Germany tourist visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a Germany tourist Schengen visa when you apply from United Kingdom.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇩🇪 Germany·····✈·····🇬🇧 from United Kingdom
To
Germany
Type
C · TOURISM
Apply at
UK
Centre
VAC
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Action neededTourism — short stay (Type C) · applying from United Kingdom.
Documents ready00 / 11
Competent authority
German Embassy London (or Consulate General Edinburgh, depending on the applicant's UK region of residence)
Application centre
TLScontact (Visa Application Centres in London, Manchester and Edinburgh; Schengen C visas can only be applied for via TLScontact)
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.
Timeline
high confidenceProcessing
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.
Funds to show
high confidenceThe amount you must be able to prove, per the Schengen Borders Code reference amount. It depends only on the destination — not on your nationality or where you apply.
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; must evidence UK residence (BRP / valid visa / EU Settlement Scheme) valid for the travel period
- Documents not in German/English/Spanish/FrenchMust be translated into German or English
- Unaccompanied minors / minorsSeparate application per child, both parents' signatures and passport copies, original birth certificate, and parental consent declaration