International student support

A ‘short stay’ Schengen visa allows a visit of up to 90 days in any 180 day period to one or more Schengen countries.

Most EU countries are within the Schengen Area, as well as some non-EU countries.

The 29 Schengen countries are: Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

You can find a list of nationalities that are required to apply for a Schengen visa before travel on the European Commission's webpages- Visa policy - European Commission

If you do not need to apply for a Schengen visa in advance, you will be granted one on arrival at the Schengen border (you would still need to obtain the documents required for an application and carry them in your hand luggage in case you are asked to provide evidence at the border that you meet the visa’s requirements).

You can typically only apply for a Schengen visa from inside the UK if you are in the UK on a Student visa or another long-term visa or immigration status.

In 2025, the EU will introduce the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for travellers who currently are not required to apply for Schengen visas. ETIAS will be comparable to similar systems in the UK(ETA), USA (ESTA), Canada (eTA), and Australia (eVisitor). You can read more information on ETIAS here - FAQs on ETIAS - European Union. We also have included more information on ETIAS at the bottom of this page.

Please check directly with the embassy or consulate (or visa application centre) of the country you are applying to for their application information.

You typically must submit your application to the consulate at least 1 month before your intended journey and no earlier than 6 months beforehand.

You typically will need to have at least 3 months left on your passport as well as 90 days left on your UK visa (some Schengen countries require 180 days) on the day you plan to travel back to the UK. The embassy/consulate of the country you wish to travel to can provide you with further information on this requirement.

The normal processing time for a visa application is 15 days. This period may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination of the application and/or additional documents are required.

Please check directly with the embassy or consulate (or visa application centre) of the country you are applying to for their application information.

Applications should be made to the embassy or consulate of the country that you wish to visit. Applications are typically submitted online. You may have to book an appointment before submitting the application.

If you will visit more than one country in the Schengen zone during your trip, you will need to apply to either:

• The embassy/consulate of the country where you will spend the most time, or;
• The embassy/consulate of the country you will arrive in first (if you will spend equal amounts of time in different countries).

Application forms vary depending on the embassy/consulate at which you will apply. If you are having any issues with completing the application form, please contact the embassy/consulate for advice.

You must lodge your application for a Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of the country you intend to visit.

• Visiting more than 1 Schengen countries: apply at the embassy or consulate of the country where you will spend the longest time.
• Visiting several Schengen countries (for stays of equal length): apply at the embassy or consulate of the first country you will visit.

You may be unable to apply for a Schengen visa from inside the UK if you are unable to prove your legal status in the UK eg if you are here as a Visitor rather than holding a student visa.

Please check directly with the embassy / consulate (or visa application centre) of the country you will apply to for their document requirements.

Common documents include:

• A valid passport. Please ensure you check the consulate’s rules on passport requirements, as many countries require that your passport was issued no more than 10 years ago, remains valid for a certain length of time (usually 3 months from your departure of the Schengen area) and that it has a certain number of blank pages (usually 2).
• Proof that you are legally resident in the UK, eg UK visa information.
• Proof of your student status, such as a Certifying letter. You must ensure that the letter meets the embassy’s/consulate's requirements. For embassies or consulates willing to accept an unstamped letter, registered students can produce their own certifying letters using their MyCampus Student Center - How to Print a Certifying Letter. If you require a stamped letter, you can submit a Certifying letter request through the HelpDesk. Processing time is 15 days.
• A visa application form.
• A photo in compliance with ICAO standards.
• Medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in the event of death).
• Supporting documents relating to the purpose of your stay, evidence of financial means and accommodation during your stay, and evidence of your intention to leave after your stay.
• Your fingerprints will be collected when you submit your application (exemptions exist for specific categories of applicants).

Additional documents may also be requested by the embassy/consulate.

A Schengen visa costs:

• €90 for adults
• €45 for children aged 6-12
• €35 for applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus

An additional fee may apply if you go through visa service centres, which collect applications on behalf of consulates in some cases.

European Commission Schengen visa webpages

European Comission Schengen visa FAQ guide

European Comission Schengen Area guide

List of Embassies/Consulates in the UK  

UKCISA information on travel in Europe

Home Office Foreign Travel Advice

Before you travel, please check:

Your travel documents-

• Your eVisa has your current travel document registered (if you don’t have the correct travel document in your UKVI account, you may be delayed while travelling). You can read government guidance on checking your eVisa is correct before you travel here -Check your eVisa is correct before you travel - GOV.UK
• Your eVisa won’t expire while you are outside the UK.
• Your passport won't expire while you are outside the UK. If it will, apply for a new one with plenty of time before your trip
• Take a copy of your passport ID details page and visa/BRP. Store these in a separate place from your original documents. You may also with to print off your eVisa and obtain a sharecode before traveling.
• if you will need a visa to travel to the country you want to visit. Contact their embassy/consulate to ask for advice.

Your visa conditions-

• Student visa holders should only plan to travel to Europe during weekends or vacation periods unless you need to travel for fieldwork or to attend a conference. You can read about Student visa responsibilities here -Student Visa Responsibilities
• Check the emergency number(s) for the country/countries which you will visit.
• Check the details of your country’s embassy in the country/countries that you will be visiting in case you need any assistance while you are travelling.
• When you are travelling on public transport, keep a close watch on your belongings.
• Transport from airports and train/bus stations to your accommodation should be well-planned, especially if you are arriving late at night.

That you are traveling safely-

• Check the emergency number(s) for the country/countries which you will visit.
• Check the details of your country’s embassy in the country/countries that you will be visiting in case you need any assistance while you are travelling.
• When you are travelling on public transport, keep a close watch on your belongings.
• Transport from airports and train/bus stations to your accommodation should be well-planned, especially if you are arriving late at night.

There is a new Entry/Exit System (EES) for the EU starting in 2025. EES is designed to improve border security within the EU and its neighbouring countries, and reduce illegal migration in the Schengen area.  It will automate border control checks to help the EU stop visitors overstaying. EES is part of wider work the EU is doing to strengthen their border security.

In 2025, the EU will introduce the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) as part of this system. ETIAS will be comparable to similar systems in the UK(ETA), USA (ESTA), Canada (eTA), and Australia (eVisitor).

ETIAS travel authorisation is an pre-travel requirement (not a visa) for visa-exempt nationals, that wish to travel to any of these 30 European countries. Visa-exempt travellers will need to fill out an online ETIAS form and pay a small fee before being able to travel to the Schengen Area.

Once issued, it's linked to your passport and lasts for three years (or until passport expiry date, whichever date comes first). If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.

FAQs on ETIAS

ETIAS - Who should apply

ETIAS official guidance

EES system