Schengen Visas
General guidance on making applications
What is the Schengen Visa Scheme?
The Schengen Visa Scheme allows people wishing to visit certain countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) to travel using only one visa for a trip that could last up to 3 months.
At the moment there are 15 countries who have signed the Schengen agreement and who make up the Schengen space, these countries are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
Who needs to apply for a Schengen Visa?
Nationals from any of the countries listed above plus the United Kingdom and Ireland do not need to apply for a Schengen visa to travel within the Schengen space. Nationals of other countries will usually require a visa to enter the Schengen space. However it is wise to check with the embassy or consulate of the country that you wish to visit before making travel arrangements
Types of Schengen Visa
- Airport transit visa – allows you to pass through the transit area of an airport of a Schengen member state but not to visit the country, before flying on to your final destination
- Transit visa – allows you to pass through one or more Schengen member states on your way to another country outside the Schengen space
- Short-stay or travel visa – allows you to visit Schengen member states for up to 3 months in any 6-month period. This is the visa most students will need to apply for if they want to travel within the Schengen space.
Where to apply for a Schengen visa
If you plan to visit only one country in the Schengen space then you should apply to the embassy or consulate of that country
If you plan to visit more than one country within the Schengen space then you should apply to the embassy or consulate of whichever country you plan to spend the most time in during your trip
If you plan to visit several countries in the Schengen space without having one main destination, then you should apply to the embassy or consulate of the country you will visit first.
How to make your application
Each of the Schengen member states have slightly different application procedures, ask for specific documents and make different charges. Information on application procedures for of each of the countries is available form embassy web sites (see list below) or ask to see the ‘Schengen Visa Information File’ which is held in the International Support Unit in Student Services.
How long will the application take?
You should think well ahead about any trips that you would like to make within Europe. Most embassies say that the process takes several weeks, but this can vary considerably. Most embassies do not issue Schengen visas on the same day.
We recommend that you begin the application process at least eight weeks before you intend to travel.
Some points to remember
Some embassies have a limit on the number of applications they will accept each day. You should aim to arrive at the embassy very early if you are making your application in person. Other embassies require that you make an appointment for an interview.
Embassies close on days which are national holidays in their own country. You can visit www.national-holidays.com to check when an embassy may be closed
Visa information lines can be very expensive and only give pre-recorded basic information. It is better to use the embassy websites:
