Description
Every customer, including children and infants, must personally submit their Schengen visa application on their scheduled appointment date, which can be booked online.
For non-EU citizens who are unsure if they require a Schengen visa to travel to the Schengen Area, please click on “Do I need a visa?“ to find out.
Customers who plan to travel to Malta to visit and stay with family or friends who are legal residents must apply as Visitor Family/Friends.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application, customers 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 for purposes such as tourism (including minors), visiting family or friends, business, being a family member of an EEA/EU or Swiss national, or airport transit.
Documents Required
Please note that the list of documents provided below is not exhaustive, and the customer may be asked to provide additional information or documents if requested by the Mission.
For non-vaccinated travelers or those who have received vaccinations not recognized by Malta, it is necessary to complete the required form. You can access the form by clicking here.
Both the standard documentation and supporting documents must be recent, meaning they should not be older than one month, and 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 specifically state that an original document must be submitted.
Before gathering the necessary documents mentioned below, we strongly advise customers to carefully review the requirements outlined in the Overview section. This will ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria for the chosen visa category.
STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
- Visa application form (original) – Click here to access the form.
- Passport (original and photocopy) – Your passport must be signed and have at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes. It should 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 leaving the Schengen Area. If your passport is extended, it may still be valid, but if it is older than 10 years, it is no longer acceptable. In such cases, you will need to apply for a new passport.
- Photocopies of previous Schengen visas – If you have any previous Schengen visas endorsed in an old passport and issued within the last 3 years, please provide photocopies of these visas, if applicable.
- UK Residence permit (original and copy) – You must provide the original and a copy of your UK Residence permit. This permit should be either endorsed in your passport or issued as a Biometrics card. It must be valid for at least 30 days beyond the return date of your trip to the Schengen Area. Please note that a C type visitor visa is not acceptable.
Applicants who possess an outdated version (Pre-Brexit) of the UK Residence Card, which includes the label “Family Member – EU Residence,” must also furnish a Share Code as proof of their immigration status. These cards were originally intended to be replaced by the new BRC, which indicates “EU Scheme Pre-Settlement” or “EU Scheme Settlement,” but they are still in circulation.
It is important to note that EU/EEA family member residence cards issued prior to Brexit are only valid for re-entry into the UK if the individual has applied for pre-/settled status. To substantiate their EUSS Status, it is necessary to obtain and present the share code generated by UKVI at the time of submission.
Please ensure that the photograph provided is an original copy.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
Proof of Current Occupation
- Employer Letter (original): This letter should be recent, dated within the past month, and must be signed. It should be on an official company letterhead and addressed to the Mission. The letter should include the name and position of the signee and confirm your employment with the company. Alternatively, you can provide your last three months’ pay slips.
- Student Letter (original): If you are a student, you will need a recent letter, dated within the past month, signed by your UK school, college, or university. The letter should be addressed to the Mission and include the name and position of the signee. It should confirm your enrollment as a student.
For Self-Employed Individuals: If you are self-employed, you will need to provide the accountant’s letter which should be recent, dated within the past month, and must be signed. It should be on an official company letterhead and addressed to the Mission. The letter should confirm your self-employment.
If applicable, this letter should be obtained from:
– Your accountant: If your company’s accountancy is done by an external or independent accountant.
– Your solicitor: If your company has been registered by a solicitor.
– Your 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, you will need to provide additional proof demonstrating your connection to the company.
Unemployed/Retired Individuals
If you are unemployed or retired, you will need to provide the following documentation:
– Receiving Benefits: You will need to obtain a recent original letter from your local Job centre or Pension Service confirming your benefits.
Housewives/Househusbands
Proof of Funds for Spouse/Registered Partner
To support your visa application, it is necessary to provide proof of funds for your spouse or registered partner. This documentation serves as evidence of financial stability and ensures that you are able to cover the expenses associated with your stay in the Schengen Area.
To fulfill this requirement, please include the following:
Latest 3 months UK bank statements: These statements should clearly display your name, address, and an end balance dated within the last month from the date of your visa application submission. These statements must be stamped by a local branch. If you are employed, the bank statements must be from the account where your salary is deposited. The balance should reflect a minimum amount of £48.00 per day of your intended stay in the Schengen Area, in addition to outstanding accommodation and travel fees. Bank statements from online banks such as Monzo or Revolut are acceptable.
- Travellers’ cheques: It is also necessary to provide travellers’ cheques that cover the same amount as explained above. These cheques serve as an alternative form of financial proof.
Proof of Travel (Airplane, Train, Boat, Coach, (Hired) Car)
This includes proof of travel, whether it be by airplane, train, boat, coach, or hired car.
For flight tickets, it is crucial that they are fully paid and confirmed, with the applicant’s name matching the one stated on their passport. Additionally, the tickets must clearly indicate the inbound and outbound travel dates to and from the Schengen Area, as well as the Airline Reservation Code and E-Ticket number.
This requirement applies to all tickets, especially if the trip itinerary involves multiple layovers. For those who have opted for holiday packages with instalment payments, it is essential to provide proof that at least 75% of the total cost has been paid at the time of application. Please note that applications submitted with provisional flight tickets or reservations that are only partially paid or booked through an unregistered travel agency in the UK will be considered invalid, potentially leading to the refusal of the application.
When traveling by car, it is necessary to provide the car registration and car insurance details, along with return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) that clearly state the car’s registration number. If the applicant is not the driver, a cover letter from the driver, signed and dated, confirming joint travel with the applicant and specifying the travel dates, must also be provided.
Proof of Accommodation
For customers who have arranged accommodation with family or friends in Malta, we kindly request the host to provide a recent declaration of proof.
This declaration should not be older than six months and must be certified by a legal representative in Malta. Additionally, we require a copy of the host’s passport’s bio page, as well as their permit to stay in Malta if they are a non-EU citizen.
Travel Insurance
In terms of travel insurance, it is important to have comprehensive medical travel insurance that covers all risks. The insurance policy must clearly state the name of the policy holder and be valid for the entire Schengen Area for the duration of the trip. It should also have a minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical emergencies and repatriation. Furthermore, the insurance must be purchased from a UK registered insurance provider.
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
Customers are advised to submit their Schengen visa application up to 6 months before 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, customers must 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 we cannot guarantee the exact return date of the visa application.
To ensure a smooth and timely visa application process, it is of utmost importance that the application is complete, and all documents submitted meet the requirements set by the Mission. Failure to do so may result in unnecessary delays.
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 daily. Additionally, closures and holidays of Mission may further extend the processing time.
Therefore, we strongly recommend the following to all customers:
- Book your appointment as soon as your travel plans are confirmed.
- Ensure that all documentation in your visa application meets the requirements set by the Mission.
- Allow sufficient processing time for the Mission to review your application.
For customers submitting their visa application in our satellite centers in Manchester or Edinburgh, please note that an additional 2 days should be calculated into the minimum processing time. This is because the application will first be dispatched to the London office, and then forwarded to the Mission in London the following day.
During the visa application process, the Mission may request additional information/documents or invite the customer for an interview. It is important to understand that this may cause delays, and applicants must accept responsibility for any resulting 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.