Description
All customers, regardless of age, are required to personally submit their Schengen visa application on their scheduled appointment date.
For Non-EU citizens who are unsure about the need for a Schengen visa to travel to the Schengen Area, please click on the “Do I need a visa?“ link to find out. It is important to note that holders of UK Travel Documents issued under the directives of the United Nations Convention on 28 July 1951 (blue covered travel document) and Convention on 28 September 1954 (red covered travel document) will require a visa to enter Sweden.
Customers who plan to visit Sweden 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 Tourist.
Please ensure that all information provided is accurate and complete.
Eligibility:
In order 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 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 (including minors), visiting family or friends, business, being a family member of an EEA/EU or Swiss national, or for airport transit.
Documents Required
The following list of documents is not exhaustive, and the customer may be asked to provide additional information or documents if requested by the Mission.
Both the standard and supporting documentation must be recent, meaning they should not be older than one month. These documents are mandatory 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 specify that an original document must be submitted.
Before gathering the necessary documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to carefully review the requirements outlined in the Overview section to ensure they meet the criteria for the chosen visa category.
For minors, please refer to the specific guidelines provided here.
- STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
- Visa application form (original)
- Original Passport and Photocopy
– The passport must be signed and have 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.
– The passport must have been issued within the last 10 years on the day of departure from the Schengen Area.
– While an extended passport may still be valid, a passport that is older than 10 years on the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area is no longer acceptable. In such cases, the customer must first apply for a new passport.
Please ensure that all documents are provided in a timely manner and meet the specified requirements.
UK Residence Permit and Photocopy
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. In the event that the customer is unable to apply for a C type visitor visa from their country of residence due to already leaving the residence country and residing consecutively in the UK for more than six months, it will be considered acceptable.
- SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
Proof of Current Occupation
- Employer Letter (Original): A recent letter, signed and on company letterhead, from your employer is required. This letter should include the company registration number in the UK, contact details, address, date of issue, your position, and salary information. Additionally, please include your last three pay slips.
- Student Letter (Original): A recent letter, signed and addressed to the Mission, from your UK school/college/university is necessary. This letter should include the name and position of the signee and confirm your enrollment, type of studies, completion date, number of lessons (hours) per week, and attendance record.
- Self-Employment Letter (Original): If you are self-employed, a recent letter, signed and addressed to the Mission, is required. This letter should include the name and position of the signee and confirm your self-employment. If applicable, please also state the annual salary drawn from the company.
- Customers’ Accountant: This refers to situations where a customer’s company’s accounting is handled by an external or independent accountant.
- Solicitor: This applies when a customer’s company has been registered by a solicitor.
III. Bank Manager: This is relevant when a customer’s company holds a business bank account.
- Companies House: Upon registering a business, customers receive a Certificate of Incorporation from Companies House. If the customer’s name is not mentioned on the certificate, additional proof establishing the connection between the customer and the company must be provided.
- Unemployed/Retired:
For those receiving benefits, it is necessary to obtain an original letter from the local Jobcentre or Pension Service.
Housewife/Househusband (only applicable to spouses/partners):
In cases where customers are sponsored by their spouse or registered partner, 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 Swedish, it should be translated by a certified translator in the UK.
- Copy of spouse/registered partner’s passport.
- Proof of occupation for spouse/registered partner (as mentioned in section B.1.a, b, or c).
- Proof of funds for spouse/registered partner.
- Cover letter from spouse/registered partner (signed and dated) confirming sponsorship.
Proof of Funds
- Latest three months’ UK current account bank statements, clearly displaying your name, address, and an end balance dated within the last month from the date of visa application submission. The balance should reflect a minimum amount of £40.00 per day of your stay in the Schengen Area, in addition to covering outstanding accommodation and travel expenses.
- Travellers’ cheques should be obtained in an amount equivalent to the requirements mentioned in point a.
- Credit card(s) along with the corresponding credit card statement, which must include your name and address. The statement should provide information regarding the monthly limit or sending cap of the credit card.
Proof of Accommodation:
- Customers are required to submit the formal invitation, Appendix E, obtained from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket, available here), along with a copy of the inviting person’s passport or Swedish ID. If the host is a non-EU citizen, their permit of stay in Sweden must also be provided.
If the host is financially supporting the customer during their stay in Sweden, they must provide three months’ worth of wage slips and bank statements.
Alternatively, customers may submit the original formal invitation letter obtained from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket, available here) by the host in Sweden.
- Additionally, the host in Sweden must provide the Personsbevis obtained from the Swedish Tax Agency.
Travel Insurance (All-Risk Medical Travel Insurance):
The travel insurance must clearly display the customer’s name and be valid throughout the entire Schengen Area. It must cover the entire duration of the customer’s intended stay in the Schengen Area. The minimum coverage for medical emergencies and repatriation (if applicable) must be €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 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 welcome to submit their Schengen visa applications up to six months prior to their intended travel date to the Schengen Area.
Effective October 7, 2021, the European Commission has 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. Additionally, the application process will now take 45 days instead of the previous 15 days. Furthermore, diplomats or holders of service passports will not be exempt from the application fee, and multiple entry visas will not be granted.
It is important to note that the minimum processing time for a visa application is 15 days. Therefore, we strongly advise customers to allow sufficient time between their appointment date and travel date for the Mission to process their visa application. Please be aware that delays may occur, and we cannot guarantee the exact return date of the visa application.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by these temporary changes and appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
For certain nationalities the visa application requires consultation from other Schengen countries, which may result in longer processing times.
To ensure a smooth and timely visa application process, it is crucial that all required documents are complete and submitted according to the Mission’s requirements (please refer to the “Documents Required” section for the specific visa category).
It is important for customers to be aware that during peak seasons such as Easter, summer holidays (July and August), and Christmas, appointment slots fill up rapidly. This is due to the Mission’s limited capacity to process a fixed number of visa applications on a daily basis.
We understand the significance of your visa application and strive to provide efficient and reliable services. By adhering to the guidelines and submitting all necessary documents accurately, you can help expedite the process and minimize any potential delays.
In addition, it is important for customers to take into account that the closures and holidays of Mission (please refer to the Public Holidays/Closures section) may result in longer visa application processing times.
Therefore, we strongly advise all customers to:
– Schedule their appointment as soon as they have confirmed their travel plans.
– Ensure that all the necessary documentation for their visa application meets the requirements set by the Mission.
– Allow sufficient processing time for the Mission to review their application.
For customers submitting their visa application at our satellite centre in Edinburgh, it is crucial to factor in an additional two days to the minimum processing time. This is because their application will initially be sent to the London office, and then forwarded to the Mission in London the following day.
Throughout the visa application process, the Mission may request additional information or documents, or even invite customers for an interview. It is important to note that these requests can potentially cause delays in the visa process, for which customers assume full responsibility.
We kindly request all customers to adhere to these recommendations and take into consideration the potential impact of closures, holidays, and additional requests from the Mission. By doing so, customers can ensure a smoother and more efficient visa application process.
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: Checklist- VISITOR-INVITATION.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.
