Schengen visa · applying from the UK
Schengen visa from the UK: every country, compared
Each Schengen country uses its own consulate and visa centre in the UK. Find who handles your application and where you apply, then open the country page for the full checklist, appointments, fees and our visa admin support.
| Country | Visa centre | UK cities | Typical processing |
|---|---|---|---|
 Austria visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually up to 15 calendar days; up to 45 in exceptional cases. Allow a few extra days for files lodged in Manchester or Edinburgh |
 Belgium visa | Centre: TLScontact | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually 15 calendar days; can be extended to 45 in individual cases, and 45 days is the standard for some nationalities under EU measures |
 Bulgaria visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | At least 15 calendar days (VFS calls this the minimum, as each file is cleared with the Foreign Ministry in Sofia), up to 45 in exceptional cases; add about 2 days if you submit in Manchester or Edinburgh |
 Croatia visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually up to 15 days from when the embassy receives your file; the ministry says some cases take 30 to 60 days or more |
 Czech Republic visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London | Usually 15 calendar days; up to 45 in exceptional cases |
 Denmark visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Up to 15 calendar days for a complete file (the Embassy currently quotes up to 20 days for applications received after 8 September 2026); up to 45 days if further checks are needed |
 Estonia visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham (Smethwick), Cardiff | Usually up to 15 calendar days from when the embassy receives the file; up to 45 in individual cases. Allow 2-3 extra working days from centres outside London |
 Finland visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually up to 15 calendar days; up to 45 in exceptional cases. Allow extra courier days for files submitted in Manchester or Edinburgh |
 France visa | Centre: TLScontact | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually 15 calendar days; up to 45 in exceptional cases. Allow extra time in spring and summer |
 Germany visa | Centre: TLScontact | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually about 15 working days from receipt by the Embassy or Consulate General, plus 2-3 working days to return your passport; longer if other German authorities must approve |
 Greece visa | Centre: GVCW (Global Visa Center World) | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually 15 calendar days, up to 45 in some cases; at least 3 weeks for nationalities that need prior consultation; add about 5 days if you submit in Manchester or Edinburgh |
 Hungary visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually 15 calendar days; up to 45 in individual cases |
 Iceland visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff (listed by VFS; confirm) | Normally within 15 days of the embassy receiving the file from VFS; can be extended to 45 days in individual cases |
 Italy visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | At least 15 days; up to 45 days depending on visa type and nationality; cannot be expedited |
 Latvia visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually up to 15 calendar days; up to 45 in individual cases. Allow a few extra days for Manchester or Edinburgh files to reach London |
 Liechtenstein visa | Centre: VFS Global (Switzerland centres) | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | About 5 working days from receipt on the Swiss embassy's checklists, but its visa page says up to 15 working days and VFS says 15 days minimum; Liechtenstein files also involve the Migration and Passport Office in Vaduz, so plan for longer |
 Lithuania visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff | Usually 15 calendar days, extendable up to 45 in individual cases; files from Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff are sent to London, which can add a few days |
 Luxembourg visa | Centre: Embassy / consulate (direct) | Cities: London | Usually 15 calendar days; up to 45 in exceptional cases |
 Malta visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | VFS advises a minimum of 3 weeks; the legal standard is 15 calendar days, extendable to 45; add 2 days if you submit in Manchester or Edinburgh |
 Netherlands visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham | Average 18 to 21 calendar days (Netherlands Worldwide); up to 45 in some cases |
 Norway visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Edinburgh | Normally up to 15 calendar days from receipt at the embassy in London; up to 45 where more checks are needed or the case is referred to UDI. Courier time between VFS and the embassy comes on top |
 Poland visa | Centre: Embassy / consulate (direct) | Cities: London | Usually 15 calendar days; up to 30 or 45 in exceptional cases |
 Portugal visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | At least 2 weeks (VFS); more than 3 weeks for nationalities that need prior consultation; up to 45 days in individual cases. Edinburgh adds 2 days |
 Romania visa | Centre: Embassy / consulate (direct) | Cities: London, Manchester | Usually 15 calendar days; up to 45 in exceptional cases |
 Slovakia visa | Centre: BLS International | Cities: London, Edinburgh | 15 calendar days; up to 45 in individual cases (the Embassy's checklist says around 10 days in general) |
 Slovenia visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Usually up to 15 calendar days; up to 45 in individual cases |
 Spain visa | Centre: BLS International | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | Legal deadline 15 calendar days, extendable to 45. BLS currently warns of at least 4 weeks in London at peak times and 6-8 weeks in Manchester, so apply early |
 Sweden visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Edinburgh | Around 15 days once the Migration Agency has your application and passport, up to 45 if more checks are needed; add courier time each way (Sweden Abroad says about 2 days from London and 3 from Edinburgh; VFS warns it can take 3-5 working days) |
 Switzerland visa | Centre: VFS Global | Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh | About 5 working days from receipt (embassy checklists), though the embassy's visa page mentions up to 15 working days, so plan for longer; usually up to 14 working days for prior-consultation nationalities; can be extended if more information is needed |
No country matches that search.
All Schengen countries charge the same visa fee: €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6-11, free under 6. Visa centres add their own service charge.
Who needs a Schengen visa?
UK residents whose passport is not visa-exempt - for example Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Filipino and South African nationals. British citizens do not need one for short trips.
Read the full guideWhich country do you apply to?
Your main destination - where you spend the most nights. With equal stays, the country you enter first. One visa then covers all 29 countries.
The main destination ruleWhen should you apply?
Up to six months before you travel and no later than 15 calendar days before. Start six to ten weeks ahead in peak season, when appointments are hardest to find.
Processing times explainedHow appointments work
Appointments are booked through the official system, in your name.
Your appointment with the official visa centre is free to book and is made by you, in your own name, on the official booking site. Dates, availability and the visa decision are entirely in the hands of the centre and the consulate. We do the part that is in your hands: a complete, consistent, well-evidenced application.
What we do
- Explain which centre and city to use
- Help you register and book correctly in your name
- Prepare your form, checklist and evidence
- Brief you for the appointment day
What is not in our hands
- Appointment dates and availability
- The visa decision, which the consulate makes
- The official visa fee, which you pay directly
- Bots or shared accounts: your booking is yours alone
Schengen visa questions
Who can apply for a Schengen visa from the UK?
You can apply from the UK if you are legally resident here - for example on a work, student, family or settlement visa - and your UK permission normally lasts at least three months beyond your return from Schengen. British citizens and many other passport holders do not need a Schengen visa for short trips. If you are in the UK as a visitor, you usually need to apply in your home country.
How much does a Schengen visa cost from the UK?
The official Schengen visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11; children under 6 are free. It is charged in pounds at the visa centre’s exchange rate. The visa centre adds its own service charge, and optional extras cost more. Our support fee is separate and always quoted before you commit.
How early should I apply?
You can apply up to six months before your trip, and you must apply at least 15 calendar days before you travel. Decisions usually take up to 15 calendar days but can take longer in busy periods. Because appointments in summer and around holidays can be scarce, we recommend starting six to ten weeks before you fly.
Which country should I apply to if I am visiting several?
Apply to the country where you will spend the most nights (your main destination). If you spend the same time in each, apply to the country you will enter first. Business purpose can also decide the main destination. Our guide to choosing the right country explains the rule with worked examples.
Do I need a BRP to apply for a Schengen visa?
No. Biometric Residence Permits have been replaced by UKVI eVisas. Consulates and visa centres now ask for proof of your UK status from your eVisa, usually a share code and a printout of your status page. Make sure your eVisa is linked to the passport you are applying with.
How long can I stay with a Schengen visa?
A short-stay Schengen visa lets you stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all 29 Schengen countries. The exact dates and number of entries are printed on the visa sticker. Our guide to the 90/180-day rule shows how to count your days.
Which countries are in the Schengen area?
There are 29: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Ireland and Cyprus are not in Schengen.
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Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm · UK-based team