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Schengen visa from the UK

TLScontact Schengen Appointment UK (2026): No Slots? What Works

How to book a TLScontact Schengen appointment for France, Germany or Belgium in London, Manchester or Edinburgh in 2026, and what works when the calendar shows no slots.

By findmyvisa Editorial TeamUpdated Verified · gov.uk·

TL;DR

TLScontact runs the UK Schengen visa centres for France, Germany and Belgium, in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. Complete the consulate's online form first, create a TLScontact account, pick a city and a slot, then attend in person for biometrics. The consulate fee is 90 euros for an adult, about 81 pounds, plus the centre's own service fee. Book early, check all three cities, and avoid slot bots.

How to book a TLScontact Schengen appointment

TLScontact runs the UK Schengen visa centres for France, Germany and Belgium. To book, complete your consulate's online form, create a TLScontact account, select your country and UK city, and choose an available slot. Availability varies constantly, 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 to 11)€45
Visa fee (child under 6)Free
Maximum stay90 days in any rolling 180-day period
Standard processing15 calendar days (up to 45 in some cases)
Travel insurance, minimum cover€30,000
PassportIssued within 10 years; valid 3+ months beyond your trip
Member states29 countries
The fee and these rules are set EU-wide and are identical across all 29 member states. Source: European Commission. Verified 2026-06-24.

Step by step

  1. Complete the consulate form first, for France, the France-Visas portal; for Germany and Belgium, the route on the consulate's official site.
  2. Create a TLScontact account and link your application reference.
  3. Select country and city, London, Manchester or Edinburgh.
  4. Choose an available slot from the live calendar.
  5. Attend in person to give biometrics and submit your documents.

TLScontact countries vs. other operators

OperatorCountries (UK)
TLScontactFrance, Germany, Belgium
VFS GlobalMost other Schengen states
BLS InternationalSpain
GVC WorldGreece
Embassy directPoland, Luxembourg

See the country guides: France, Germany and Belgium.

On appointment availability

We won't quote a wait time, it isn't fixed. Slots release in batches, so availability changes through the day and by season, and France in particular is in heavy demand. Book early, check all three cities, and look at different times of day. Avoid "guaranteed slot" resellers; several consulates void bot-booked appointments.

Before your appointment

Let us book it for you

Prefer not to chase slots? Our done-for-you Schengen service books the TLScontact appointment for you and reviews your application before you submit. See what's inside the price, or start at the Schengen visa from the UK hub.

Sources

  1. [1]visas-fr.tlscontact.comhttps://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/
  2. [2]home-affairs.ec.europa.euhttps://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Common questions

  1. 01

    Which countries use TLScontact in the UK?

    In the UK, TLScontact is the official visa application centre operator for France, Germany and Belgium. Most other Schengen states use VFS Global, while Spain uses BLS International and Greece uses GVC World. Poland and Luxembourg take applications directly at their London embassy.

  2. 02

    How do I book a TLScontact Schengen appointment from the UK?

    First complete your destination's online form (for France, the France-Visas portal). Then create a TLScontact account, select the country and your UK city, London, Manchester or Edinburgh, and choose an available slot. You attend in person to give biometrics and submit documents.

  3. 03

    Why are there no TLScontact appointments available?

    France is the most popular Schengen destination from the UK, so TLScontact slots fill quickly, especially before summer. Slots are released in batches and availability shifts through the day, so there's no fixed wait. Check the live calendar often, try all three cities, and book early.

  4. 04

    Which UK cities have TLScontact centres?

    TLScontact operates centres in London, Manchester and Edinburgh for the countries it handles. If your nearest centre has no slots, the same country is usually bookable in another of those cities, so widening your city search is one of the most effective tactics.

  5. 05

    Do I need to complete the consulate's online form before booking with TLScontact?

    Yes. Complete your destination's online form first, using the France-Visas portal for France, or the route on the consulate's official site for Germany and Belgium. Only then create a TLScontact account and link your application reference. After that you select the country and city, choose a slot, and attend in person to give biometrics and submit your documents.

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