Visa center in Edinburgh

“It was a very short but also nice experience in Edimburgh! Staff was very kind and helpful and I can speak more fluently, I learned a lot of new words and expressions! Thank you to Kaplan’s school”

“Great staff, close to all, good stay Great location, fantastic daily breakfast and could take things for lunch they supplied disposable boxes! Staff we encountered were lovely. Room very match box size, no mini fridge or fan - needed as was so hot no aircon. Environmentally friendly practices top marks: opt out of daily room cleaning, measures food waste - this is displayed to see in dinner.”

“Very nice green area Park with plenty of good Restraunts, Bars & shops nearby...”

“Excellent hotel. We stayed in an executive room after a free upgrade which was dreamy. The rooms were clean and bright, though there's some light staining on some of the carpet. Nothing too bad, probably just needs a refresh. Showers were amazing, and the bed was super comfortable. Staff were all really friendly and helpful. It's about a 5/10 min walk to Victoria Street, so about 10/15 to the Royal Mile. Overall - fantastic for a stay in Edinburgh.”

“It was easier than I thought. The lady who has attended me was nice and kind. Furthermore, she was clear all time.”

“The rules for visa application were explained fully and the whole process was handled efficiently and professionally. There was no queue when I was in the Russia Visa Application Centre and after submitting the documents I was told when exactly to come back for my stamped passport. I am now looking forward to my trip to Russia”

“Some good researchers. Very friendly”

“Good no frills hotel at a reasonable price for the area. Excellent location. We had an issue with the sheets and they sorted it out real quick using their whatsapp service. A no frills option if you are just using the place to sleep. Its a quieter location than the central Ibis so got a good night's sleep. Mind, we were on the top floor. I would use this one again.”

“We had a fantastic stay at the Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre! The location was incredibly central, which made it so easy to explore the city on foot. It felt safe and lively, with tons of restaurants, shops, and sights just steps away. Our room was spacious and comfortable, which was such a pleasant surprise for a city hotel. It gave our family plenty of space to relax after busy days out. The breakfast was excellent—plenty of options, both hot and cold, and everything was fresh and well-stocked. It was the perfect way to start our mornings. The staff were so friendly and helpful!! What really made our stay extra special was how the staff helped celebrate our daughter’s birthday. They surprised her with a sweet birthday treat, and it meant so much to her—and to us! Overall, we felt really well taken care of and would absolutely stay here again. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a convenient, comfortable, and family-friendly place to stay in Edinburgh!”

“My husband and I have twice needed the help and service provided by Mrs Plevri and it has been excellent on both occasions. We found her to be very friendly and courteous and are very grateful for the help provided.”

“Can store bags at the Royal. The Haymarket is lovely with pleasant staff and resteraunt reasonably priced. The added bonus is that our train wasn't due until 6pm. We could store our bags, but didnt want the 1 hour walk from train station and back to collect them. We asked and they have a policy that bags can be stored in other Leonardo hotels, so we dropped them off at the Royal next to the train station for free and enjoyed our day worry free.”

“Booked family room, 2 adults 1 child. Room was spacious and was in perfect location for holiday. 10 minute walk from train station, as it was close to royal mile we could walk the length of it easily and not worry about walking back to hotel. Plenty of cafes nearby for food / drink. Room was by road which goes quiet in the evening so don't have to worry about being awake at night. Could see Arthur's seat from room which was great, and could look at the beautiful architecture of the buildings.”

“Everything went very smoothly, from the security staff to the customer service team. We were applying for a France visa and paid extra for the 7:30 AM appointment, which was well worth it. Big thanks to Gwen, who assisted us so kindly and patiently, especially when helping us sort out the correct share code for our application (we accidentally used the employer one). Overall, the process was efficient and well-organized. My only small worry is that I only attached my employment contract along with my three most recent payslips — I hope that will be fine! But the staff made the whole experience easy and reassuring.”

“I work within the Regus building. I am very happy to say that the building is looking so much better than it looked before. The Regus staff at reception are very accommodating when it comes to board meetings and conference calls. All incoming and outgoing mail and other deliveries are sorted out by the Regus staff. It's all hands on deck from the front of house staff - always friendly and helpful. There is also full time cleaners in the building willing to help at all times! Excellent for small and large busniesses.”

“Our experience at the BLS office was extremely positive. We were dealt with courteously, efficiently and professionally. The young man at reception was extremely patient and polite to the very large amount of overseas students wishing to holiday in Spain. There must have been 25-30 young students, none of whom had completed their paperwork properly nor owned a pen. I don't know how he remained so calm. I was getting frustrated just listening. I can only commend all the staff there for a quality service.”

“At the VFS Global centre in Leith, Edinburgh, long waiting times on the day of their appointment, Even when arriving on time, as only one staff member is usually available to handle a large number of people. While the staff was helpful and efficient, Appointment availability for Italy is very limited, with slots hard to secure even when trying months in advance, while external agents seem able to obtain and sell them more easily. We are asked to provide additional documents not clearly listed on the official website or checklist, which creates last-minute stress. The lack of a nearby photocopying facility (the closest being about a mile away in a library) adds further inconvenience, and using VFS Global’s in-house services for copies or printing can be costly.”

“I slept for only one night and it was nice. Cool place, quiet and people were respectful. As in all places in scotland, it is cold inside in winter and I was not able to get free towel after 22. Deffinitely recommend staying here!”

“Giorgio and Federica are two very kind and helpful people in Belfast. Needed my Italian Passport to get sorted and all their instructions are 100% detailed and helpful. You ask them anything and they'll do their best to help you and give as much information as you need.”

Operating from Orchard Brae House on Queensferry Road, MBM Commercial is an award-winning legal firm based in Edinburgh. Positioned conveniently near the city center, the firm delivers specialized corporate and commercial legal advice across Scotland. The practice focuses extensively on supporting high-growth startups, emerging businesses, and established corporate entities. Key areas of service include investment structuring, venture capital deals, corporate restructuring, and commercial contract drafting.

“Declared my son's birth abroad and they gave him a little American flag and the whole waiting room applauded him. It was quite an ordeal and very American. No one loves Americans more than we love ourselves! Staff was actually very helpful and instructed me on fixing some errors i had made in some documents. Didn't expect that when dealing with government bureaucracy.”

“My experience was top notch. I had to get my power of attorney signed and it was an emergency. I couldn’t find appointments in Birmingham so I went to CGI Edinburgh. The consul officer was kind enough to permit the procedure to go through even though I am from a different jurisdiction. He understood that it was an emergency and helped me understand the process diligently and I got my POA signed without difficulty. I wish everyone makes use of the consul services as they are efficient and thorough.”

“Thanks to the consulate staff for the excellent service and polite attitude.”

“I must say, my personal experience was altogether rather splendid. I was there to sort out an international passport, and I dare say I was rather fortunate with the weather - waiting outside the entrance proved perfectly agreeable, unlike the unfortunate experiences some others have mentioned. Regarding any perceived unresponsiveness or bureaucratic tendencies - I do feel compelled to point out, dear friends, that this isn't really down to the staff themselves, is it? The processes are governed at ministerial level through all diplomatic missions, and one can hardly hold the local team accountable for that sort of thing. I would most respectfully suggest showing a bit of human understanding for what must be quite an exhausting workload. A touch of politeness (without going overboard into grovelling territory, naturally), staying on topic, and perhaps avoiding any heated political discussions - well, that's just good form, isn't it? Your standard British etiquette should see you through splendidly. Do remember to confirm your appointment (twice or even thrice through the Diiya portal). One wouldn't want to arrive only to discover one's slot has vanished into the digital ether - the staff have no control over this, I'm afraid. Oh, and bear in mind: registering with the consulate in Scotland whilst residing in England is simply not on (and vice versa). All in all, armed with a bit of patience and good manners, you'll find the process perfectly manageable. The staff are doing their very best under challenging circumstances, and a kind word goes a long way.”

“Susan Purvis - Family Law Thank you for everything! Not only for your professionalism but your personal attention, support and genuine care for me as a client. You are one in a million, kept me sane throughout and concluded the long battle with a more than successful outcome. I can't thank you enough!”