Despite its location on Europe’s historic continent, the UK is not a member of the Schengen Area. The nation, along with Ireland, chose not to join the zone when it was formed.
Numerous people are perplexed while going from the UK to the Schengen region because Schengen laws demand nationals of several nations to obtain a visa before traveling.
Who is eligible to apply for a Schengen Visa in the United Kingdom?
The UK residence permit should be valid for another three months, even after the date you want to depart the Schengen Area, to apply for a Schengen visa from the UK. If this criterion is not met, the Consulate will reject your application immediately wherever you submit your Schengen visa.
You can use the Schengen visa eligibility checking tool to see if you can qualify for a Visa application from the UK. If you hold a three-month UK visa, you could prolong it for another three months to apply for a Schengen visa from the UK. You should apply for an extension before the visa expires and when you’re still in the UK.
Due to the UK’s membership in the EU until February 2020, its nationals have been granted visa-free access to the Schengen Area thus far. However, not everyone living in the United Kingdom has permission to access Schengen countries without a visa stamp on their passports. If you’re planning a vacation to Schengen, you’ll need to get a visa first, if:
- You have a UK passport; however, you were previously denied entry to the area without a visa.
- You are a foreign passport holder lawfully residing in the United Kingdom, and you have a passport from a nation that:
- Lack of a visa-free agreement with the Schengen Area.
- Although it has a visa-free arrangement with Schengen, you have previously been denied access.
Only lawful UK residents are eligible to apply for the Schengen visa in the UK. You must apply in your native country once you’re in the UK on a visa. Non-UK residents, like tourists on a visa in the UK, cannot apply for a visa at the Schengen embassy in the UK. Alternatively, they must apply for the Schengen visa at the home country’s proper Schengen embassy.
Till May 2023, once the ETIAS scheme takes effect, UK passport holders will be able to visit the Schengen Area without a visa. And as of this day, all nations in the EU’s visa-free zone, including the United Kingdom, must get an ETIAS before visiting the borderless zone.
How to obtain a Schengen Visa from the United Kingdom?
You must schedule an appointment with the relevant Embassy or Consulate in London to apply for the Schengen visa from the UK. You can accomplish this in one of two ways:
- By personally visiting the Embassy or Consulate.
- By applying to a recognized agency such as BLS or VFS
The best time to apply
There are several restrictions on when to apply, the early and latest, and when is the best time to apply. As per Schengen visa application requirements, the quickest you could apply for a Schengen visa is three months before your intended travel. However, you must apply at least two weeks before your journey to Schengen.
Three weeks before your trip to Schengen is the best period. However, it is strongly advised that you apply as quickly as possible to prevent any potential delays. Recipients of multiple-entry visas have six months before their visa expires to apply.
In the United Kingdom, how long would it take to obtain a Schengen visa?
You should finalize your application within 15 calendar days of submitting your visa application to the applicable Embassy or Consulate in the UK. The period might be extended to a month, especially if the applicant is given additional requirements.
Consulates encourage visa applicants well ahead of their scheduled travel to avoid unnecessary hassles. Note that holders of multiple-entry visas can apply 6 months before their current visa expires. Nevertheless, there are a few special instances where applicants can acquire visas more quickly through expedited procedures:
- Applicants with a family member who is an EEA or EU citizen
- Extensive medical cases
Note that if applying for the Schengen visa in the UK in winter or summer, be careful and plan your trip earlier, as those are the periods when most applications are submitted at embassies, causing visa processing to take longer.