Is a Schengen visa different from a UK visa?

The best part about travelling anywhere in the European Union (EU) is that one can take a single Schengen visa and move about from country to country. Hence, whether one wants to go to France from Germany and then head to Poland and then move on to Denmark or Belgium, the Schengen visa will allow easy transit from one to the other.

The Schengen visa is valid for countries designated for inclusion in the Schengen territory.

It is a widely held notion that all European Union nations are automatically included in the Schengen territory. This is NOT true – the Schengen area is not the same as the EU area. Hence, countries in the EU may not necessarily be part of the Schengen territory.

This is particularly true of such countries as the UK and Ireland. Both countries are not part of the Schengen territory, and hence a Schengen visa cannot be used in these countries. Conversely, a Schengen visa will not be valid in the UK and Ireland. A UK visa will have to be taken to visit the UK, despite the traveller holding a Schengen visa.

The designated Schengen territory comprises the countries of Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Austria, Greece, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Malta, Denmark, Latvia, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia, Slovakia and Liechtenstein. More countries are expected to be added to this area in 2016, if they are able to meet the requirements to do so.

Terms and conditions

• The Schengen visa is valid for a period of 90 days from date of issuance for travel within all Schengen member countries in a six-month period. In some cases, the visa may be extended to a period of one or two years.

• Though one is allowed to obtain the Schengen visa from one member country and travel to another, the issuing country may note that the visa is not being used for travel and tourism in that country. There is a risk of that country refusing to issue the visa in the future for fear of the visa being misused or not used on their soil.

• Though there is just one Schengen territory comprising 26 countries, each member country may choose to exercise their right to grant, withhold approval or reject a visa application on the basis of their understanding of the applicant’s past travel records, problematic behaviour while on tour, the number of visits made in the past, and so on. One member country’s rules may not apply to another’s.

The Schengen visa fee is taken in Euros only. Be sure to find out the exchange rate in your local currency before buying the visa.

What are the types of UK visas that I can apply for?

The United Kingdom has long been a strong magnet for migrants and travelers alike through the ages. Great Britain has had a strong historical connection, brought on by colonization, with many countries around the world, and these unofficial ties continue to endure to this day. Apart from this, the UK exerts a strong influence in the arena of arts, culture, education, lifestyle and many other areas. These are attractive to many people, and hence, the country figures on the wish list of many a migrant and tourist alike.

However, before you decide to make a trip to the UK, you must first understand the 

UK visa application formalities. There are several types of UK visas – picking the right one depends on the duration of your visit and purpose of stay. Broadly, you can consider the following categories of UK visas:

Work visas:  General (currently closed), Investor, Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur, Skilled talent, Post Graduate work (currently closed)

Work permit or Certificate of Sponsorship: General, Company transfers (from one location to UK-based one)

Other work categories: Youth mobility scheme, creative participation and sporting visas, Government authorized exchange, charity worker, religious worker, international agreement.

Study visas: Student visas, student visitor (limited duration in terms of days or weeks), Doctoral extension scheme

Family visas: Visas obtained by way of ties with spouse, fiancé, dependent citizen, unmarried partners and ancestry.

UK Tourist visa: Standard (not similar to business, academic, family and general visa), permitted paid engagement (for those invited to UK for lectures and speaking assignments, for example), short term study.

Getting your UK tourist visa is easy if you follow the procedures and file your paperwork diligently. You must have a valid passport and bank statements to prove that you can finance your trip to the UK comfortably. At least one page in your passport must be blank (last page is not considered) on both sides while applying for the UK visa.

The UK visa application formalities also include furnishing information on your travel dates and itinerary, your place of stay in UK, your overall travel expenses, permanent residential address, details of parents’ address and contact numbers, your annual income, details of persons accompanying you on the trip, details of trip sponsor (if any) and details of relatives or friends based in the UK.