Schengen Visa information- VISA GUIDANCE
Introduction
During your time at the University of Central Lancashire you may have
opportunities to travel which will widen your experiences of other cultures
and enhance your time in the UK. Applying for a visa can seem confusing or
difficult, so it is important that you plan and prepare plenty of time in
advance.
This document lists all countries who participate in the Schengen visa
scheme. There is additional information to help you search the web for visa
details of any other countries you may wish to visit, which are not members
of the Schengen visa scheme.
Importantly, this information is for those students who are already in the UK
on a Tier 4 or Student Visa – it is not intended to provide information on how
to apply for a Tier 4 Visa or extend an existing visa to remain in the UK. For
full information on applying for a Tier 4 Visa for the UK you should refer to
www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
What is a visa?
A visa is a document issued by a country giving you permission to enter the
country for a given period of time. Most countries will require you to have a
valid visa as a condition of entry. Visas are obtained by prior application at the
country's Embassy or Consulate. You will be charged a non-refundable fee for
issuing a visa. Schengen visas currently cost €60. Visas are typically stamped or
attached into your passport.
Visas can be single-entry, which means the visa is cancelled as soon as you
leave the country, or multiple-entry, permitting multiple entries into the
country with the same visa. Please note you cannot apply for a new Schengen
visa whilst another one is still valid.
Once issued, a visa will typically have to be used within a certain period of time
and the period of validity usually starts only on entry into the country.
Overstaying a visa's validity period is considered illegal and you may be fined,
deported and even blacklisted from entering the country again.
A Schengen visa issued by an Embassy or Consulate of the listed Schengen
countries allows the holder to travel freely in all of these countries. However,
if you are travelling to more than one country, you may be required to hold a
return ticket for some countries or other proof of onward travel – please check
the requirements of the country you are applying to before you purchase
your return travel ticket.
Rules for applying for a Schengen visa
If you intend to visit ONLY ONE SCHENGEN COUNTRY, you must apply for a
visa at the Embassy or Consulate of that country.
If you intend to visit SEVERAL SCHENGEN COUNTRIES WITHOUT HAVING A
MAIN DESTINATION, you should apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate
of the first country of entry.
If you intend to visit SEVERAL SCHENGEN COUNTRIES, with ONE COUNTRY
BEING YOUR MAIN DESTINATION (i.e. you intend to stay in a particular
country for more time than the others), then you must apply for a visa at the
Embassy or Consulate of the country in which your main destination is
situated.
Your stay is limited to 90 days within any 6 month period.
*Please note: the Schengen Agreement applies only to those specific
countries who signed to the Agreement within the EU and EEA – the
Schengen Agreement is not specific to all European Member countries but
only to those listed in the ‘Participating countries’ section.
Holders of Schengen visas are still subject to immigration controls and are
not guaranteed entry into any of the Schengen countries.
Non-Schengen Visas
If you intend to visit countries which are not listed in the ‘Participating
countries’ section, you will be required to apply to each individual country
you wish to visit.
You should also note that if you are planning a trip which includes one or more
countries listed in the Schengen agreement and a country which is not listed
you will need to apply to one of the Schengen countries and also to the
Embassy of other country/countries you will be visiting. For example, if you
were planning to visit France, Germany, Spain and Ireland you would have to
apply for two visas as follows:
A Schengen visa for France, Germany or Spain
A tourist visa for Ireland
Tips when making a visa application:
 Holidays should only be taken during official University vacation periods.
 When you telephone an Embassy number you will be charged a
minimum of 60p per minute – do not use your mobile as it could be very
expensive.
 When telephoning for an appointment, have your passport with you and
a pen and paper.
 When posting your application never post cash. Always send a Postal
Order for the exact amount required.
 Always buy travel and health insurance whether or not it is required as
part of the visa application.
 If you are booking your accommodation and travel with a Travel Agent,
take your passport with you to ensure that the names entered in the
booking are identical – always check the spellings.
 If you wish your passport to be returned to you by post you should
submit a special delivery prepaid self-addressed envelope.
 You should normally allow 4-8 weeks for the processing of your
application from the date of appointment or receipt of documents,
before the proposed journey is undertaken - check the relevant Embassy
website.
Important Visa information
Providing false information in a Schengen visa application will be taken very
seriously by the Embassy and the applicant themselves will be held
responsible for the fraudulent claims; even if someone else completed the
form, the applicant who signs the form is responsible for all information
provided in that form. Please do not be tempted to be involved with this type
of deception. If you do then your Schengen visa application will be refused
and you are putting yourself at risk of being prosecuted.
You should also remember that, when applying for a Schengen visa, you must
apply either to the Embassy of the country where you will be visiting first, or
the country where you will be spending the most time. You should not apply
to a different Embassy because you think your application will be dealt with
quicker or more favourably there - this is known as ‘visa shopping’ and is
disapproved of by Embassies. ‘Visa shopping’ may also lead to the refusal of a
Schengen visa. The University of Central Lancashire will not assist you if we
believe that you are ‘visa shopping’.
Due to the fact that an Embassy can change the information on its
website at any time, you are strongly advised to check the Embassy
web page prior to submitting your application. We cannot take
responsibility for any changes of information which occur on
Embassy websites.
Supporting letter from UCLan
You will be required to send a letter from the University that
confirms you are a registered student at UCLan. In order to obtain
this letter you need to apply for a ‘confirmation of being a student’
letter from The <i>.
Please note that letters can take 10 working days to be processed.
Please do not make any visa appointments or arrange any travel
until your letter has been issued.
Schengen Visa information- PARTICIPATING
COUNTRIES
Please see the list of countries below, which require a Schengen visa. You can
click on the link to be taken directly to the website which provides all relevant
visa information…
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Schengen countries in orange
Non-Schengen countries in blue