Schengen · 7 minute read
Schengen Visa Refused? What to Do Next from the UK
Schengen visa refused? What each ground on your refusal letter means, how appeals work in eight Schengen countries, and how to re-apply from the UK.
Fast Travellers · Reviewed
If your Schengen visa is refused, start with the grounds ticked on the standard refusal form. You can then appeal under the law of the country that refused you, within the deadline on the letter, or re-apply with evidence that answers each ground. Either way, the visa fee is not refunded.
Read your refusal letter first
Every Schengen country uses the same refusal form, set out in Annex VI of the EU Visa Code. It lists the possible reasons and ticks the ones that apply to you. Under Article 32, it must be written in the language of the country that refused you and in another official EU language.
The form also tells you how to appeal, which authority to appeal to and the time limit.
Keep the letter and a copy of your passport. Note the date you received the decision, because appeal deadlines usually run from when you were notified.
What each refusal ground means
The grounds come from Article 32 of the Visa Code. This table explains them in plain English and what usually fixes them.
| Ground on the form | What it usually means | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose and conditions of the stay not justified | The consulate did not understand or accept why and how you are travelling | A day-by-day itinerary, bookings that match it, and an invitation or event registration if you have one |
| No proof of sufficient means of subsistence, or of acquiring them lawfully | Your statements did not show enough money, or where it comes from | At least three months of UK bank statements showing your income and balance, plus payslips or a sponsor's letter and statements |
| Information on the purpose and conditions not reliable | Your documents did not tell a consistent story | Make every date, place and name match across the form, bookings and letters |
| Reasonable doubts about your statements or supporting documents | Something looked wrong or could not be checked | Use originals and genuine bookings that can be verified. Never use edited documents |
| Reasonable doubts about your intention to leave before the visa expires | Your ties to the UK were not clear | UK status well beyond the trip, an employer letter with approved leave or a university letter, and family or property ties |
| No adequate and valid travel medical insurance | The policy did not meet the €30,000 rules or did not cover your dates | A compliant policy. See our travel insurance guide |
| Already stayed 90 days in the current 180-day period | Your planned trip would break the 90/180 rule | New dates. See our 90/180 rule guide |
| False, counterfeit or forged travel document | The consulate did not accept your passport as genuine | Take legal advice before doing anything else |
| Alert in the Schengen Information System (SIS) | A Schengen country has an alert on you for refusal of entry | See the section on alerts below |
| Threat to public policy, internal security, public health or international relations | A security or public health concern | Take legal advice |
The form has a few other reasons, for visas at the border, airport transit and revocation at the holder's request, which rarely apply to trips from the UK.
Purpose, money and return
The grounds you can most often fix with better evidence are the first five rows.
For purpose, your application should tell one clear story. Your form, cover letter, flight reservation, hotel bookings and itinerary should all show the same dates and places.
For money, the EU's agreed document list for UK applicants asks for UK bank statements in your name covering at least the last three months and showing the balance. If someone else pays, it asks for their statements, proof of your relationship and a written statement that they will support you.
For return, show what brings you back: a UK immigration status that runs well beyond your trip, a recent signed letter from your employer with your position and salary, or a letter from your college or university.
Appeal or re-apply?
You can do either, and some countries let you do both. Germany's embassy says "a new application may be submitted at any time", and the Dutch government says you can submit a new application as well as object.
| Appeal | Re-apply | |
|---|---|---|
| Best when | The consulate made a mistake or overlooked evidence you supplied | Your file was missing something or was unclear |
| Time | Usually weeks or months | A new decision is due within 15 days of an admissible application, up to 45 in some cases |
| Cost | Free in some countries, a fee or court costs in others | A new visa fee and service fee |
| New evidence | Not always considered. Iceland's appeals board, for example, decides on the documents you originally supplied | Yes, you start with a fresh file |
If your trip is soon and your file was weak, re-applying is usually the faster route. If you supplied everything and the decision is plainly wrong, an appeal can overturn it.
How appeals work in eight Schengen countries
The Visa Code gives you the right to appeal, but each country runs its own procedure under its own law. This table summarises what each country's official sources say. Your refusal letter is the final word on the route and deadline.
| Country | First step | Deadline | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | No remonstration since 1 July 2025. Re-apply, or bring a complaint at the Administrative Court in Berlin | One month from service of the refusal, according to the German embassy in Dublin | The complaint must be in German, and court fees apply |
| France | A compulsory administrative appeal to the sous-directeur des visas at the Interior Ministry | 30 days from notification | No reply in two months counts as rejection. You then have two months to go to the administrative court in Nantes |
| Netherlands | An objection to the IND | Four weeks | Free. Write in Dutch, English, German or French. The IND has six weeks to decide, which it can extend |
| Spain | A request for reconsideration (recurso de reposición) to the consulate that refused you | One month | You can also go to the High Court of Justice of Madrid within two months. In London, the request must be in Spanish and handed in at the consulate, not emailed |
| Italy | A claim at the regional administrative court of Lazio (TAR Lazio) | 60 days from notification | The State Legal Service must also be notified |
| Iceland | An appeal to the Visa Appeals Board by email | 30 days from notification | Written in Icelandic. The fee is €300 |
| Finland | A request for rectification to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs | On your letter | The 2026 fee is €255. The Ministry's decision can then be appealed to an administrative court |
| Poland | A request for reconsideration, in person at the embassy in London | 14 days | The fee is £79. A further complaint goes to the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw within 30 days |
For Greece and other countries, follow the route on your letter, and check with the consulate if anything is unclear.
How to re-apply after a refusal
- Map each ground to evidence. Write the ground at the top of a page and list what will answer it.
- Fix the story. Make sure your dates, places and purpose match across every document.
- Strengthen your finances. Use statements covering at least the last three months. Explain any large or unusual deposits in your cover letter.
- Show your ties to the UK. Include your eVisa status, employer or university letter, and anything else that shows you will come back.
- Address the refusal openly. In your cover letter, say you were refused, name the grounds and explain what has changed.
- Apply to the right country. Your main destination decides the consulate. Do not switch countries to get away from a refusal.
Do not resubmit the same file. The consulate can see your earlier application and will expect something new.
Will a refusal affect future applications?
Schengen consulates share data through the Visa Information System (VIS). An application file, including a refusal, is stored for up to five years from the date of the decision, and Schengen consulates can see it when you apply again.
A refusal does not ban you from applying again. It does mean your next application needs to be stronger and consistent with the last one.
A Schengen refusal does not affect your UK immigration status. Other countries' visa forms may ask whether you have ever been refused a visa anywhere. Always answer honestly.
When the ground is an alert or a security concern
Two grounds are different: an alert in the Schengen Information System (SIS), and being considered a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or international relations. Better documents will not fix these.
If either is ticked, take legal advice before you re-apply. If you think an SIS alert is wrong, you can ask for access to the data held about you, and ask for it to be corrected or deleted if it is inaccurate or was entered unlawfully. The European Commission says these rights "can be exercised in any country that uses SIS".
Get a second opinion before you re-apply
A refusal is not the end of your plans. Book a free eligibility check and we will read your refusal letter, tell you which grounds can be fixed and help you prepare a stronger file. See our country pages for Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Iceland and Finland.
Questions people ask
Can I re-apply straight away after a Schengen visa refusal?
Yes. The EU Visa Code sets no waiting period, and Germany's embassy, for example, says a new application can be submitted at any time. Re-apply when you can answer every ground on your refusal letter with new or better evidence.
Is the Schengen visa fee refunded if my visa is refused?
No. Under the EU Visa Code the fee is only refunded if the consulate was not competent or the application was inadmissible. The visa centre's service fee is not refunded either.
How long do I have to appeal a Schengen visa refusal?
It depends on the country that refused you: for example four weeks for the Netherlands, 30 days for France and one month for Spain's first step. The deadline is on your refusal letter, so check it the day you receive the decision.
Can I apply to a different Schengen country after a refusal?
Only if your new trip genuinely has a different main destination. The consulate must be the right one for your trip, and it can see your earlier refusal in the Visa Information System.
Will a Schengen refusal affect my UK visa or eVisa?
A Schengen refusal does not change your UK immigration status. Other countries' visa forms may ask whether you have ever been refused a visa, so always answer honestly.