Description
Overview:
All applicants, including children and infants, must personally submit their Schengen visa application on their scheduled appointment date.
Applicants who plan to travel for business purposes, such as attending meetings, conducting business deals, recruiting, training, or other work-related activities, can apply under the Business category.
Every Business visa application must be accompanied by an invitation letter from a business or company based in Latvia. If not, the applicant will need to apply as a Tourist.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application, the applicant 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 for the UK (C type visa), they must apply for a Schengen visa from their country of residence.
– Apply for a short-stay visa under categories such as Tourist (including Minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member, or Airport Transit.
Jurisdiction:
Applicants residing in the United Kingdom fall under the jurisdiction of the Embassy of Latvia in London. Therefore, they can submit their visa applications at the Latvia Visa Application Centre in London, Manchester, or Edinburgh. These centers serve as outsourced representatives for the Embassy of Latvia in London.
Documents Required
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 and supporting documentation must be recent, not older than one month, and 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 specified otherwise.
Before gathering the necessary documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to carefully review the requirements outlined in the Overview.
Standard Documentation for Schengen Visa Application:
1. Visa application form (original) – Schengen Visa Application Form.
2. Passport (original).
3. Signed passport with at least two blank pages for visa purposes. The passport must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area and must have been issued within the last 10 years on the day of departure from the Schengen Area.
Note: Extended passports may still be valid, but if they are older than 10 years, they are no longer acceptable. In such cases, the applicant must first apply for a new passport.
- Photocopies of any previous Schengen visas endorsed in an old passport and/or issued within the last 3 years, if applicable.
Please ensure that all required documents are provided accurately and in accordance with the guidelines.
UK Residence Permit
A valid UK Residence Permit is required for travel to the Schengen Area. This permit can be endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card. It is important to note that the permit must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip. Please be aware that a C type visitor visa is not acceptable for this purpose.
Photograph Requirement
An original photograph is required for the Schengen visa application. Please refer to the Photo Requirement for more information on the specifications for the photograph.
Supporting Documentation for Schengen Visa Application
In order to support your Schengen visa application, the following documentation is required:
- Proof of Current Occupation
– Employer Letter (original): This letter should be recent, signed, and on official letterhead. It should be addressed to the Mission and include the name and position of the signee. The letter should confirm the applicant’s employment and be accompanied by the last three months’ pay slips.
– Student Letter (original): This letter should be recent, signed, and issued by a UK university, college, or school. It should be addressed to the Mission and include the name and position of the signee. The letter should confirm the applicant’s enrollment.
– Self-Employment Letter (original): This letter should be recent, signed, and on official letterhead. It should be addressed to the Mission and include the name and position of the signee. The letter should confirm the applicant’s self-employment. If applicable, the letter should be obtained from the last tax return, which should correctly show the applicant’s details such as name, address, Unique Taxpayer Reference, and National Insurance Number. If the first tax return has not yet been filed, a letter from HMRC containing the Unique Taxpayer Reference and National Insurance Number must be provided.
– Company Director: If the applicant is a company director, additional documentation is required. This includes the Directors’ service contract
Proof of Business Invitation
We require a signed invitation letter from a reputable company or business based in the Czech Republic. This letter should clearly state the purpose of your visit, along with the specified travel dates and any arrangements made for accommodation or travel, if applicable. The letterhead of the company or business should be included, and the signee’s name and position must be clearly indicated.
Ensuring the validity and authenticity of your business invitation is of utmost importance. This document serves as evidence of your intended visit and helps establish the professional nature of your trip. It is crucial to present a well-crafted and official invitation letter to support your application.
Please note that the invitation letter should be written in a professional tone and adhere to the highest standards of clarity and accuracy. Any errors or inconsistencies may lead to delays or complications in the processing of your visa application..
Proof of Funds
To support your visa application for the Schengen Area, it is necessary to provide proof of funds. This can be done by submitting your latest three months’ UK current account bank statements. These statements should clearly display your name, address, and end balance. They must be dated within the last week of the visa application submission date. The statements should show a minimum amount of £30.00 per day of stay in the Schengen Area, in addition to outstanding accommodation and travel fees. Alternatively, online bank account printouts are also accepted.
Travellers’ Cheques
In addition to the bank statements, it is required to provide travellers’ cheques that cover the same amount as explained above.
Proof of Travel
To further support your application, proof of travel must be provided. This can be in the form of airplane, train, boat, or coach tickets. If you are traveling by car, you will need to provide car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel, mentioning the car’s registration number), and your driver’s driving license. If you are not the driver, a cover letter from the driver confirming joint travel with you and the travel dates must be provided.
If your travel tickets have been paid through a travel agency, you will need to submit a receipt, invoice, or payment confirmation.
Proof of Accommodation
To demonstrate your accommodation arrangements, you must provide a confirmed reservation from a hotel, hostel, camping site, or any other type of accommodation. This reservation should clearly state your name, travel dates, and accommodation address details.
If your name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, you will need to provide a joint travel confirmation letter. This letter must be signed and dated by the person whose name is on the reservation. Additionally, a photocopy of that person’s passport/ID card and passport signature page must be provided if the signature is not on the passport’s bio page.
If the accommodation is reserved
Applicants who plan to visit multiple Schengen States are required to submit a comprehensive Travel Plan, which should clearly indicate the dates of their stay in each Schengen State, along with the corresponding addresses.
Travel Insurance: It is mandatory for applicants to possess a valid all-risk medical travel insurance registered in the UK. This insurance must cover the entire territory of the Schengen Area and be effective for the entire duration of the applicant’s intended stay. The minimum coverage for medical emergencies and repatriation should amount to 30,000 €.
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 (see example) 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.
The minimum processing time for a visa application is 2 weeks. Therefore, it is crucial for applicants to allow sufficient time between their appointment date and travel date for the Mission to process their application. Please note that delays may occur, and we cannot guarantee the exact return date of the visa application.
For certain nationalities, the visa application requires consultation from other Schengen countries, resulting in a minimum processing time of 3 weeks.
To avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is of utmost importance that the application is complete and all submitted documents meet the Mission’s requirements (refer to the Documents Required for different visa categories).
Applicants should also be aware that during peak seasons such as Easter, Summer holidays (July and September), and Christmas, appointment slots are quickly filled as the Mission can only process a limited number of visa applications per day.
Additionally, applicants need to consider the closures and holidays of Mission (refer to Public Holidays/Closures), as these may extend the processing time of the visa application.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that all applicants:
– Book their appointment as soon as their travel plans are confirmed.
– Ensure that their visa application documentation meets the Mission’s requirements.
– Allow sufficient processing time for the Mission.
Please note that the Mission may request additional information/documents or invite applicants for an interview during the visa application process, which may cause further delays. Applicants accept responsibility for any such delays in the visa process.
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.
