Description
Every customer must personally submit their Schengen visa application on their scheduled appointment date.
Customers who are traveling by plane to a destination outside the Schengen Area may have a stopover in the Schengen Area. During this stopover, they are allowed to disembark the aircraft and stay in the airport’s transit zone for a certain period of time without going through Immigration Control.
Certain nationalities (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka) are required to apply for an airport transit visa in order to make such an airport transit.
However, there are exemptions from this visa requirement. The most common exemption is for individuals who hold a valid uniform visa, national long-stay visa, or residence permit issued by a Member State.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application, customers must meet the following criteria:
– Hold 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), they may still apply for a Schengen visa if they are unable to apply from their country of residence due to having left the residence country more than 6 months ago.
– 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.
Documents Required
The following list of documents is not exhaustive, and the Mission may request additional information or documents from the customer if necessary.
Both the standard and supporting documentation must be recent, no older than 1 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 specified otherwise.
Before gathering the required documents listed below, applicants are advised to review the requirements in the Overview section to ensure they are eligible to apply for the chosen visa category.
For Minors, please refer to the provided link.
- STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
1. Visa application form (original)
- Original Passport and Photocopy
– The passport must be signed and have at least 2 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.
– The passport 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, a new passport must be obtained before applying.
- UK Residence permit and Photocopy
– The UK Residence permit must be endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card.
– The permit must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area.
– A C type visitor visa is only acceptable if the customer is unable to apply from their country of residence due to having already left and residing elsewhere for more than 6 months.
- SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
Proof of Current Occupation:
- Employer Letter (Original): A recent letter, signed and on official letterhead, addressed to the Mission. The letter should include the name and position of the signee and confirm the applicant’s employment.
- Student Letter (Original): A recent letter, signed and issued by a UK school/college/university, addressed to the Mission. The letter should include the name and position of the signee and confirm the applicant’s enrollment.
- Self-Employment Letter (Original): A recent letter, signed and on official letterhead, addressed to the Mission. The letter should include the name and position of the signee and confirm the applicant’s self-employment. This letter should be obtained from:
- Customer’s Accountant: If the customer’s company’s accounting is done by an external/independent accountant.
- Solicitor: If the customer’s company has been registered by a solicitor.
iii. Bank Manager: If the customer’s company has a business bank account.
- Companies House: Certificate of Incorporation received upon registering for the business. If the customer’s name is not mentioned on the certificate, additional proof demonstrating the connection between the customer and the company should be provided.
- Unemployed/Retired
To receive benefits, individuals in this category must provide a recent original letter obtained from their local Job center or Pension Service.
Housewives/Men (only applicable to spouses/partners):
If customers are sponsored by their spouse/registered partner, the following documents need to be provided:
- Original and copy of the marriage certificate: If this document was issued outside the EU and is not in English or Swedish, it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.
- Copy of the spouse/registered partner’s passport.
- Proof of occupation of the spouse/registered partner (as mentioned in B.1.a, b, or c).
- Proof of funds of the spouse/registered partner.
- Signed and dated cover letter from the spouse/registered partner confirming sponsorship.
Proof of travel (airplane):
Applicants must provide their visa/entry permit and confirmed tickets for the onward journey to the final country of destination. Please note that flight tickets should be issued by airlines companies only and not by travel agencies.
Seafarers:
– If applicable, applicants must provide their seaman’s book.
– A recent, signed official letter from the recruiting company stating the name and rank of the seafarer.
– Vessel’s name, vessel’s arrival date in port, and the date the seafarer joined the vessel.
Lorry drivers:
– Applicants must provide a recent, signed official letter from the international association (union) of carriers of the host country, which provides information about international road transportations, including the purpose, duration, and frequency of the trips.
– A written request from the partner company based in Schengen.
– Driver’s license for international transport.
– Waybill.
Airport transit:
Applicants must provide a visa or entry permit for the country of final destination and confirmed tickets for the onward journey. Please note that flight tickets should be issued by airlines companies only and not by travel agencies.
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 applications up to 6 months before their intended travel date to the Schengen Area.
On October 7, 2021, the European Commission made the decision to temporarily suspend certain provisions of the Visa Code for citizens of Gambia. Starting from November 1, citizens of Gambia will no longer be exempt from any document requirements. The application process will now take 45 days instead of the previous 15 days. Additionally, diplomats or holders of service passports will not be exempt from the application fee, and multiple entry visas will not be granted.
The minimum processing time for a visa application is 15 days. It is important for customers to allow sufficient time between their appointment date and travel date for the Mission to process their visa application. However, 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, which may result in a longer processing time.
To avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is crucial that the application is complete, and all documents submitted meet the Mission’s requirements (please refer to the Documents Required for the different visa categories).
Customers 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 per day.
Furthermore, customers need to take into consideration that Mission closures and holidays (please refer to the Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the processing time for visa applications.
Therefore, we highly recommend that all customers take the following actions to ensure a smooth visa application process:
- Book your appointment as soon as you have confirmed your travel plans. This will allow us to allocate the necessary resources and provide you with the best service possible.
- Ensure that all the documentation included in your visa application meets the specific requirements set by the Mission. This will help avoid any unnecessary delays or complications.
- Leave ample processing time for the Mission to review and process your application. Rushing the process may result in errors or omissions that could negatively impact your visa application.
For customers submitting their visa application at our satellite centre in Edinburgh, please take into account an additional two days to the minimum processing time. This is because your application will first be dispatched to our London office before being 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 customers for an interview during the visa application process. These requests may cause delays in the processing time, and customers must accept responsibility for any resulting delays.
Downloads
You may access and download all the relevant forms from this location.
Sample Visa Form Word: Sample vis -Schengen-WORD.docx
Sample Visa Form PDF: Sample vis -Schengen-WORD.pdf
Online Application form: Online Application Form
Checklist: Transit Checklist.pdf
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.
