How do I get a Schengen visa appointment in London?

Find the operator for your destination country — VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS International or GVC World — and book on its UK site, choosing London as the city. For Poland or Luxembourg you apply directly at the London embassy. You then attend in person for biometrics and to submit documents.

Which Schengen visa centres are in London?

London hosts centres for all four operators — VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS International and GVC World — plus the embassies for Poland and Luxembourg. It is the one UK city where every Schengen country can be applied for, which also makes it the busiest.

What if there are no Schengen appointments in London?

If London is full for your country, another UK city handling the same country — often Manchester or Edinburgh — may have earlier slots, and you can usually apply at any UK centre. Slots also release in batches through the day, so checking at different times helps.

How early should I book a London Schengen appointment?

As early as you can. Many consulates let you apply up to six months before travel, and London slots are in high demand, especially before summer. Allow time for the standard 15-day processing (up to 45 in some cases) plus a buffer before your trip.

Schengen Visa Appointment in London (2026): How to Get One

How to get a Schengen appointment in London

To get a Schengen visa appointment in London, book through the operator that handles your destination country — VFS Global, TLScontact, BLS International or GVC World — on its UK site, choosing London. For Poland or Luxembourg, apply directly at the London embassy. Slots change constantly, so check the live calendar and book early.

Schengen short-stay visa key facts, 2026
Schengen short-stay visa (Type C)	2026
Visa fee (adult)	€90
Visa fee (child 6–12)	€45
Visa fee (child under 6)	Free
Maximum stay	90 days in any rolling 180-day period
Standard processing	15 calendar days (up to 45 in some cases)
Travel insurance — minimum cover	€30,000
Passport	Issued within 10 years; valid 3+ months beyond your trip
Member states	29 countries

The fee and these rules are set EU-wide and are identical across all 29 member states. Source: European Commission. Verified 2026-05-01.

Which operator to book — London centres

London is the only UK city where every Schengen country can be applied for. Match your destination to its operator:

Operator	Countries (UK)
VFS Global	Most Schengen states
TLScontact	France, Germany, Belgium
BLS International	Spain
GVC World	Greece
Embassy direct	Poland, Luxembourg

Confirm the current operator on your destination consulate's official site.

Steps

Identify your operator (table above) and create an account on its UK site.
Select London as the city and pick an available slot.
Complete any online form required by the consulate.
Attend in person for biometrics and to submit documents.

If London has no slots

London is the busiest UK location, so slots can disappear fast. We can't quote a wait time — availability shifts through the day as slots release in batches, and by season. Useful tactics:

Check at different times of day for fresh batches.
Try another UK city for the same country — see Manchester appointments.
Book early, especially before summer.

Avoid unofficial "guaranteed slot" resellers; several consulates void bot-booked appointments. See the full picture on getting a Schengen appointment in the UK.

Before your appointment

Checklist generator — your tailored document list
Bundler and Compressor — assemble and size your file
Confirm which country you should apply to

Want a human to check it first? Our done-for-you Schengen service reviews your whole application; see what's inside the price. Start at the Schengen visa from the UK hub.