Planning a family trip to Europe from the UK takes a little more paperwork when children are involved. Every child who needs a visa has their own application, and consulates want to see clearly who the child is, who is responsible for them and who has agreed to the trip.
None of this is difficult once you know what to prepare. Here is how it works if your family lives in the UK on non-EU passports.
Does your child need a visa at all?
Check this first, because it isn’t always the same answer for everyone in the family. A child who holds a British passport doesn’t need a Schengen visa for a short trip, even if their parents do. Being born in the UK doesn’t automatically make a child British, though, so go by the passport they actually hold.
If your child travels on a passport that needs a Schengen visa, they need their own visa, even if they are a baby. Children can’t be added to a parent’s visa.
What it costs
The Schengen visa fee depends on the child’s age:
- Under 6: free.
- Aged 6 to 11: €45.
- Aged 12 and over: €90, the same as an adult.
A visa centre service fee is charged on top, so check what applies for each child when you book. Our visa fees page sets out the costs.
Documents for a child’s application
The core documents are similar to an adult’s, with a few additions. Exact lists vary between countries, so always check the checklist for the country you are applying to.
- Application form: one for each child, signed by a parent or legal guardian. The form has a section for the details of the person with parental responsibility.
- Passport: the child’s own passport, issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after leaving the Schengen area, with 2 blank pages.
- Photos: recent passport-style photos that meet the visa photo rules.
- Birth certificate: this links the child to their parents. A UK certificate should be the full version that names the parents. A certificate from another country may need a certified translation.
- UK residence proof: usually an eVisa share code or valid UK visa for the child, as well as for the parents.
- Parental consent: see the next section.
- Parents’ documents: copies of each parent’s passport and UK status.
- Travel insurance: at least €30,000 of medical cover, valid across the Schengen area for the whole trip. If you use a family policy, make sure it names the child. Our travel insurance guide explains what the policy must show.
- Flights and accommodation: bookings that include the child and cover every night of the stay.
- Proof of funds: children rely on their parents’ finances, so include the parents’ bank statements and employment evidence.
- School letter: some consulates ask for a letter from the child’s school, and it’s useful evidence of the family’s life in the UK. If the trip falls in term time, the letter should confirm the absence is agreed.
Parental consent: the part that catches people out
Consulates are careful about children crossing borders, so expect to show that everyone with parental responsibility agrees to the trip.
If both parents travel with the child, both usually sign the application form. This is normally the simplest case.
If one parent travels with the child, the parent staying behind usually writes a signed consent letter. It should name the child, the travelling parent, the destination and the dates, and it should come with a copy of that parent’s passport or ID. Some countries ask for the letter to be notarised, so check this before your appointment.
If the child travels with another adult, such as a grandparent or a school group leader, consent is usually needed from both parents, and the letter should name the adult who will be responsible for the child.
If only one parent has parental responsibility, bring evidence such as a court order or a death certificate. Separated parents should not assume that living with the child is enough. Without the other parent’s consent or a suitable court document, the application can run into problems.
Carry copies of the consent letter and the birth certificate when you travel too, as border officers can ask about a child’s journey.
At the visa centre
Children usually attend the appointment with a parent or legal guardian. Book the family’s appointments together where you can, so that everyone’s documents are checked at the same time.
Young children don’t usually have to give fingerprints, but the visa centre’s rules on who attends and who gives biometrics can differ, so read your appointment instructions carefully. Bring originals as well as copies of every document, and put each person’s papers in a separate set.
Which country should the family apply to?
The same rule applies to everyone in the family. Apply to your main destination, which is the country where you will spend the most nights. If your nights are equal, apply to the first country you will enter. All family members should apply to the same country for the same trip. The checker on our home page can help you decide.
Timing around school holidays
School holidays are busy times at visa centres, because many families want the same dates. You can apply up to 6 months before travel and no later than 15 calendar days before. Decisions usually take 15 calendar days and can take up to 45, so leave plenty of time, especially for trips at Christmas, February half term or Easter. Our guide on how early to apply has more detail.
Before you book, check that every family member’s UK permission runs past your return date, and that no child’s passport is close to expiring. Children’s passports often run for shorter periods than adults’.
Get help with your family’s applications
A family application means several sets of documents, and one missing letter can hold things up. Our team can check your paperwork and book your appointments. The decision always rests with the consulate, but we can help you submit a complete application. Start your application or read our FAQ.
