Visas and Immigration

If you want to travel to Europe during your stay in the UK, you may be required to apply for a Schengen visa before you travel.

At present, 26 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) have signed up to the Schengen scheme: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands (Holland), Norway, Poland. Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The UK is not a Schengen territory and the visa cannot be used to enter this country.

Please check with the country you are travelling through whether you need to obtain the Airport travel visa in advance of your travel.

If you wish to enter a Schengen country, you'll need to check whether you need a visa.

If you’re from one of the following countries or territories, you are NOT required to apply for a Schengen Visa:

Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela.

Please check with the website of the Embassy of the country to intend to travel to whether you need a visa and what their visa application process is.

There are different types of Schengen visas:

• The airport transit visa allows you to transit through the international transit area in one of the Schengen member state’s airports. This visa will not allow you to exit this area before flying to your next destination.
• The transit visa enables you to travel through the territory of one or more Schengen member states on your way to another country outside of the Schengen area. It is usually issued for up to 5 days.
• The short stay/ travel visa allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to three months in any six months period. If you intend to travel around the Schengen area as a tourist or visit your friends there or attend a conference, this is the visa you will need to apply for.

You can also submit an application for multiple entry visas. This allows you to travel more than once into the Schengen space during a three month period.

The charge for obtaining a Schengen visa will vary depending on which country is issuing it. You should apply either to the embassy of the country you plan to spend the most time in, or the country you will go to first.

Each embassy produces its own application form for the visa and you will need to contact the appropriate authority by telephoning their enquiry number to ask them to send a form out to you. Some embassies' forms are available on their website. Be careful to find the official embassy website rather than an agency website.

Each Embassy website will list the specific documents they need to see before issuing you with a Schengen visa.

The following documents are recommended:

• A completed application form
• An original passport/travel document containing your visa; or your original passport AND your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), if you have one
• 2 x passport size photographs (must be taken within the last 1 month)
• Evidence of sufficient funds to cover your trip, this varies between each Embassy and is approximately £40-£60 per day of your visit.
• Evidence of Student Status: You can apply download a Student Status Certificate from the Student Portal, or you can collect one at the Central Hub, 1st Floor, Student Central
• Proof of purpose of the visit, e.g. invitation letter from friend or family member/tour booking/hotel booking/conference invitation.
• Confirmation of all of your flight/rail bookings
• A written itinerary of your travel plans;
• Medical insurance to cover your entire trip
• The visa fee - approximately £50 (check with the Embassy in advance whether you can pay by credit/debit card or whether you will need to take cash)
• A photocopy of your application form and all of your supporting documents.

Other Schengen visa Requirements

• Each embassy has its own policy on how much leave (ie permission) to enter or remain in the UK applicants need to have beyond the term of their proposed trip. For example, you may be required to have a passport which is valid for at least three months longer than the proposed visa.
• You may need to spend time waiting for the national authorities to process your passport renewal, it is therefore advisable to apply early.
• Depending on your nationality, embassies may also require you to make your application in person.

The International Engagement and Compliance Team has specialist knowledge of the UK immigration system and is able to answer questions about visas for the UK. We aren’t able to help with the immigration processes and visa applications for other countries, and this includes Schengen visa applications.

The UKCISA website has more information to help you.