you are covered in case of a medical emergency and
repatriation in the Schengen Area (minimum coverage of € 30.000). The Insurance
policy can easily be purchased online from Europ Assistance or AXA Schengen.
• Hotel
reservations or proof of participation in group travel.
• A recent
statement of UK current account or travelers checks showing funds of a minimum
of £55 per person per day spent in the Schengen area. Photocopies of the
original documents also to be submitted. Documents should not be more than one
month old. Find more information about proofing financial sufficiency when
applying for a Schengen visa.
For UK employees:
• Reference
letter of employment in the United Kingdom confirming that specifies:
o Salary
o Hire
date
o Position
o Dates of
vacation
If the applicant is employed for less than 3 months,
then a letter from their employer should clearly state when they started work.
For self-employed:
• A recent
letter (less than 3 months old) that specifies:
o Professional
activity
o Starting
date
o Business
registration
o Revenues
from their solicitor or Accountant or Bank Manager or Local Chamber of Commerce
o VAT
certificate
For foreign students in UK:
• An
official recent (less than 3 months old) letter from their school, college or
university within the UK, that state:
o the type
of studies
o Details
of the course
o Attendance
record.
For retirees:
• Pension
statement of the latest 6 months
If unemployed and married to a UK citizen:
• A recent
(less than 3 months old) Confirmation of Employment letter from their spouse’s
employer that states:
o Position
held within the company
o Starting
date
• Spouse’s
valid passport
• An
officially translated marriage certificate. The translation can be in English
or the official language of the Embassy of the country where the marriage took
place or by the Legalization Bureau of the Foreign Office in UK
o If the
Marriage Certificate was issued outside the European Union, it must be stamped
by the Foreign Office of the issuing country, or its Embassy in the United
Kingdom.
