Description
Overview:
Every applicant, including children and infants, must personally submit their Schengen visa application on their scheduled appointment date.
It is important to note that family members of Latvian nationals cannot apply under the EU family member category. They must apply under the normal visa category and pay the full visa fees.
However, family members of EEA/EU and Swiss nationals are entitled to apply for a Schengen visa as a family member of an EEA/EU or Swiss national. This means they need to submit fewer documents and are exempt from paying the applicable visa fee, as long as they are traveling together with their EEA/EU or Swiss national family member. This includes spouses, parents, children, and registered partners.
If an applicant is traveling without their EEA/EU or Swiss national family member, they cannot apply as a family member and must apply as a tourist. This means providing all the required documents and paying the applicable visa fee.
To be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a valid passport or travel document.
2. 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.
3. Apply for a short stay visa for purposes such as tourism, visiting family or friends, business, being a family member of an EEA/EU or Swiss national, or airport transit.
We kindly request all applicants to adhere to these guidelines and requirements when applying for a Schengen visa.
Jurisdiction:
Applicants residing in the United Kingdom fall under the jurisdiction of the Embassy of Latvia in London. Consequently, they have the option to 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, ensuring a streamlined and efficient visa application process for UK residents.
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. Please click here for information regarding minors.
Please note that family members of Latvian nationals cannot apply under the EU family member category. They must apply under the normal visa category and pay the full visa fees.
Standard Documentation for Schengen Visa Application
- Visa application form (original)
2. Passport (original) – The passport must be signed and have at least two blank pages for visa purposes. It 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. If the passport is older than 10 years, it is no longer acceptable, and the applicant must first apply for a new passport.
3. Photocopies of previous Schengen visas issued in the last 3 years – If the previous Schengen visas are endorsed in an old passport, the old passport must also be submitted with the visa application.
4. UK Residence permit – The UK Residence permit must be endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card. It must be valid for at least one month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area. C type visitor visa is not acceptable. Please refer to this link for more information.
5. Photograph (original)
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
To support your Schengen visa application, please ensure that you provide the following documentation:
- EEA/EU and Swiss national’s passport or ID card (original document must be presented).
- Proof of relation to the EEA/EU and Swiss national: marriage or birth certificate (original document must be presented). If these documents are not in English, Latvian, or Russian, they must be translated by a certified translator in the UK. If the marriage certificate is not issued in an EU or EEA Member State or the Swiss Confederation, it must be legalized. Document authentication (legalization) and Apostille certification are necessary to verify the signature and seal of the document. Typically, this is done by a Consular Officer to ensure the legal validity of documents across different countries.
- Proof of joint travel:
– Confirmed return travel tickets that include the names of both the applicant and the EEA/EU and Swiss national family member, as well as the travel dates to and from the Schengen Area.
– If traveling by car, provide the 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 applicant is not the driver, a cover letter from the driver (signed and 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 required.
- Written consent (signed and dated) from the EEA/EU and Swiss national family member confirming joint travel with the applicant. Additionally, include a copy of the EEA/EU and Swiss national family member’s passport’s bio and signature page.
Furthermore, please note the following additional instruction regarding visa issuance to family members of UK nationals who are requesting a visa according to Directive 2004/38 and
Please find below the additional documents required for the Schengen visa application, in addition to the ones mentioned above.
- SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
- Proof of current occupation
– Employer letter (original): This should be a recent letter, dated within the past month, signed and on official letterhead. The letter should be addressed to the Mission, clearly stating the name and position of the signee, and confirming the applicant’s employment. Additionally, the letter should be accompanied by the applicant’s last three months’ payslips.
– Student letter (original): This letter should also be recent, dated within the past month, signed and on official letterhead. It should be addressed to the Mission, clearly stating the name and position of the signee, and confirming the applicant’s enrollment as a student.
– Self-employment letter (original): If the applicant is self-employed, a recent letter, dated within the past month, signed and on official letterhead, should be provided. The letter should be addressed to the Mission, clearly stating the name and position of the signee, and confirming the applicant’s self-employment. This letter should be obtained from the following sources, depending on the circumstances:
- a) Applicant’s accountant: If the applicant’s company’s accountancy is handled by an external or independent accountant.b) Solicitor: If the applicant’s company has been registered by a solicitor.c) Bank manager: If the applicant’s company has a business bank account.d) Companies House: If the applicant’s business is registered, a Certificate of Incorporation received upon registering the business should be provided. If the applicant’s name is not mentioned on the certificate, additional proof demonstrating the connection between the applicant and the company should be provided.
Unemployed/Retired:
If you are currently receiving benefits, please provide an original letter obtained from your local Jobcentre or Pension Service. This will serve as proof of your financial situation.
If you are not receiving benefits, please include a cover letter explaining your current financial circumstances.
Housewife/Man (only applicable to married couples):
If you are a housewife or househusband, you may be sponsored by your spouse or registered partner. In these cases, the following documents must be provided:
– Original and copy of your marriage certificate: If this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English, Latvian, or Russian, it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.
– Original and copy of your spouse or registered partner’s passport.
– Proof of your spouse or registered partner’s occupation, as mentioned in A.1.a, b, or c.
– Proof of funds belonging to your spouse or registered partner.
– A cover letter from your spouse or registered partner, confirming their sponsorship. This letter should be signed and dated.
Proof of Funds:
If the invitation does not indicate that the inviting party will cover your expenses, you must provide proof of your own funds.
Please submit your latest 3 months’ UK bank statements, showing your 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 £13.00 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:
Please ensure that you have travellers’ cheques covering the same amount as explained under point a.
Proof of Accommodation:
To support your visa application, it is essential to provide proof of confirmed accommodation. This can be in the form of a hotel, hostel, camping reservation, or any other type of accommodation. The reservation must clearly state your name, travel dates, and the address details of the accommodation.
In the event that your name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, an additional joint travel confirmation letter is required. This letter must be signed and dated by the person whose name appears on the reservation. Along with this letter, please provide a photocopy of the same person’s passport or ID card, including the passport signature page if the signature is not on the passport’s bio page.
For group reservations, a list containing the names of all group members is necessary. Alternatively, the names of the group members can be mentioned on the travel ticket.
Travel Insurance:
Another crucial requirement for your visa application is travel insurance. The insurance policy must provide all-risk medical coverage and clearly display your name. It should be valid throughout the entire Schengen Area and cover the entire duration of your intended stay. The minimum coverage for medical emergencies and repatriation, if applicable, must be 30,000 €.
If you are applying for a single entry visa, the insurance should also cover the 15-day “period of grace” in addition to the entire duration of your intended stay in the Schengen Area.
For multiple entry visas, the insurance policy should cover the entire duration of your first intended stay in the Schengen Area.
Please ensure that all the necessary documentation is provided in a clear and organized manner to facilitate the processing of your visa application.
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. However, it is important to note that the application must be lodged no later than 15 days (about 2 weeks) before the intended visit.
The minimum processing time for a visa application is 10 working days. It is crucial for applicants to allow sufficient time between the appointment date and the travel date for the Mission to process their application. Please be aware that delays may occur, and therefore, we cannot guarantee the exact return date of the visa application. In some cases, the visa processing time may be extended up to 45 days (about 1 and a half months).
For certain nationalities, the visa application requires consultation from other Schengen countries, resulting in a minimum processing time of 15 working days.
It is important to note that the minimum processing time starts from the day the embassy receives the application, excluding the day of submission.
To avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is of utmost importance that the application is complete, and all documents submitted meet the requirements set by the Mission. Please refer to the “Documents Required” section for the specific visa categories.
Applicants 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 on a daily basis.
Furthermore, it is essential for applicants to consider the closures and holidays of Mission, as these may extend the processing time of the visa application.
Therefore, we strongly recommend the following to all applicants:
– Book your appointment as soon as you have confirmed your travel plans.
– Ensure that your visa application documentation meets the requirements set by the Mission.
– Allow sufficient processing time for the Mission to handle your application.
Applicants who submit their visa applications at our satellite centers in Manchester, Edinburgh, or Cardiff should take into account an additional two days for processing.
During the visa application process, the Mission may request additional information or documents, or even invite applicants for an interview. It is important to note that these requests may cause delays in the visa process, and applicants are responsible for any resulting consequences.
We kindly remind applicants to consider these factors and plan accordingly when submitting their visa applications.
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.
