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What is the Schengen area?

The Schengen area is a territory of European countries that have abolished their mutual borders, allowing for passport-free movement of people within the area. Member states are either members of the EU or EFTA. 

You may need a Schengen visa if you are travelling to one of the following countries;

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Estonia
•  Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

The Schengen states also have common rules for issuing short-stay Schengen visas, which are valid within the entire Schengen area. There may be differences in requirements between countries, so check with the embassy you are applying to.

These visas allow a person to stay and travel within the territories of Schengen states for a maximum of 90 days in any 180 day period.

You can use a Schengen visa for:

• tourism
• visiting friends and family
• short term study 
• business trips

If you are only planning to make a single trip to the Schengen area, you should apply for a single entry Schengen Visa.

If you are planning on making several trips, you can apply for a multi entry Schengen Visa. This would allow you to make multiple trips to the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid, but you must still stay a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.

You should apply to the Schengen country in which you will stay for the longest period of time. If you are visiting several Schengen countries, you can apply to the first country you will be entering.

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Who needs a Schengen Visa?

Certain nationalities may be exempt from requiring a Schengen Visa before travelling. 

If you are a UK national, you do not need to apply for a Schengen Visa before travelling to a Schengen country, but you will have the same right to travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. 

You should still have information about the purpose of your trip and supporting documents with you, in case you are asked for this at the border when entering the Schengen country.

To check if you need a visa, refer to the following link: 

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How and when to apply

You  must submit your Schengen visa application in person and by appointment at the relevant embassy or designated visa application centre. 

You will need to register an account and book an appointment at the visa application centre or embassy. You can apply up to three months before travel.

You should book an appointment at the visa application centre as soon as you can to avoid delays, as appointments can be fully booked up weeks in advance. We are aware of capacity issues at some visa application centres especially before Easter and Summer vacation periods.

If you know you will be required to attend a compulsory study trip or conference, you should apply for your visa as soon as you’re able. 

You will have to complete the application form and collect relevant supporting documents before you attend the appointment.

You will need to take a copy of the application form together with originals and a copy of all supporting documents to the designated appointment. You will be required to provide biometric information at the appointment, eg fingerprints.

You will usually have to leave your passport with the embassy/visa application centre whilst the visa is being processed.

The minimum application processing time is usually around two weeks but may be longer at busy times.

You may have to return to the application centre again to collect your passport/Schengen Visa when it is ready. Some embassies may use couriers to return the passport.

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Application costs

The standard fee to make a single entry Schengen visa is 90 euros for adults and 45 euros for children. Further information about visa costs and potential fee waivers can be found on the relevant consulate website for the country to which you are applying. 

You may have to pay additional handling fees on top of this. 

We recommend you do not use third party companies advertised online to apply for a Schengen visa as they may charge significant additional fees.

You will also have to travel in person to the visa application centre to submit the application and documents. These are usually in London, though in some cases there may be a Manchester or Edinburgh application centre. You should factor in these additional travel costs.

You may need to have certain funds in your account before you make the application, so plan ahead.

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Supporting documents

The list of documents below is not exhaustive. Always check details on the relevant country’s embassy or visa application centre website for exact requirements. Although requirements are similar across the Schengen states, there can be subtle differences.

As a general rule, documents should be no more than one month old.

You should take originals and a copy of the documents to the appointment.

Visa application form (original)

You will need to print a copy of your completed Schengen visa application form to take to your appointment. 

Passport (original and photocopy)

You will need to bring your signed passport, with at least two blank pages for visa purposes.  This must be valid for at least three months beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen area. It also must be issued within the last 10 years on the day of leaving the Schengen area. In some cases this could be six months beyond the end date of your visa.

An extended passport may still be valid if it is less than 10 years old. If your passport is more than 10 years old, you will need to apply for a new passport.

You will also need to bring photocopies of any previous Schengen visas you were issued in the last two years. If these are endorsed in an old passport, you will need to present your old passport with the visa application.

UK residence permit

If you are an international student you will need to provide your original UK residence permit, as well as a copy.

This needs to be valid in the UK for at least a month after the last day of your intended trip for most countries. For some countries it may need to be valid for up to 90 days. You should check the exact requirements with the embassy.

Proof of study or employment

Before you apply, you need to get a Schengen visa letter from SSiD, providing proof of your student status. It will also include a link to information about University semester dates if you need to show you are travelling during a vacation period.

This letter will also state your home address.

You can generate this letter yourself using our student document self-serve.

If you have trouble with this, you can also  or visit SSiD in person in the Students' Union.

In some cases embassies may require a letter of no objection. You will need to speak with your academic department to request this if you are travelling during term time or you are a PhD student needing evidence that you are on vacation.

Authorisation for holidays during term time will not usually be granted.

Purpose of your trip

You should provide details of the purpose of your trip.

If you are visiting friends or family in the Schengen area, then you should get an invitation letter from them. In some cases this must also be authorised by the local authority where they live.

If you will be undertaking business or short-term study you should also include official invitation documents from your host organisation, eg conference booking confirmation or offer letter from host University.

Proof of travel 

You will normally have to provide a detailed itinerary of your proposed trip to the Schengen area and evidence of return travel tickets to the Schengen area. 

This should include your name, and your travel dates to and from the Schengen area. 

Proof of funds

Usually this will be your last three months' bank statements, which must show:

• your name
• address 
• a closing balance dated within a month of the visa application submission date. 

You need to have sufficient funds to cover your travel, accommodation and basic living costs. You should check on the relevant embassy website, if the country has a minimum amount of living costs which must be shown, eg 50 euros a day. 

Some embassies will also accept credit card statements with information of spending cap/limit as evidence of funds. 

Proof of accommodation

You should ideally have booking reservations for accommodation in your own name for each night of the trip. Although your Schengen visa will allow travel throughout the Schengen area for up to 90 days and your exact travel plans may change during the trip, to meet the visa requirements it is a good idea to plan a proposed route and book hotels accordingly in your name. 

If you are participating in a field trip then your academic department should provide a cover letter explaining:

• the details of the trip
• the accommodation details
• travel arrangements 
• insurance details 

If possible, you should ask to be personally named on this document.

Travel insurance (all-risk medical travel insurance) 

You will need to show evidence of your travel insurance. This needs to:

• clearly show your name
• be valid throughout the complete territory of the Schengen area 
•  cover the entire period of your  intended stay in the Schengen area
• have at least 30,000 euros coverage for medical emergency and repatriation (in case of death clause included). 

You should check the exact requirements with the embassy.

Photograph 

You have to provide one recent photograph of yourself. 

This needs to be:

• on a plain light (white or off-white) background. 
• in colour
• recent (not older than six months)
• of your full face, non-smiling
• no sunglasses
• no hat/cap or any head covering, unless you wear such items because of your religious belief or ethnic background.
• printed on normal photographic paper and attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form.

You may require additional documents depending on your circumstances.

This page was updated on 28 March 2024.