Schengen visa · Germany

Germany long-stay (Type D) visa

Required documents, fees and processing time for a Germany long-stay (Type D) Schengen visa when you apply from United Kingdom.

SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS

🇩🇪 Germany·····✈·····🇬🇧 from United Kingdom

Germany

Type

D · LONG STAY

Apply at

Centre

VAC

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Total fees£111 Processing time15–45 days

Visa required

Action needed

Long stay — national (Type D) · applying from United Kingdom.

Documents ready00 / 08

Competent authority

German Embassy London (or Consulate General Edinburgh by region of residence)

Application centre

TLScontact (London, Manchester, Edinburgh)

Printout of the online National visa application form including barcodes, signed (usually 2 copies)

Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 6 months, with at least one blank double-page spread; plus copies

Recent biometric photos (35x45 mm)

Proof of UK residence: valid UK visa/BRP (share code) - non-British applicants only UK residents may apply

Documents proving the purpose of stay (purpose-specific, see notes)

Proof of adequate health insurance for the intended stay

Proof of sufficient financial means

National visa fee (approx. EUR 75, adult)

Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list

Cover letterA letter of introduction stating who you are and why you are travelling.

Travel itineraryA day-by-day plan of your trip to attach to the application.

Fees

Consular (Type C)

€90

Service fee

£30

Est. total (adult)

£111

Long stay (Type D)

€75

The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in GBP · centre: TLScontact.

Fee notes

TLScontact official for German visas in UK. Type D national visa €75.

Fee source ↗

Timeline

high confidence

Processing

15–45 days

End-to-end

4–16 weeks

Centre

VAC

Appointment wait

Severe — among the worst. Peak-season (June-August) waits of roughly 6-14 weeks; London summer 2025 ran ~9-12 weeks. Managed waiting list from 1 June 2026.

Application centre

TLScontact (London, Manchester, Edinburgh). From 01.06.2026 a formal waiting list is run via TLScontact in London and Manchester for certain C-visa categories.

Timeline notes

German Embassy London confirms TLScontact and that demand exceeds capacity, prompting a waiting-list system from 1 June 2026. Decision itself ~10-15 working days when uncomplicated, but the appointment/waiting-list backlog dominates — advise 14-16 weeks lead time in summer.

Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗

Funds to show

high confidence

The figures below are the short-stay (Type C) means of subsistence. A long-stay (Type D) visa sets its funds requirement nationally by purpose (study, work, family reunification, income) — check the consulate for the amount that applies to your case.

Per day

€45

Minimum

—

In EUR ≈

as shown

Notes

No mandatory per-day reference amount is set; border officials assess each case individually. Where the traveller cannot produce evidence or credible statements, EUR 45 per day should be at their disposal. Onward/return travel must also be ensured. Sponsorship declarations / host guarantees accepted.

Consulates apply discretion and may expect a buffer above this figure — treat it as a floor, not a guarantee.

Funds source ↗

⚠ Special cases & caveats

Non-British nationals resident in the UKOnly UK residents may apply; valid UK residence document required
Documents not in German/English/Spanish/FrenchCertified translation into German or English required

Verify on the official source ↗← Check another trip