Description
All customers, including children and infants, are required to personally submit their Schengen visa application on their scheduled appointment date.
Customers who plan to travel solely for tourist purposes, such as leisure, recreation, or sightseeing, and will arrange their own accommodation (hotel, hostel, B&B, camping, etc.), should apply as tourists.
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 customer holds a short stay visa for the UK (C type visa), a Schengen visa application can only be accepted for essential travel purposes (business, study, family reunification, health or humanitarian reasons, and EU family members accompanying the corresponding family member), subject to analysis by the Mission.
- Apply for a short stay visa under the categories of tourist (including minors), visitor family/friends, business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member, or airport transit.
Jurisdiction:
Customers residing in the following counties fall under the jurisdiction of the Consulate of Portugal in London. They can only submit their visa application at the Portugal Visa Application Centre in London, which serves as the outsourced representative for the Consulate of Portugal in London. Please click on the provided link for a list of these counties.
Customers residing in the following counties fall under the jurisdiction of the Consulate of Portugal in Manchester. They can only submit their visa application at the Portugal Visa Application Centres in Manchester or Edinburgh, which serve as the outsourced representatives for the Consulate of Portugal in Manchester. Please click on the provided link for a list of these counties.
Documents Required
The list of documents below is not an exhaustive list of documents and the customer can always be asked to provide additional information/documents, if desired by the Mission.
Both the standard and the supporting documentation have to be recent, i.e. not older than 1 month, and need to be provided for every Schengen visa application.
Customers always have to bring and present their original documents, but they only need to submit photocopies of the same; unless the requirements specify that an original document has to be submitted.
Before gathering the required documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to read the requirements under Overview section in order to ensure they are entitled to apply for the chosen visa category.
For Minors:
- STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
Visa application form (original) (see here)
Passport (original)
Signed passport, at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes, must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area and has to be issued within the last 10 years on the day of leaving the Schengen Area.
Extended passport may still be valid, but when older than 10 years the passport is no longer acceptable; in that case customers first needs to apply for a new passport.
Photocopies of previous Schengen visas endorsed in an old passport and issued in the last 3 years, if applicable.
UK Residence Permit
The UK Residence Permit, which can be endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card, must remain valid for at least one month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area. Alternatively, a C type visitor visa (see here) is also acceptable. In such cases, a Schengen visa application can only be accepted after careful analysis by the Mission, and it is limited to Essential Travel purposes. These purposes include business, study, family reunification, health or humanitarian reasons, and EU Family Members accompanying their corresponding family member.
Photograph (original)
- 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. This letter should include the name and position of the signee and confirm the customer’s employment. Additionally, the last three months’ payslips should be provided.
- Student letter (original): A recent (less than 1 month old), signed letter from a UK school/college/university addressed to the Mission. This letter 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. This letter should include the name and position of the signee and confirm the customer’s self-employment. If applicable, this letter should be obtained from:
- The customer’s accountant: when the customer’s company’s accountancy is handled by an external/independent accountant.
- A solicitor: when the customer’s company has been registered by a solicitor.
iii. The bank manager: when the customer’s company has a business bank account.
- Companies House: A Certificate of Incorporation received upon registering the business. If the customer’s name is not mentioned on the certificate,
Receiving Benefits: A recent original letter obtained from the local Jobcentre or Pension Service is required.
Not receiving Benefits: A cover letter explaining the customer’s financial situation should be provided.
For Housewives/Househusbands (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 or Portuguese, 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 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:
- Latest 3 months UK current account bank statements showing the customer’s name, address, and an end balance dated within the last month on the visa application submission date. The balance needs to show a minimum amount of £50.00 per day of stay in the Schengen Area, plus outstanding accommodation and travel fees. Alternatively, online bank account printouts are also accepted.
- Travellers’ cheques covering the same amount as explained under a.
Proof of travel (airplane, train, boat, coach, or (hired) car):
- Confirmed return travel tickets, mentioning the customer’s name and travel dates to and from the Schengen Area.
- When traveling by car, car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) mentioning the car’s registration number and driver’s driving license. If the customer is not the driver, a driver’s cover letter (signed and dated) confirming joint travel with the customer and travel dates must also be provided.
In order to facilitate the processing of your visa application, When travel tickets have been paid for through a travel agency, it is necessary to provide a receipt, invoice, or payment confirmation.
Proof of accommodation is also required. This includes a confirmed reservation for a hotel, hostel, camping site, or any other type of accommodation. The reservation must clearly state the customer’s name, travel dates, and the address details of the accommodation.
If the customer’s name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, an additional joint travel confirmation letter is needed. This letter must be signed and dated by the person whose name is on the reservation. Along with the letter, a photocopy of that person’s passport or ID card, as well as the passport signature page (if the signature is not on the passport’s bio page), must be provided.
In the case of a group reservation, a list containing the names of all group members is required. Alternatively, the names of the group members can be mentioned on the travel ticket.
Furthermore, it is mandatory to have travel insurance that covers all risks, including medical emergencies. The travel insurance must clearly display the customer’s name. It should be valid throughout the entire Schengen Area and cover the entire duration of the customer’s intended stay in the area. The minimum coverage for medical emergencies and repatriation, if applicable, must be €30,000.
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: not 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
Every customer has the opportunity to submit their Schengen visa application 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, we strongly advise customers to allow ample time between their appointment date and travel date for the Mission to process their visa application. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee the return date of the visa application, as delays may occur.
For certain nationalities, the visa application requires consultation from the other Schengen countries, resulting in a minimum processing time of more than three weeks. To ensure a smooth and timely visa application process, it is crucial that the application is complete and all submitted documents meet the requirements set by the Mission.
Customers should also be mindful 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 extend the processing time of visa applications.
Therefore, we highly recommend that all customers:
- Book their appointment as soon as their travel plans are confirmed.
- Ensure that all documentation in their visa application meets the requirements set by the Mission.
- Allow sufficient processing time for the Mission to review their application.
Customers submitting their visa application at our satellite center in Edinburgh should account for an additional two days in their minimum processing time. This is because their application will first be dispatched to the Manchester office, and then forwarded to the Mission in Manchester the following day.
Please note that the Mission may request additional information or documents, or invite customers for an interview during the visa application process. These requests may cause delays, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
We strive to provide the best service possible and ensure a smooth visa application process for all our customers.
Free Consultation
To proceed with your visa application, kindly complete the attached sample form (available in PDF OR Word format) in its entirety. If you have any uncertainties regarding certain information, please leave those sections blank. Once you have finished filling out the form, please return it to us along with your passport, BRP card/UK residency documentation, and copies of any previous Schengen visas you may have obtained.
To submit the required documents, kindly forward them via email to sales@globalvisaagent.co.uk
Upon receiving this information, we will schedule a consultation call to further discuss your application.
Alternatively, you may reach us at +442035001580 after sending the documents.
Please be assured that we strictly adhere to the GDPR Policy, ensuring that your documents are handled, stored, and deleted in accordance with the highest standards of data protection.
