German Consulate London – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Germany Schengen Visa

Germany is a wonderful Schengen country with lots to keep its visitors happy. In the north, cities like Hamburg and Bremen offer delicious cuisine and plenty of places to eat and drink. The west is home to wine regions and river valleys – perfect for exploring. There are green landscapes and beautiful forests in the center and lakes and mountains in the south. Berlin and Dresden lie in the east and are fabulous destinations to spend a few days! In this article learn more about how to apply for Germany visa at the German consulate in London, UK, Germany visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Germany visa application center, flight itinerary for Germany visa, hotel bookings for Germany visa, Schengen travel insurance for Germany visa application, and Germany Visa Application Process at the London embassy.

Germany Schengen Visas

In 2017, there were 2,049,055 Germany Schengen visas received by all the embassies and consulates around the world. 156,393 (7.63%) were rejected. The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in London received 24,354 applications and rejected 362 (1.5%).

Applying for a German Schengen Visa from London

There are many nationalities that do NOT require a visa to visit Germany, but if you are from any of the following countries you DO need a visa to be able to enter and stay in Germany: :

You can apply for your German visa from London if you currently reside in the United Kingdom, however, you must be able to prove you have a legal right to remain in the UK.

You have to make sure you apply at the right German embassy and consulate. With effect from 17 January 2019, the Embassy of Germany has outsourced Schengen visa applications to a third-party visa application center called VisaMetric, so you will submit your application to their office in London.

You may apply through the office in London providing you live in the following areas:

Please note, your visa application is received by VisaMetric, but it is the embassy in London that will make the final decision.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in London

There are different types of visas that you may apply for and the one you need will depend on the duration of your trip and your reason for traveling to Germany.

1. Schengen visa – this is a short-stay visa for a maximum of 90 days for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting family/friends, other family reasons and airport transit. Applications for Schengen visas are received by VisaMetric
2. National visa – this is a long-stay visa (over 90 days) for the purposes of employment, study, family reasons, etc. If you wish to apply for this type of visa, you will also need to apply for a residence permit. Applications for National visas are dealt with by the consulate in London

Visas are usually issued as:

• Single entry – Maximum of 1 entry during 90 day period
• Double entry – Maximum of 2 entries during the 90 day period
• Multiple entry – Unlimited entries during the 90 day period

Schengen Visa Application Process at VisaMetric/the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in London

Visametric will transfer your documents to the visa office at the embassy in London and it will then be processed in 5 – 14 working days. In addition, if the embassy asks you to provide further information, this will extend the processing time.

You can apply up to 3 months before your departure date, so don’t leave it too late, particularly around Easter, summer holidays and Christmas when a fixed amount of visa applications are processed every day. Also, take note of the embassy’s official holidays which may also extend the visa application processing time.

Here are a few steps to help you apply for your Germany visa:

Step 1: Book an appointment               

Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below:

The first thing you need to do is to book an appointment in order to submit your visa application.

1. Go to VisaMetric’s website and click on: “Book an appointment”
2. Click on the link
3. Select your country of residence as the UK
4. Select Germany as the country to visit and then continue
5. Choose service type, residence city, VisaMetric office and application type from the drop-down boxes

Then, you will be able to continue, key in your personal information etc., and book your appointment.

For National visas, you can make your appointment on the embassy’s website.

Step 2: Complete your application form

The next step is to complete your application form. Go to VisaMetric’s website and click on: “Visa procedures” and “Online application form (Videx)“:

Scroll down and click on the Online application form (Videx) button:

You will be directed to the VIDEX system where you can complete your application form:

You must print the application form along with the barcode page and take it with you when you attend your appointment. After printing out the completed application form, please check all data and do not forget to sign the form in three places (section number 37 and in two sections followed by it).

In addition to the application form, it is necessary to sign the Additional information form.

For National visas and residence permits, go to the embassy’s website.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

You need to submit all the required documents for your visa application, so take a look at VisaMetric’s website to learn what you need before you start this step.

Original documents AND photocopies must be provided. Foreign documents must also be translated into English and properly legalized.

Documents include:

1. Printed visa application form
2. Additional Information sheet
3. Passport (original and 2 photocopies) – with at least 2 blank pages, must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date. Extended passports may still be valid, but when older than 10 years the passport is no longer acceptable
4. UK residence permit – endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card and must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area
5. 1 recent color photograph – not more than 6 months old, on white or off-white background. See guidelines for acceptable photos
6. Recent employer letter (less than 1 month) – signed/stamped, on headed letter and addressed to the embassy. Must state the name and position of the signee and confirming applicant’s employment
7. Recent student letter (less than 1 month old) – signed UK school/college/university letter addressed to the embassy confirming the name and position of the signee and confirming applicant’s enrollment
8. Recent self-employment letter (less than 1 month old) – signed and addressed to the embassy stating the name and position of the signee and confirming what you do. Must be obtained from your accountant or HM Revenue & Customs
9. Recent original letter obtained from local job center or pension service
10. Marriage/birth certificate
11. Host’s passport/ID and proof of occupation
12. Proof of sponsorship
13. Declaration of Obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung)
14. Proof of funds – latest 3 months UK current account bank statements. You must have at least £40 per day for your stay in Germany
15. Confirmed return travel tickets mentioning applicant’s name and travel dates to and from the Schengen Area. Note that Embassies in UK may require actual fully paid tickets for the visa application and not the flight reservation based on the jurisdiction you live in. So double check the embassy requirements within your jurisdiction before submitting the documents for visa application.
16. Proof of accommodation – booking for hotel, hostel, camping etc
17. Schengen Travel insurance (all-risk medical travel insurance) – must be valid throughout the complete territory of the Schengen Area and must cover the entire period of your intended stay in the Schengen Area with a minimum cover for medical emergency and repatriation for at least €30,000
18. Invitation letter

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Attend your appointment

On the day of your appointment, it’s important to remember the following things:

1. Arrive early – if you are late for your appointment at VisaMetric, you may have to reschedule it and this could delay things for you
2. Don’t forget anything – remember to take all the required documents and check you have everything before you get to your appointment. If you submit an incomplete application it will be rejected
3. Dress smartly – don’t turn up to your appointment in shorts and a t-shirt. Your aim should be to make a good impression

The visa officer will examine your application and supporting documents and if they need any more information from you, they may ask you additional questions. If this happens to you, don’t panic, simply answer honestly and politely.

Typical questions include:

1. Have you ever traveled to Germany or the EU before?
2. Are you married?
3. How do we know you will return to your country before the visa expires?
4. What is your job?
5. Are you meeting anyone in Germany?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

You will also pay the fee for your visa. You can pay in cash or by credit/debit card at VisaMetric. Please note, there is also a service fee of £21.10. These fees will not be refunded to you, even if your application gets rejected.

You will also provide a scan of your fingerprints and a photo. This biometric data will be uploaded on the Visa Information System (VIS) and will be used by the immigration authorities. If you have previously provided this data, there is no need to do so again, as long as it is within a 5 year period.

Step 5: Receive your visa

Once you have submitted your application, you can track its progress. Go to VisaMetric’s website and click on: “Appointment” and “Application status”:

On the next page, key in your passport number and barcode number and you’ll get an update about your application:

When a decision has been reached you can collect your passport from VisaMetric or you can have it returned to you by mail. Please note, there is a charge of £15 for the postal service.

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – you will find your Germany visa inside your passport
2. Rejected – your visa application has been rejected for a reason. You can appeal the decision within 1 month

Common rejection reasons

1. Damaged passport – if your passport is damaged in any way, such as missing or loose pages, you must obtain a new one before applying for your visa
2. Birth certificate missing – if there is a minor under the age of 18 traveling to Germany, a birth certificate must be provided
3. Proof of sponsorship not provided – if you are being sponsored by an individual or a company, you must provide a sponsorship letter
4. Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip, so you must provide proof that you can do so. Remember you need to prove that you have at least £40 per day

Contact details for VisaMetric in London

Address: 30-40 Underwood Street, Hoxton, London, N1 7JQ

Phone: 03455212600

Email: info.london@visametric.com

Hours: Submission of documents: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 4.00 pm; Collection: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 5.15 pm

Contact details for the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in London

Address: 23 Belgrave Square/Chesham Place, London, SW1X 8PZ

Phone: +44 (0)20 7824 1300

Fax: +44 (0)20 7824 1449

Email: info.london@visametric.com

Hours: Monday – Friday: only with appointment

Conclusion

There are just 5 easy steps to follow when you apply for your Germany Schengen visa:

1. Book an appointment
2. Complete your application form
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your appointment
5. Receive your visa

Once you have your visa, you can get excited about your upcoming trip to Germany!

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

Apply Schengen Visa From UK

Apply France Visa From UK

Apply Germany Visa From UK

Apply Spain Visa From UK

Apply Italy Visa From UK

Apply Switzerland Visa From UK

Apply Netherlands Visa From UK

Apply Greece Visa From UK

Apply Portugal Visa From UK

Apply Belgium Visa From UK

Apply Sweden Visa From UK

Apply Norway Visa From UK

Apply Czech Republic Visa From UK

Apply Denmark Visa From UK

Apply Iceland Visa From UK

Apply Malta Visa From UK

Apply Italy Visa From London