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My Schengen visa to Italy was refused in 2013; I had a previous passport back then which I no longer use. I don’t remember if there was any document attached with the reason for refusal, except for a stamp showing date. I assume my visa was refused due to insufficient finances, since I was a student at that time.

I’m now applying for a UK visit visa with a new passport to celebrate new year with my friends. I would like to ask if I should mention about the previous visa rejection in the given section of application. If I mention it on a sincere note, how will it affect the chances of getting my visa to UK? This is my first attempt to secure a UK visit visa; I can’t afford to lose this chance!

Edit

Thank you for guiding me. As I said my passport was stamped and returned without mentioning any reason. How will they verify if I say it was refused due to lack of funds ?

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    Yes you should if they ask on form
    – Ali Gajani
    Nov 20, 2018 at 8:43

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The UK visa application form will ask "Have you ever been refused a visa for any country, including the UK?" You were refused a visa to Italy in 2013, so the answer to this question appears to be "yes." Below that, there's a place for you to explain the date, country, and reason for the refusal.

If you lie and answer "no," the UK authorities may very well consider that deception, and could impose a 10 year ban. You don't want that. Answer the question honestly. While a past refusal doesn't help your case, it was a number of years ago, and they are far more interested in your present circumstances today than they were in your situation five years ago. Showing strong ties to your home country that demonstrate your intent to return, including stable bank statements, is the most important part. They understand that people are refused visas sometimes, and will evaluate your application based on your current circumstances.

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  • "If you lie... may very well consider that deception". Are you assuming that they will know for sure, or "in case they ever find out"?
    – usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩΝ
    Nov 20, 2018 at 12:32
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    Or, "if you are willing to risk that the refusal is not stored in an EU database to which the UK authorities presently have access". Of course after March 31 2019, that might become a safer assumption ....
    – nigel222
    Nov 20, 2018 at 13:58
  • @nigel222 They don't have access to the VIS or the immigration part of the SIS II. They can obviously infer from the stamp that there has been a refusal. Secondly, not mentioning a refusal and subsequently submitting a passport with a refusal stamp is not deception. (2xsoic30m4ba2ervd35c9n41-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/…) However, if the OP is submitting the passport anyways, the safer option would be to just tell the truth.
    – user58558
    Nov 20, 2018 at 17:11

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