Description
Every customer, including children and infants, must personally submit their Schengen visa application on their scheduled appointment date.
Customers who plan to visit and stay with family or friends who legally reside in Portugal must apply as Visitor Family/Friends.
Eligibility:
Customers must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:
– Possess a valid passport or travel document.
– Hold a valid UK residence permit. If the customer holds a short stay visa for the UK (C type visa), they may also apply for a Schengen visa. However, the acceptance of the Schengen visa application will be subject to analysis by the Mission, and will only be granted for essential travel purposes such as business, study, family reunification, health or humanitarian reasons, and for EU Family Members accompanying the corresponding family member.
– Apply for a short stay visa for purposes such as tourism (including minors), visiting family or friends, business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family members, or airport transit.
Documents Required
Please note that the list of documents provided below is not exhaustive, and the applicant may be asked to provide additional information or documents if requested by the Mission.
Both the standard documentation and supporting documents must be recent, meaning they should not be older than one month. These documents must be provided for every Schengen visa application.
Customers are required to bring and present their original documents, but they only need to submit photocopies unless the requirements specify that an original document must be submitted.
Before gathering the necessary documents mentioned below, customers are advised to carefully review the requirements outlined in the Overview section to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria for the chosen visa category.
- STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
- Visa application form (original)
- Passport (original) – Your passport must be signed and have at least two blank pages for visa purposes. It must also be valid for a minimum of 90 days beyond the return date of your trip to the Schengen Area. Additionally, the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years on the day of departure from the Schengen Area.
An extended passport may still be valid, but if it is older than 10 years, it is no longer acceptable. In such cases, the customer must first apply for a new passport.
If applicable, photocopies of previous Schengen visas endorsed in an old passport and issued within the last 3 years are required.
A valid UK Residence permit, either endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card, must be valid for at least one month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area. Alternatively, a C-type visitor visa is also acceptable. However, in this case, a Schengen visa application can only be accepted for Essential Travel, which includes purposes such as business, study, family reunification, health or humanitarian reasons, and EU Family Members accompanying the corresponding family member.
A recent original photograph is also required.
- SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
Proof of current occupation:
Employer letter (original): A recent (less than 1 month old), signed, and headed letter addressed to the Mission. It should include the name and position of the signee and confirm the customer’s employment. Additionally, the last 3 months’ pay slips are required.
Student letter (original): A recent (less than 1 month old), signed, and UK school/college/university letter addressed to the Mission. It should include the name and position of the signee and confirm the customer’s enrollment.
Self-employment letter (original): A recent (less than 1 month old), signed, and headed letter addressed to the Mission. It should include the name and position of the signee and confirm the customer’s self-employment. This letter should be obtained from the relevant authority, if applicable.
- Customers’ Accountant: If the applicant’s company’s accounting is handled by an external or independent accountant.
- Solicitor: If the customer’s company has been registered by a solicitor.
III. Bank Manager: If the customer’s company holds a business bank account.
- Companies House: A Certificate of Incorporation is received upon registering the business. If the customer’s name is not mentioned on the certificate, additional proof demonstrating the connection between the customer and the company should be provided.
Unemployed/Retired
Receiving Benefits: A recent original letter obtained from the local Job centre or Pension Service.
Not Receiving Benefits: A cover letter explaining the applicant’s financial situation.
Housewife/Househusband (only applicable to married couples): Customers may be sponsored by their spouse or registered partner. In these cases, the following documents need to be provided:
- Marriage certificate (original + copy): If this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English, it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.
- Spouse/Registered partner’s passport (original + copy).
- Proof of occupation of the spouse/registered partner (as mentioned in B.1.a, b, or c).
- Proof of funds of the spouse/registered partner.
- Cover letter from the spouse/registered partner (signed and dated) confirming sponsorship.
Proof of Funds
- Provide the most recent three months’ UK current account bank statements, clearly displaying the customer’s name, address, and an end balance dated within the last month of the visa application submission date. The balance should reflect a minimum amount of £50.00 per day of stay in the Schengen Area, in addition to outstanding accommodation and travel fees. Alternatively, online bank account printouts are also acceptable.
- Include travelers’ cheques that cover the same amount as explained in section
Proof of Travel (Airplane, Train, Boat, Coach, (Hired) Car)
- Present confirmed return travel tickets that mention the customer’s name and travel dates to and from the Schengen Area.
- If traveling by car, provide car registration, car insurance, and return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) that mention the car’s registration number and the driver’s driving license. If the customer is not the driver, a signed and dated cover letter from the driver confirming joint travel with the customer and travel dates must also be provided. In cases where travel tickets have been paid through a travel agency, a receipt, invoice, or payment confirmation is also required.
Proof of Accommodation
In terms of responsibility, if the declaration is authenticated by a public notary (In English), no further documents are required. However, if the declaration is not authenticated, a copy of the host’s passport’s bio page, the host’s permit of stay in Luxembourg (if the host is a non-EU citizen), and the host’s proof of address in Luxembourg should be provided as a complement to the declaration.
Travel Insurance (Comprehensive Medical Travel Insurance)
The travel insurance, which must clearly display the customer’s name, should be valid across the entire territory of the Schengen Area and cover the entire duration of the applicant’s intended stay within this area. It is essential that the insurance policy provides a minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical emergencies and repatriation (including the necessary clauses).
Photo Specification
Please submit one current color portrait of yourself that is no older than six months that satisfies the conditions listed below:
- Captured on a light background (white or off-white) to make features stand out and contrast with the background.
- Face-focused and of high clarity
- Full face: no grinning, no sunglasses, no hats or other head coverings, unless the applicant is wearing them due to his or her ethnicity or religion.
- Printed from a camera print on standard photographic paper.
- The photo that is adhered to the visa application form
The visa application will be deemed incomplete if the submitted photos don’t fulfill these specifications (see examples here), and the applicant will be asked to take fresh pictures in the photo booth at the visa application center.
Processing Time
Customers are advised to submit their Schengen visa applications up to six months prior to their intended travel date to the Schengen Area. It is important to note that the minimum processing time for a visa application is two weeks. Therefore, it is highly recommended that customers allow sufficient time between their appointment date and travel date for the Mission to process their application. However, it is important to understand that delays may occur, and no guarantees can be given regarding the return date of the visa application.
The visa application requires consultation from other Schengen countries, resulting in a minimum processing time of more than three weeks. To avoid any delays in the visa application process, the application must be complete, and all submitted documents meet the requirements set by the Mission.
Customers should also be aware that during peak seasons such as Easter, summer holidays (July and August), and Christmas, appointment slots are quickly filled as the Mission can only process a limited number of visa applications each day. Additionally, it is important to consider that Mission closures and holidays may further extend the processing time of visa applications.
Therefore, strongly recommends the following to all customers:
– Book your appointment as soon as you are aware of your travel plans.
– Ensure that all documentation in your visa application meets the requirements set by the Mission.
– Allow sufficient processing time for the Mission, taking into account potential delays and peak seasons.
Customers who submit their visa applications at our satellite center in Edinburgh should take into account an additional two days to the minimum processing time. This is because their visa application will initially be sent to the Manchester office before being forwarded to the Mission in Manchester the following day.
During the visa application process, the Mission may occasionally require additional information or documents, or even invite customers for an interview. It is important to note that these requests may result in delays in the visa process. However, it is the responsibility of the customers to accept and understand these potential delays.
We kindly advise customers to factor in these possible delays and plan accordingly when submitting their visa applications. Our team is committed to providing efficient and timely service, but it is essential to consider the various stages involved in the process. Rest assured, we strive to minimize any inconvenience caused and ensure a smooth visa application experience for our valued customer.
Free Consultation
To proceed with your visa application, please fill out the attached sample form (PDF, Word) completely. If you are unsure about any information, leave it blank. Once you have completed the form, please return it to us along with your passport, BRP card/UK residency, and copies of any previous Schengen visas that you have held.
Please forward the documents through email: sales@globalvisaagent.co.uk
A consultation call will be scheduled after we have received this information to further discuss the application.
OR
After sending the documents you can call us at +442035001580.
We strictly follow the GDPR Policy, your documents will be handled/saved & deleted accordingly.
