Disclaimer: This visa system is expected to be fully operational by November 2023.
Is this the first time you will travel to the Schengen Zone since the visa program was activated? We tell you that all UK citizens wishing to travel in this area who have never applied for a Schengen Visa must apply for it.
But this will not be a problem with iVisa. We have a simplified form that allows you to process it in a matter of minutes, and then you can focus on planning your trip. The best part is that you will not have to go to a visa application centre.
To learn more about this topic, we recommend you continue reading this article.
Submit Your Schengen Visa Application Online Now!
To apply for a Schengen visa from the UK, your UK residence permit must be valid for at least another three months beyond the date you intend to leave the Schengen Area. If this condition is not met, your application will be rejected immediately.
Remember that you must process this travel document if you have never traveled to the Schengen Area before or have been refused entry.
What is the Schengen Visa for the UK?
When traveling to the Schengen area, a Schengen Visa is necessary in order to enter. The countries in this region require this visa for foreign visitors. You can stay in the Schengen Zone for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period with your visa; however, you might want to consider the validity of your visa when choosing how long you plan to stay.
What countries are part of the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Zone consists of:
Austria |
Belgium |
The Czech Republic |
Denmark |
Estonia |
Finland |
France |
Germany |
Greece |
Hungary |
Iceland |
Italy |
Latvia |
Liechtenstein |
Lithuania |
Luxembourg |
Malta |
The Netherlands |
Norway |
Poland |
Portugal |
Slovakia |
Slovenia |
Spain |
Sweden |
Switzerland |
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What countries are eligible for the Schengen Visa?
Citizens of more than 100 countries must apply for the Schengen Visa. These are:
Afghanistan |
Algeria |
Angola |
Armenia |
Azerbaijan |
Bahrain |
Bangladesh |
Belarus |
Belize |
Benin |
Bhutan |
Bolivia |
Botswana |
Burkina Faso |
Burundi |
Cambodia |
Cameroon |
Cape Verde |
Central African Republic |
Chad |
China |
Comoros |
Congo |
Côte D’Ivoire |
Cuba |
Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Djibouti |
Dominican Republic |
Ecuador |
Egypt |
Equatorial Guinea |
Eritrea |
Eswatini |
Ethiopia |
Fiji |
Gabon |
Gambia |
Ghana |
Guinea |
Guinea-Bissau |
Guyana |
Haiti |
India |
Indonesia |
Iran |
Iraq |
Jamaica |
Jordan |
Kazakhstan |
Kenya |
Kosovo |
Kuwait |
Kyrgyzstan |
Laos |
Lebanon |
Lesotho |
Liberia |
Libya |
Madagascar |
Malawi |
Maldives |
Mali |
Mauritania |
Mongolia |
Morocco |
Mozambique |
Myanmar |
Namibia |
Nepal |
Niger |
Nigeria |
North Korea |
Northern Marianas |
Oman |
Pakistan |
Papua New Guinea |
Palestinian Authority |
Philippines |
Qatar |
Russia |
Rwanda |
São Tomé and Príncipe |
Saudi Arabia |
Senegal |
Sierra Leone |
Somalia |
South Africa |
South Sudan |
Sri Lanka |
Sudan |
Suriname |
Syria |
Tajikistan |
Tanzania |
Thailand |
Timor-Leste |
Togo |
Tonga |
Tunisia |
Turkey |
Turkmenistan |
Uganda |
Uzbekistan |
Vanuatu |
Vietnam |
Yemen |
Zambia |
Zimbabwe |
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If your country doesn't have a visa extension agreement with the Schengen Area, such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, you must apply for an ETIAS as of May 2023.
Required documents for the Schengen Visa for the UK Citizens
To obtain the Schengen Visa, there are some visa requirements you must meet to begin the Schengen visa application process:
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Valid passport - Your passport must have been issued within the last ten years and must be valid for at least three (3) months after you leave the Schengen area. It should also have at least two blank pages.
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Copies of older visas – For countries like the UK and the US, it is essential to know if you already have a visa or not.
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Digital Photo – You need two passport-size pictures that meet the requirements of the visa regulations. If you don't have a recent digital passport photo, we also provide a passport photo service.
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Proof of financial means – You must prove that you have sufficient money or credit to travel around the region.
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Travel medical insurance - You must have travel insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.
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Other Information – Upload your round-trip airline ticket and proof of accommodation.
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A valid email address - We will send you your travel documents to your current email address.
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A credit or debit card - iVisa accepts all major credit and debit cards.
What are the different types of Schengen visas?
The Schengen visa was designed for tourists, not long-term residents. Therefore, any person wishing to live, study, or work in a country of the Schengen Zone must obtain the appropriate permits from the authorities.
When applying for a visa of this type, it is crucial to understand that there are different types depending on your travel needs.
These are some examples of the types of visas:
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Type A visas - These are also known as airport transit visas. These visas allow their holders to stay in the international area of an airport in the Schengen area but not to leave that area.
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Type C visas - Short-stay visas are the most common type of visa, allowing the holder to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days per semester. This Schengen visa category is the most popular.
Type C visas, on the other hand, are subdivided into 3 types:
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Single-entry - You may only enter the Schengen Zone on a single occasion.
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Double entry - You can only enter the Schengen Zone twice before the visa expires.
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Multiple entry Schengen visa - You may enter the Schengen Zone as often as you want for a maximum of 90 days without exceeding the 180-day period. The total number of days is calculated by adding each stay in every Schengen country.
In contrast, there are also visas with limited territorial validity, but these types of visas are not as expected. This is a rare visa type, processed in specific cases such as for humanitarian purposes.
In this case, we have 2 types of visas:
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Type B visas - Known as transit visas, they authorize the holder to enter and move within the Schengen area. Today, they are almost entirely replaced by Type C visas.
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Type D visas – These long stay visas allow the holder to reside, study or work in the Schengen area for more than 90 days. They may be single-entry or multiple-entry visas.
How do I apply for the Schengen Visa with iVisa?
You can apply for this travel document very quickly. Just follow the steps below:
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Step 1: Please complete the Schengen visa application form by answering all the questions. Once you have finished, select the time you need to process your Schengen Visa application.
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Step 2: Ensure all the information is correct before submitting. Then choose your payment method.
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Step 3: Once you have made the payment, provide all the required documentation so that we may process your visa.
When iVisa has processed and approved the application, we will send the document to you via email. We recommend checking your spam folder if it does not arrive in your inbox.
What are the costs and processing times of the Schengen Visa?
For this process, iVisa offers three options for processing times. You can choose one of these options. You could get your travel document in less time:
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Standard Processing Time: If you are not in a hurry to obtain your visa, this option offers the highest chance of success.
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Rush Processing Time: This option is faster than the other one, and you can process your visa in less time. This can be very useful if you want to travel soon or if you like to be prepared.
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Super Rush Processing Time: If you need to take an urgent trip, this option will get your visa faster.
These prices include the government and the visa fee.
Do minors need a Schengen Visa?
Minors also require a Schengen Visa. However, the parents must process the visa for the child. In addition, the child will need his birth certificate, copies of both parents' passports, and a notarized letter signed by the parents or the tutor if the child is traveling alone.
Best time to visit the Schengen area
Traveling in the Schengen Zone can be quite an adventure, and the most important thing is finding the best travel time. It is said that the north is freezing in the winter, and the south is scorching in the summer; therefore, autumn or spring is the ideal time to travel.
Regardless of the season, Berlin is a great destination. Berlin is the capital of Germany. It stands out as a fluvial locality, crossed by Esprea and Dahme's rivers. It is one of the most influential and oldest European cities. Its foundation dates back to 1200 and was the scene of historical events such as the Second World War.
Despite the ravages generated by the war on the emblematic monuments, the city has been able to rebuild itself, keeping its history but modernizing the structures; such is the case of the Brandenburg Gate, which is a symbol of world peace and the famous Berlin Wall, which after being demolished became an icon of equality.
Berlin allows you to visit incredible museums, including the oldest shopping center Europa Center, Tiergarten Park, the archaic zoo of Germany and the Berlin Aquarium, one of the top attractions in the Schengen Zone.
COVID-19 requirements or restrictions
Each country can decide whether to issue a visa based on its recommendations. However, to avoid problems at the border, travelers should ensure they meet all requirements before entering a new country.
It is crucial to travel fully vaccinated, as many countries may impose restrictions on entry if you are not vaccinated.
The European Medical Association (EMA)—the EU's advisory body on medical matters—has just approved Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). Additionally, it has been accepted to authorize the entry of travelers with vaccines used in an emergency by the World Health Organization, such as Covishield and Sinopharm.
Please note that most countries use a different system to identify risk areas. Consequently, recommendations for travel restrictions are now based on individual cases and no longer by region.
Where can I contact you?
If you have any doubts about the procedure at iVisa or the Schengen Visa, you can have a private chat with one of our experts from the customer service team, or you can send an email to [email protected]. They will be happy to assist you 24/7.