Schengen visas
If you are a non-EU national and wish to visit a country in the Schengen area, you may need a Schengen visa.
There are 29 countries in the Schengen area:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lichtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland.
A Schengen visa will allow you to travel and stay in the Schengen area for up tp 90 days in a 180-day period. The purpose of your visit must be tourism, visitng friends and family, short-term study, or business.
Visas for visits longer than 90 days are processed separately by each country according to their own rules.
Find out if you need a Schengen visa
Certain nationalities are exempt from requiring a Schengen visa before entering the Schengen area for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
To find out if you need a visa, please check the European Commission website, where you will be able to view the list of countries whose citizens require a visa and the list of countries whose citizens are exempt from the visa requirement.
If you are exempt from a visa, you should still carry information about the purpose of your trip and supporting documents with you, in case you are asked for this at the border when entering the Schengen area. You can find more information about the types of documents you will need below.
Types of Schengen visa
Find out which type of Schengen visa you will need:
Short stay visa (C visa)
This can be valid for either a single entry or multiple entries.
Single-entry visa
The single-entry visa allows you to enter the Schengen area once for a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Multiple-entry visa
The multiple-entry visa allows several visits to the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid (up to a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period).
Airport transit visa (A visa)
The airport transit visa allows you to connect through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area during a stopover or a change of flights. It does not allow you to leave the international transit area.
Where to apply for a Schengen visa
If you are only visiting one Schengen country, you must apply to the embassy of that country.
If you are visiting more than one Schengen country, you must either apply to the embassy of the country that is your main destination (the country that you will stay in the longest), or the the embassy of the country that you will visit first.
How to apply for a Schengen visa
You must submit your Schengen visa application at least 15 days before your intended journey. The earliest you can apply is six months before the date of your trip.
Due to high demand for Schengen visa appointments, we recommend you apply at least six weeks before your planned travel date so that you have enough time to secure an appointment.
To apply for a Schengen visa, you will need to:
- Prepare your documents
- Complete a visa application form
- Book an in-person appointment to provide your biometrics and submit your application and supporting documents. Most countries will require you to book the appointment with a visa service centre to which they have outsourced the visa application process, such as the VFS Global or TLScontact, instead of with the embassy directly.
The details of the application process, including documents required, will vary depending on which country you are applying to. You must check the website of the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting to find more information.
Please use the following links to find information about how to apply for a Schengen visa to visit your destination country. The below pages will also help you to understand if a visa is required, and what documents you may need to carry with you if you are exempt from a visa.
A-D
Austria
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Belgium
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through TLScontact
Bulgaria
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Croatia
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Czech Republic
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Denmark
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
E-I
Estonia
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Finland
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
France
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through TLScontact
Germany
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through TLScontact
Greece
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through Global Visa Center World
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
L-O
Latvia
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Lithuania
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Norway
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
P-Z
Poland
Portugal
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Spain
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through BLS International
Sweden
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through VFS Global
Switzerland
- Find Schengen visa information
- Apply through TLScontact
Documents needed for your Schengen visa application
The required documents for your Schengen visa application may vary depending on which country you are applying to, so you must check the requirements of your destination country's embassy to confirm the full list of documents you'll need. The information that follows includes documents that are normally required.
A valid passport (original and photocopy)
Your passport or travel document must:
- be signed,
- contain at least 2 subsequent blank pages,
- be issued within the last 10 years,
- be valid for at least 3 months after the date of your departure from the Schengen area (some countries may require 6 months).
You will normally be required to leave your passport with the visa application centre while your application is being processed.
A completed visa application form
A recent passport-sized photograph of yourself
Find the requirements for the photograph. You can use a passport photo booth.
Proof of UK residency
You will need to provide evidence that you are a legal resident of the UK. This means you need to provide proof of your immigration status. You will need to provide a copy of your visa and/or a Share Code for your eVisa (online immigration status). Your UK immigration status must be valid for at least one month beyond your intended stay in the Schengen area.
Proof of study or employment
You can use a Registration Status Certificate as your evidence that you are a student in the UK. Find out how to request this letter on our Registration Status Certificate page.
Please request your Registration Status Certificate before you book your Schengen visa appointment.
Proof of sufficient funds for your trip
You will need to provide evidence showing that you have access to enough money to pay for your trip, including your travel, accommodation and living costs. This will usually be your UK bank statements covering the last three months.
If your trip is being sponsored by someone else, you will need to provide evidence of your relationship to your sponsor and a letter from your sponsor.
You should check the relevant embassy website for more information, as some countries will require you to show a specific minimum amount for each day of the trip.
Travel arrangements
You will normally be required to provide a written itinerary for your planned trip to the Schengen area and provide evidence of bookings or reservations for your travel and accommodation. You may also be required to provide a reservation of a return ticket to the UK or onward travel outside of the Schengen area.
It’s recommended that you do not buy any non-refundable tickets or accommodation before your visa has been approved.
Purpose of trip
You will need to provide details for the purpose of your trip. For example, an invitation letter or proof of tour/conference booking. This should include details of your accommodation arrangements.
Travel and medical insurance
Your insurance must cover your entire trip and be valid for the entire Schengen area. It must cover emergency medical expenses, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in event of death) for minimum sum of €30,000.
Costs associated with Schengen visas
The standard Schegnen visa application fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6-12. You may be required to pay an additional fee if applying through a visa application centre, so please check the relevant embassy/visa application centre website for information about any extra fees.
You should only apply for your Schengen visa and book your appointment through the embassy/consulate or their authorised visa service centre. We recommend that you avoid third party companies and agencies that advertise Schengen visa appointments online as they may charge large additional fees.
Visa processing times
The normal processing time for a Schengen visa application is 15 days. This starts from the point at which your application is transferred to the embassy following your appointment.
Your application may take longer to process during busy periods or if additional documents are required.
Further information and advice
Find more information about Schengen visas and travelling in Europe on the UKCISA website.
You can also view our Schengen visa presentation (Powerpoint) for further information.
Unfortunately, the Student Visa Advice Team does not have specialist knowledge of the immigration processes for other countries and cannot submit Schengen applications or book appointments for you.