For many residents of the United Kingdom, travelling across the continent is an opportunity many will be yearning for.Now that Brexit has come and gone, knowing the processes surrounding securing your Schengen Visa may be beneficial.One of the first questions exposed to the Schengen Visa process is: which Schengen Visa is the easiest to obtain from the United Kingdom? In this blog, we will provide an overview of the entire process for you, including, What is Schengen Visa? How to prepare for your Schengen Visa appointment at the UK Embassy, How much does a Schengen visa cost? What are the Schengen Visa rejection rates? and much more.
A Schengen Visa is a short term visa that permits the Visa holder to travel through the Schengen zone without border restrictions.Currently, the Schengen zone is made up of 27 European countries.The Visa holder is allowed to stay within the zone for a maximum of 90 days within a 180 day time frame.Schengen Visas can be obtained for Tourism, Business, or Family visits.For passport holders from the United Kingdom, 90 day short stays do not typically require a Visa.Conversely, residents of the United Kingdom with non UK passports must apply for a Schengen Visa based on the nationality of the passport they hold.
Schengen area overview
Border control within the Schengen Area has been eliminated in several European Countries including the Schengen Area non EU Country Members.This means that if you travel to one Schengen Country, you can travel to the other Schengen countries without border control.This is one of the biggest advantages of getting the Schengen Visa.You have the ability to travel to many countries with just one Visa.
Not all UK Residents have to get a Schengen Visa.If you hold a UK Passport and you are going to the Schengen Area for business, or tourism for less than 90 Days, you do not need a Visa.If you are a UK resident, but do not have a UK Passport, you need to get a Schengen Visa before you travel.This is also true for Students, Long term Visitors, or people with a non exempt Residency.
Do UK citizens need a schengen visa?
In most cases, UK citizens do not require a Schengen visa for visits up to 90 days for tourism, business, or other visits. However, if you are not a UK passport holder, whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality.In this case, consular contact is necessary to find out whether you are required to apply for a Schengen visa.
As for which Schengen visa is easiest to get from the UK, you have to consider many things.Different countries have different approval rates, and different time commitments.The countries most likely to generate visas approval on the first try are: Portugal, Romania, Lithuania, Romania, and Iceland. In contrast, Sweden and Finland have a tendency for high visa rejection rates, so it is important to take application preparation seriously if you are planning on applying to those countries.
How to get a Schengen visa appointment from the UK
Booking appointments tends to be the biggest challenge for first time Schengen visa applicants.In the UK, the majority of Schengen visa applications are managed by outsourced visa centers, such as TLScontact or VFS Global.These centers are consortia and create a division of labor between themselves with direct contact with the embassies.The embassies release appointments about every couple of months, so the best way to secure one is to get there first and be on time.Real time appointment tracker services are a good way to secure a time slot if you are low on patience.Peak traveling seasons also tend to create appointment shortages, which is why applying for a visa during those times is a poor idea.
When applying for a Schengen visa from the UK, there are a few things to consider.Are there specific travel dates you are planning that fall within the Schengen Area? If so, you must be prepared to show proof of your travel plans when you apply for the visa, including a flight itinerary and hotel bookings.When planning your travel route, be sure to have the required travel documents including, travel proof funds, travel health insurance, and your passport (check its validity for the Schengen Area prior to travel).Additionally, you must apply for the visa at least a month before the trip to account for the potential delays in the visa processing.
What you should know about schengen visas & special circumstances
While most applicants follow the standard visa application, there are unique or special circumstances in the travel industry that you should be aware of.For instance, short term visits are usually visa free for passport holders from the UK.Additionally, some residence permits and long term visas could ex lease some individuals from obtaining a Schengen Visa.Every individual within the Schengen Area has a unique case, so be sure to check country and Schengen Visa guidelines.
Short stay visa (Type C): Covering visits up to 90 days for tourism, business, or family visits, this is the most common Schengen visa.
Limited territorial validity visa (LTV): This visa is only valid within the country that issued it, not the whole Schengen Zone.
National visa (Long stay): This visa is for those who wish to stay for more than 90 days, often for studies, work, or residency.
The Schengen Visa application process has become increasingly difficult, resulting in higher acknowledgment and more critical evaluation of visa requests.Sweden and Denmark, for example, have consistently shown an increasing ratio of Schengen visa refusals.While the Schengen Visa application review could show increasing Schengen visa refusals, this simply means more scrutiny is being applied, and thus the application process is more in need of thoroughness and completeness.
Countries that have been receiving more applications and thus showing lower Schengen visa refusal rates are generally more accessible for first time applicants.For example, Sweden and Denmark have faced increasing ratios of Schengen visa refusals whereas Romania, Lithuania, Romania, and Iceland have shown lower ratios of Schengen visa refusals.Therefore, an applicant looking for an increasing chance of success for visa acceptance should look toward these countries, keeping in mind that applications that are thorough and complete are far more essential.
There are a number of steps to completing the Schengen Visa application process. First, you must identify the consulate you are applying to.This typically depends on which country you’ll be entering the Schengen area through, or where you plan on spending the majority of your time.After going through the consulate’s website, you may need to schedule an appointment through a visa center, like the VFS Global.After you have completed your appointment, you must fill out an application. After the appointment, you must provide the necessary documents including, proof of travel insurance, proof of financial means, and your passport.After this, you’ll pay the visa fee and wait for the visa to be processed, which can take anywhere from 15 to 45 days.
How long does a schengen visa application take?
Depending on which country you are applying to, the processes for the Visa can take a long time.As mentioned, the processes can take anywhere from 15 to 45 days, and you’ll likely wait 30 days to get a reply.If you are applying during the peak travel days, it’s smart to apply for your visa a long time before you even plan to travel.
On average, a Schengen Visa charge an average of €80, however, due to fluctuating exchange rates and countries charging additional service fees, the price can vary per country.Children, on the other hand, get to pay a lesser fee costing around €40.Additional charges may apply for the use of Visa processing centers and for the speeding processing of your Visa.Prior to booking your visa appointment, check the latest fee schedule and prepare the correct visa fee.
Save on visa fees with Wise
For budget travelers, Wise offers an advantage when paying for your Schengen visa to help you save money.Wise charges a lower transaction fee than most banks and offers a better exchange rate than most of their competitors for travel budgets.You can avoid additional fees like conversion ones and save money when using Wise.
Ultimately, which Schengen visa is easy to get from UK varies with countries you apply to and how prepared you are.Iceland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, and Portugal are often regarded as the easiest because of relatively high approval and processing speeds.Nonetheless, being prepared with the right documents and applying correctly, in a timely fashion, and with complete guideline compliance are all critical to being as successful as possible with your application.Familiarizing yourself with the steps to get a Schengen visa from the UK can help make the experience less stressful and allow you to enjoy your visa once you have it and set off for Europe.
Trust World Key Tours for complete travel services from the UK. From visa assistance to flights, hotels, and holiday packages, we make your trip smooth and secure.