WHAT IS THE SCHENGEN AREA AND A SCHENGEN VISA?

If you are a non European and you plan to travel to Europe, you may need to apply for a Schengen Visa. The Schengen Visa Scheme is a scheme that allows those wishing to visit certain countries within the European Economic Area.

A list of the Schengen countries is shown below.

DO I NEED A SCHENGEN VISA?

Holders of any European Economic Area Passport (EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland passport do not need a visa for the Schengen area, and are generally allowed to stay for as long as they want.

Or if you are from any of the countries shown below then you DO NOT need a Schengen visa.

CAN I APPLY FOR A SCHENGEN VISA?

FOR APPLYING FOR ANY EURO TOUR EXCEPT TO FRANCE

Check your passport and the UK Visa. You will need about 5 months remaining valid on that visa to be able to have enough time to apply. This will allow you to book the appointment, have the visa processed and passport returned for your travel and the required 3 months remaining valid on the UK visa after the tour returns.

FOR APPLYING FOR A TOUR TO FRANCE.

Check your passport and UK Visa. You need minimum 7 months total UK visa to apply with about 5 months remaining valid on it. This will allow you to book the appointment, have the visa processed and passport returned for your travel and the required 3 months remaining valid on the UK visa after the tour returns.

I CAN APPLY FOR A SCHENGEN VISA – WHAT DO I DO NOW?

1. BOOK THE APPOINTMENT (either directly yourself or using an agent on your behalf at an extra cost). See below on "how do I make an appointment or contact the embassy" section for more info.

Apply for the main destination country you are travelling to (the country with the accommodation). If you are travelling more than once to the Schengen area then apply at the embassy of the country you stay for the most amount of time, or if equal time in each main destination then its the first country you stay in. If you are not sure then contact us.

You can apply for a single entry visa, double entry visa (twice) or multiple entry visa (3 or more times entry to Schengen area).

2. BOOK THE TOUR TICKET & GET VISA LETTER WITH UKSTUDY. 

Your tour should be departing at least 2 or 3 weeks after your appointment date to ensure visa process is completed. Contact UKstudy to get your visa letter showing hotel accommodation and travel plans arranged by us. 

3. GO TO THE APPOINTMENT INTERVIEW.

Take your visa letter and ticket with all your required items to the embassy appointment (see below for the list of items you generally need)

4. If you are not successful in your application for the Schengen visa then contact UKstudy Tours immediately to receive your money back for the tour (other costs involved unfortunately cannot be refunded).

HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT OR CONTACT THE EMBASSY?

The whole process may take up to 6 weeks to get an appointment and take the interview, have the visa processed and receive your passport back, so please keep this in mind for your travel. It is worth noting that arranging a Schengen visa can be much cheaper and quicker if arranged in your country of origin before you arrive in the UK. Please use links below to find the information for your travel.

LIST OF EMBASSIES: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk

ADVICE ON TRAVEL: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Studying--living-in-the-UK/Travel-in-Europe

FRANCE (Paris tours): https://fr.tlscontact.com/gb/lon/index.php

NETHERLANDS (Amsterdam & Bruges tour): https://www.vfsglobal.com/Netherlands/UK/visa-services/index.html

BELGIUM (Brussels & Cologne tour): https://be.tlscontact.com/gb/LON/index.php

ITALY: https://www.vfsglobal.com/Italy/UK/London/tourist.html

LIST OF ITEMS GENERALLY NEEDED FOR EMBASSIES

- Completed application form

- Your passport or travel document which must be valid and in date. This must contain your student visa (which must be valid for at least 3 months longer than the validity of the Schengen visa applied for) Your passport must have a blank page to affix the Schengen visa sticker.

- 1 x passport photo

- Health insurance to the value of at least 30,000 EU. Insurance is available from the Post Office, large supermarkets or various providers online The insurance company will provide you with a letter or certificate to include with your application

- Proof of travel plans this will be the tour ticket and UKstudy visa letter available on request.

- Proof of accommodation this will be on the visa letter we can send on request.

- Proof of financial means. You should have approx. £60 per day available to you for the duration of your visit. You should provide bank statements covering the last 3 months.

- Schengen visa fee. This varies from country to country and will be about £50 to £80 normally.

- Self-addressed special delivery envelope. This is so that the Embassy can post your passport and / or documents back to you when a decision has been made and is available from all post offices.

- Copies of all documents provided. Generally, you will be expected to take both originals and copies of all your documents to your appointment with you.

- Letter from Parents giving permission to travel on a tour abroad (under 18s only)

VISA FOR IRELAND

You can get information and apply for a visa for Ireland by clicking here: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Visit%20Tourist

Online Application form: https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa to enter Ireland. (List of Countries) 

(see below for more nationals who do not need a visa below on short stay visa waiver programme).

INFORMATION NOTE - Short stay visa waiver programme allows extra nationalities to Ireland without Irish visa

The Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme was announced by the Government as part of its Jobs Initiative with a view to promoting tourism from emerging markets.

The below link to a document contains current information relating to the Irish Short Stay visa waiver programme.

Information Note - Short Stay Visa Waiver programme March 2012 (Size 77KB)

What does the Programme do?

Under the Programme, persons

(i) who are nationals of one of eighteen countries covered by the scheme,

(ii) who have entered the UK on UK ‘C’ Visa - 

If you have a valid current UK "C" type visa in any category other than (i) a visitor in transit or (ii) a visitor seeking to enter for the purpose of marriage or to enter a civil partnership, then you may use this visa to enter Ireland in accordance with the short stay visa waiver program.

(iii) have been granted leave to remain in the UK for up to 180 days

may

(iv) travel to Ireland, within the time remaining on a current leave to remain in the UK, without the requirement to obtain an Irish visa, and

(v) be granted permission to remain in Ireland up to a maximum of 90 days or the time left on their UK leave to remain, whichever is the shorter.

List of countries to which the Visa Waiver Programme will now apply:

Nationals from Eastern Europe

• Belarus
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Montenegro
• Russia
• Serbia
• Turkey
• Ukraine

Middle East

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates

Other Asian Countries

• India
• Kazakhstan
• Peoples’ Republic of China
• Thailand
• Uzbekistan