adminGerman Schengen Visa Requirements for the UK Residents – Germany is quite demanding on the issue of document requirements for visa application and tends to enforce strict guidelines for the application process. This page will clearly guide on German Schengen Visa Requirements, How To Apply for a Germany Visa in the UK and you need to know for successful German Schengen Visa Application.
German Schengen Visa
Any UK citizen who holds either a full UK passport or a BOTC, BOC, BPP or BS passport can travel to Germany visa-free. On the other hand, many non-EU nationals who reside in the UK are still required to get a Schengen visa to travel to Germany.
In recent years, following visa liberalization policies for non-EU countries, the number of countries whose nationals require visas to travel to Europe has slightly dropped. Here is the list of nationalities that are still required to get a Schengen Visa to visit Germany and other Schengen states.
Below you can find more information on applying for a German visa from the UK.
Who Can Apply for a German Visa From UK?
Citizens of these countries residing in the UK and planning to visit Germany are required to get a German visa in order to be able to enter Germany. The main requirement is that you must have a UK residence permit valid for at least another three more months beyond the date they plan to leave Germany / the Schengen Area.
Use the German Schengen visa eligibility checker tool to find out if you qualify to apply for a German visa from the UK.
If you have a 3 month UK visa you can extend it for three more months in order to be eligible to apply for a German Schengen visa from within the UK. You must apply for an extension before your visa expires and while you’re still in the UK. Find out more about how to extend your UK visa.
You should apply for a visa at the appropriate German Embassy/Consulate or German visa application centre in the UK if:
- Germany is the only Schengen country you plan on visiting
- Germany is your main destination (the country you will be staying the longest in)
- Germany is the first Schengen country you are visiting since you will be spending an equal amount of days in each Schengen country you plan to visit
In case you plan on staying in Germany for more than 90 days you must apply for a residence permit, not a German Schengen visa.
Please note that if you are not a resident in the United Kingdom you should apply at the German Embassy/Consulate or German visa application centre in your country of residence.
Germany Visa Application Requirements for UK Residents
The following list of documents are required in order to obtain a German visa in the UK:
A valid passport or travel document. Please make sure that:
- Your passport has been issued (not extended) within the previous 10 years,
- Your passport has 2 full blank pages, one for the visa stamp and an additional spare page,
- Your passport will be valid for at least three (3) months after the date you exit the Schengen Area.
A valid UK residence permit. The UK residency permit must be endorsed in the actual passport (or on a new biometric ID card)
German visa application form. Filled out completely and signed by the applicant (please read the explanations carefully).
One passport format photo that has a light background, is brightly coloured and shows a full face. The photo must be less than three months old and be glued to the German Schengen visa application form. Applications with stapled photographs will be rejected.
A cover letter that explains the purpose of the visit to Germany
Proof of travel arrangements: Round trip flight/travel reservations from the UK to Germany and back to the UK, or other proof of intended transport and complete itinerary of your visit to Germany (if several Schengen States will be visited or if the trip covers several Schengen States and non-Schengen countries).
Germany Travel Medical Insurance. Stating that you are covered in case of a medical emergency and repatriation not just in Germany, but in the whole Schengen zone (minimum coverage of € 30.000). UK residents can easily purchase the travel insurance policy online from Europ Assistance, AXA-Schengen or MondialCare. All these travel insurance companies are accepted by German Embassies and Consulates in the UK.
Proof of accommodation in Germany:
Evidence of a hotel booking in Germany or rental agreement, or
Invitation from your German host (family member, friend) along with a copy of their passport or ID (Proof of sponsorship if dependant)
Proof of financial subsistence:
A recent statement of UK bank account for the last three months that shows funds of at least 50 £ per person per day spent in German, or Traveller’s cheques
Important note: Starting from November 20, 2015 persons applying for a German short-term visa are required to provide fingerprints (biometric data) as an additional document.
Children younger than 12 years of age and applicants who are not physically capable of providing fingerprints are exempted from this procedure.
Note: Photocopies of the original documents should also be submitted and documents should not be more than one month old.
The documents listed above are documents required in all cases, regardless of the purpose of your visit to Germany. Depending on your employment status, here is a list of additional documents that are required for your Germany visa application in the UK:
For UK employees:
- Employment contract
- Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
- Leave permission from the employer
- Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary
For the self-employed:
- A copy of your business license
- Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
For foreign students in the UK:
- Proof of enrollment
- No-objection certificate from school or university in the UK
For retirees:
- Pension statement of the latest 6 months
If unemployed and married to an EU citizen:
- A recent (less than 3 months old) Confirmation of Employment letter from their spouse’s employer stating the position held within the company as well as the starting date,
Spouse’s valid passport - An officially translated marriage certificate. The translation must be in English or German and must be certified as a true copy by the Embassy of the country where the marriage took place or by the Legalization Bureau of the Foreign Office in the UK
Requirements for children under the age of 18
Underage children must be accompanied by parents or an adult guardian at the application centre at the German Embassy or Consulate-General in the UK. Also, minors who are granted a German visa are not allowed to travel to Germany by themselves. They should be accompanied by an adult during their stay in Germany.
Required documents for Germany visa application for underage children;
- Original birth certificate among others.
- Signed travel consent from both parents
- If one parent is not located in the UK they should submit their signed consent to the German Embassy/Consulate of their residing country
Note: All documents must be either in German or English or officially translated by a certified translator.
To find more about the documentation needed for applying for a visa to Germany click https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/germany/visa/ or http://www.germany-visa.org
German Schengen Visa Requirements -How to Apply for a Germany Visa From the UK
To apply for a visa to Germay you must book an appointment with the German Embassy in London or German Consulate General in Edinburgh.
This can be done in different ways:
- By booking an appointment directly at the German Embassy in London or German Consulate General in Edinburgh.
- You can book an appointment every working day from 9 am to 10 am except on holidays.
- Through VFS Centres in London and Manchester. German visa applications for UK residents are to be submitted at the Germany Visa Application Centres in London and Manchester. All applications will be assessed by The Embassy of Germany, London.
Related: How To Apply Schengen Visa Application From UK
Schengen Visa Types for Short-Term Visits in Germany
You need to apply for a German Schengen visa if you intend to travel from the UK to Germany for the following reasons:
- Business purposes.
- Visiting friends and family.
- Tourism and holidays.
- Cultural and sports events.
- Airport transit and transit for seafarers.
- Official visit.
- Medical reasons.
- Short-term study purposes.
Depending on your reasons for visiting Germany and the frequency of your visits, the German embassy/consulate in the UK can issue you a single-entry visa, double-entry visa, or multiple-entry visa.
At which German Embassy/Consulate should I apply?
- If you are residing in England or Wales then you should apply at the German Embassy in London.
- If you are residing in Scotland or Northern Ireland then you should apply to the German Consulate General in Edinburgh.
Postal application – Only for applicants who fall under the jurisdiction of the German Consulate General in Edinburgh
To apply by regular post, you are required to include 55 £ in the application envelope along with all the required documents
You qualify for post-application only if the following conditions are fulfilled:
- You have provided biometric data at any other Schengen country Embassy/Consulate and
- You belong to at least one of the following categories of applicants:
- You are the spouse of an EU national
- You have been issued with at least two Schengen Visas during the last 24 months
- You have been issued with a Schengen Visa with a validity of at least one year during the last 24 months
- You have been issued with a Schengen Visa from the German Consulate in Edinburgh during the last 12 months
- You are a student from China
Note: You can also send your application to the Consulate General in Edinburgh in person on Monday or Wednesday at 11.30 am
Germany Visa Application Processing Time in the UK
You can apply for a German Schengen visa up to 180 days before your planned trip. Usually, the German visa application process takes a minimum of 5 working days. However, for nationals of the following countries the application time takes at least 14 working days (Source: VFSGlobal):
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan*
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Niger
- Nigeria
- North Korea
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tajikistan*
- Tunisia
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
*Note: except for diplomatic and service passport
Considering the time German visa application processing takes, you are advised to apply 3 to 6 weeks in advance of your trip to Germany.
Germany Visa Fees for UK Residents
Since Germany is a Schengen state, visa fees are the same as any other Schengen visa.
These are the costs of a German Schengen Visa when applying from the UK:
- Schengen Visa Category (by age) Fee in UK Pound Fee in Euro
- Adult 73 £ 80 €
- Child between 6-12 years of age 36.5 £ 40 €
- Child younger than 6 years of age Free Free
Note: Keep in mind that these fees may change depending on currency fluctuations and can be paid only in UK Pounds. Payments can be made in cash and by credit or debit card
Germany Visa fee exemptions
The following persons are exempted from visa fees:
- Children younger than 6 years of age
- Family members of an EU/EEA national
Documents required for exemption:
- Original Marriage Certificate, or
- Civil Partnership Certificate
- Original full Birth Certificate
- EU/EAA national’s passport.
Persons travelling for the purpose of study or educational training and are accompanied by teaching staff such as:
- School pupils.
- Undergraduates and postgraduates.
Documents required for exemption: A letter from the school principal/dean that states that the trip is an obligatory part of the school/college programme.
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