Description
All applicants, including children and infants, must personally submit their Schengen visa application on their scheduled appointment date.
For non-EU citizens who are unsure about whether they need a Schengen visa to travel to the Schengen Area, please click on the “Do I need a visa?” link to find out.
Applicants who plan to visit and stay with family or friends who legally reside in Austria must apply for a Visitor Family/Friend visa.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Possess a valid passport or travel document.
- Hold a valid UK residence permit. If the applicant holds a short-stay visa (C-type) for the UK, they must apply for a Schengen visa from their country of residence.
- Apply for a short stay visa, which includes categories such as Tourist (including minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member, or Airport Transit.
Documents Required
The following list of documents is not exhaustive, and the Mission may request additional information or documents from the applicant if necessary.
Both the standard and supporting documentation must be recent, meaning they should not be older than one month. These documents must be provided for every Schengen visa application.
Applicants are required to bring and present their original documents, but they only need to submit photocopies unless otherwise specified.
Before gathering the necessary documents listed below, applicants are advised to review the requirements outlined in the Overview section to ensure they meet the criteria for the chosen visa category.
For minors, please refer to the specific guidelines provided here.
Standard Documentation for Schengen Visa Application
- Visa application form (original) – Please refer to the provided link for the form.
- Passport (original) – The passport must be signed and have at least two blank pages for visa purposes. It should be valid for a minimum of 90 days beyond the return date of the 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.
- Photocopies of previous Schengen visas issued within the last 3 years, if applicable.
- UK Residence permit – The permit must be endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card. It should be valid for at least 30 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area. Please note that a C-type visitor visa is not acceptable.
- Original photograph: Please refer to the link provided for specifications under the photograph section.
It is important to note that if your passport has been extended, it may still be valid. However, if it is older than 10 years, it will no longer be acceptable for your visa application. In such cases, you will need to apply for a new passport before proceeding with your visa application.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
Proof of Current Occupation
To support your visa application, it is essential to provide proof of your current occupation. The required documents vary depending on your employment status. Please ensure that all letters are recent, signed, and on official letterhead. Additionally, any documents not in English or Portuguese must be translated by a certified translator in the UK.
For employed individuals, please include an employer letter. (less than 10 days old) This letter should be addressed to the Mission and include the name, position, and signature of the signee. It should confirm your employment with the company. Alongside the letter, include the original and photocopies of your last three pay slips.
Students must provide a recent letter from their UK university, college, or school. (less than 10 days old) This letter should be addressed to the Mission and confirm your enrollment.
For self-employed individuals, please provide a recent letter on official letterhead. (less than 10 days old) This letter should be addressed to the Mission and confirm your self-employment. The letter can be obtained from the following sources:
- Applicant’s accountant: If your company’s accountancy is handled by an external or independent accountant.
- Solicitor: If your company has been registered by a solicitor.
- Bank manager: If your company has a business bank account.
- Companies House: If you have received a Certificate of Incorporation upon registering your business. If your name is not mentioned on the certificate, please provide additional proof demonstrating your connection to the company.
- Tax authorities: Any relevant documentation from tax authorities.
For unemployed or retired individuals, the required documents differ depending on whether you are receiving benefits or not. If you are receiving benefits, please provide a recent original letter obtained from your local Job center or Pension Service. If you are not receiving benefits, include a cover letter explaining your financial situation.
For housewives or househusbands, if you are married, you may be sponsored by your spouse or registered partner. In this case, the following documents must be provided:
Marriage Certificate (original + copy): If this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English or Portuguese, it must be translated by a certified translator in the UK.
Spouse/Registered Partner’s Passport (original + copy)
Spouse/Registered Partner’s Proof of Occupation
Spouse/Registered Partner’s Proof of Funds
Spouse/Registered Partner’s Cover Letter (signed & dated) confirming sponsorship
Proof of Funds
Latest 3 months’ UK current account bank statements showing the applicant’s name, address, and a positive end balance dated within 1 week of the visa application submission date. The bank balance must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover expenses during the intended stay in the Schengen Area and for the return to the UK or the country of origin/residence. Alternatively, online bank account printouts are also accepted.
Proof of Travel (airplane, train, boat, coach, (hired) car)
Confirmed return travel tickets, mentioning the applicant’s name and travel dates.
When traveling by car, provide car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) mentioning the car’s registration number and driver’s driving license. If the applicant is not the driver, a driver’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming joint travel with the applicant and travel dates must also be provided.
If travel tickets have been paid through a travel agency, a receipt, invoice, or payment confirmation is also required.
Proof of Accommodation
If accommodation is provided by family/friends in Austria, the applicant’s host must provide a recent cover letter (not older than 1 month) signed, dated, and confirming both the travel period and address of stay. Additionally, a copy of the host’s passport’s bio page, host’s permit of stay in Austria (if the host is a non-EU citizen), and a copy of the Austrian registration (Meldebestätigung) must be provided.
In certain circumstances, such as when it is not possible for the applicant to provide evidence of self-financing, the host in Austria may be required to obtain an ‘Electronic Guarantee Letter’ (elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung = EVE) from the local aliens police (Bezirkshauptmannschaft, Bundespolizeidirektion, Bezirkspolizeikommisariat). This EVE will then be forwarded to the Austrian Embassy within 48 hours, and the host in Austria will receive an ID number. The visa applicant must provide this ID number along with their Schengen visa application.
Travel insurance
Additionally, it is mandatory to have travel insurance that covers all risks, including medical expenses, during the period from November to March. The travel insurance must clearly display the applicant’s name and be valid throughout the entire Schengen Area for the duration of their intended stay. The minimum coverage for medical emergencies and repatriation should be 30,000 €.
Furthermore, all travel medical insurance policies must also provide coverage for pandemic illnesses such as SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19.
Photo Specification
Please ensure that you include a recent color photograph of yourself, taken within the last six months, adhering to the following specifications:
- Background: The photograph should be taken against a plain light background, preferably white or off-white. This will ensure that your features are clearly distinguishable and stand out against the background.
- Clarity: The photograph must be of high quality, with your face in sharp focus. This will enable us to accurately verify your identity.
- Facial expression: Please maintain a non-smiling expression in the photograph. Additionally, avoid wearing sunglasses, hats, caps, or any head covering, unless it is worn due to religious beliefs or ethnic background.
- Printing: The photograph should be printed on regular photographic paper, as obtained from a camera print. This will ensure that the image is clear and of suitable quality.
- Attachment: Please securely attach (glue) the photograph to the Visa Application Form.
In the event that the submitted photographs fail to meet these requirements, the visa application will be considered incomplete. In such cases, the applicant will be requested to obtain new photographs from the photo booth available at the visa application center.
Processing Time
Applicants are advised to submit their Schengen visa application up to 6 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 3 weeks. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants allow sufficient time between their appointment date and travel date for the Mission to process their visa 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.
For certain nationalities, the visa application requires consultation from other Schengen countries, which may extend the minimum processing time to 3 weeks.
To avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is crucial that the application is complete, and that all submitted documents meet the requirements of the Mission. Please refer to the “Documents Required” section for the specific visa categories.
Applicants should also be aware that during busy 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 on a daily basis. Additionally, it is important to consider the closures and holidays of the Mission, as these may further extend the processing time of the visa application. Please refer to the “Public Holidays/Closures” section for more information.
Considering these factors, we strongly recommend the following:
- Book your appointment as soon as your travel plans are confirmed.
- Ensure that all documentation in your visa application meets the requirements of the Mission.
- Allow sufficient processing time for the Mission to review your application.
Applicants submitting their visa application in our satellite centers in Manchester or Edinburgh should allocate an additional 2-3 working days to the minimum processing time. This is because their application will first be dispatched to the London office, and then forwarded to the Mission in London the following day.
It is important to note that the Mission reserves the right to request additional information or documents, as well as invite applicants for an interview. It is important to note that these requests or interviews may potentially lead to delays in the visa process. Applicants are kindly reminded to accept responsibility for any such delays that may occur.
Free Consultation
In order to begin your visa application process, we respectfully request that you complete the enclosed sample form (available in either PDF or Word format) in its entirety. If at any point you are unsure about any of the information required, please leave it blank. Once the form is complete, please submit it to us, along with a copy of your passport and BRP card/UK residency documentation, as well as any past Schengen visas that you may have previously obtained.
Please send the required documents via email to sales@globalvisaagent.co.uk.
Upon receipt of these documents, we will arrange a free consultation call to further discuss your application and take the necessary next steps. For any additional inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us directly at +442035001580.
We place utmost importance on data privacy and protection, ensuring that all your personal information is handled, stored, and deleted in strict accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policy. You can have complete peace of mind knowing that your data is safeguarded with the highest level of security measures.
