Germany Visa from UK – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for German Schengen Visa

Germany is an exciting Schengen country and one that is a popular destination for visitors. Head to the Rhine Valley to see 5 of Germany’s 13 wine regions. Or, you could explore Thuringia – a beautiful region with castles, forests and mountains. If you’re a city lover, Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt, to name a few, are perfect places to explore, shop, eat and drink! In this article learn more about how to apply for Germany visa at the German consulate in UK, London, Edinburgh, Manchester, 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, Edinburgh and Manchester embassy.

Germany Schengen Visa

In 2018, there were 2,056,296 German Schengen visa applications received by all the embassies and consulates around the world. 186,699 (9.1%) were not issued. The Embassy of Germany in London received 23,743 applications and rejected 192 (0.8%).

Applying for a German Schengen Visa from the United Kingdom

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 the United Kingdom as long as you live in the UK permanently and you can 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 depending on where you live, you can submit your application to any of their offices located in London, Manchester or Edinburgh.

You may apply through the office in London or Manchester if you live in the following areas:

You may apply through the office in Edinburgh if 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 – for up to 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 – for stays 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 embassy in London

Visas are usually issued as:

1. Single entry – Maximum of 1 entry
2. Double entry – Maximum of 2 entries
3. Multiple entry – Unlimited entries

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

The embassy will process your visa application within 5 – 14 working days. It could take longer if the embassy requires any further information/documents from you, so bear that in mind.

You can apply up to 90 days prior to your departure date, so don’t leave it too late. In addition, during certain times of the year, such as Easter, summer holidays and Christmas, there are a fixed amount of visa applications processed every day.

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
6. 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.

1. Click on: “Continue”
2. Enter the text you see on the screen into the box and continue
3. You will then be able to choose a convenient day and time for your appointment

Step 2: 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:

Make sure you print the following documents:

1. Visa application form
2. Barcode page
3. Additional information form

After printing out the completed application form, please check all data and do not forget to sign the application form and the Additional information form.

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

Step 3: Prepare your documents

Before you start this step, take a look at VisaMetric’s website to find out the requirements for the type of visa you are applying for. If you hand over an incomplete application, it could be rejected.

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 3 months after your trip. Extended passports may still be valid, but when older than 10 years the passport is not acceptable
4. UK residence permit – endorsed in your passport or issued as a Biometric card and must be valid for at least 90 days beyond your trip
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 it must confirm your 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 your 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. Passport of your host’s and proof of your host’s occupation (if applicable)
    
12. Sponsorship evidence
13. Declaration of Obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung)
14. Proof of sufficient funds – last 3 months UK current account bank statements. You must have at least £40 per day for your stay in Germany
15. Confirmed return travel reservation stating your name and travel dates. 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 – hotel booking, 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. Letter of invitation

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 will have to make a new appointment
2. Don’t forget anything – remember to take all the required documents and check you have signed where appropriate before you get to your appointment
3. Dress smartly – don’t turn up to your appointment in shorts and a t-shirt if you want to make a good impression

The visa officer will begin to review your application. If he/she needs any more information, they will ask you questions. Remember to be honest when you provide the answers.

Typical questions include:

1. Is this your first time traveling to Germany?
2. What do you know about the country?
3. What do you do in the UK?
4. How much is your salary?
5. How will you pay for this trip?

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, VisaMetric also charge the following service fees:

These fees are non-refundable.

You will also provide biometric data. If you have previously provided this, 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:

When the embassy has reached a decision, they will send your passport back to VisaMetric where you can collect it or you can have it returned to your home address 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. The wrong visa has been applied for – it is your responsibility to apply for the correct visa depending on the duration of your trip and your reason for traveling to Germany (see above types of visas)
2. Invitation letter missing – if you are being invited to Germany by a person or a company, you must provide an invitation letter
3. Your passport has 2 months remaining – your passport must have 3 months remaining after your trip. If it doesn’t, you must obtain a new one before applying for your visa
4. Employment status has not been verified – you must verify your employment status whether you are employed, self-employed, a student, retired or unemployed. You can do this by providing specific documents such as payslips, enrollment letter, pension income etc

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 VisaMetric in Manchester:

Address: Clippers House, Clippers Quay, Salford Quays, Mancheser, M50 3NW

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 VisaMetric in Edinburgh:

Address: Suite 42, Pure Offices, Bonnington Bond, 2 Anderson Place, Edinburgh, EH6 5NP

Phone: 03455212600

Email: info.edinburgh@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

In summary, just follow these 5 easy steps to 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

Then, you can start the countdown to your epic trip!

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

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