Independently obtain a Schengen visa
Travels Educational Program / / December 19, 2019
Types of Schengen visas
There are the following visa categories:
1. BUT - visa, entitling the holder to be within the territory of the transit airport.
2. IN - a transit visa to transit through the country. This type of visa allows you to stay in the country of the Schengen area is not more than 5 days.
3. FROM - tourist visa, which can be in the country and to travel throughout the Schengen area for a certain period:
- C1 - to 30 days;
- C2 - from 30 to 90 days;
- C3 - multiple-entry visa with a validity of up to one year;
- C4 - multiple-entry visa with a validity of up to 5 years.
4. D - the national long-term visa.
If you are traveling on vacation in one or more countries of the Schengen area, you need a visa category C.
Visa also differ on the number of visits:
- Single visas. They can enter and leave the Schengen once. After that, the visa is considered invalid even if its validity is not expired.
- double-entry visa. They can be twice to enter and leave the Schengen.
- multiple-entry visas. With this type of visa, you can enter and leave the Schengen area as much as necessary over the term of the visa. As a rule, these visas have a limit on the days of stay, allowing to be in the Schengen area is not more than 90 days out of 180.
In some countries ask for a visa
The visa must be obtained at the consulate of the country in which you are traveling or in which spend the greatest number of days of travel. If you plan to visit several countries and stay in each of them an equal number of days, you should apply for a visa of the country in which you move first.
A lot of controversy is the rule of first entry, which implies that you must first enter the country that gave you a visa. This is not quite true. Technically, you can get a visa to the Schengen area and enter at the same time to another. However, be prepared for a customs officer's questions, which surely wants to know about the causes of such a complex route. If you are able to explain and prove that most of their travel spend in the country whose visa costs in your passport, no problem.
It does not matter what country you enter first. It is important, where you will spend more time. If you do not get to the very country get on its consulate new Schengen visa can then be difficult.
What documents need an adult
Apply for a visa can be no earlier than 90 days before the trip.
The list of required documents varies slightly depending on the country in which you are going. Therefore, before being sure to check out the exact list on the website of the corresponding consulate. You definitely need the following documents:
Application for a visa
The application form or electronic form must be taken directly to the website of the Consulate of the country where you are going to go. There you can find an example or the instructions for completing the application. Fill out and print out all the pages of the application, including code and sign it.
Passport
More will need a copy of all pages with personal data, marks and stamps, as well as 14 pages with or without markings. Of course, this does not apply to children under 14 years.
Passport and a copy of the page with personal data
Passport must be valid for at least three months after the last intended date of departure from the Schengen area, have at least two blank pages and be more than ten years. It is also recommended to make a copy of all previously issued Schengen visas. If you have another valid travel document, it is also necessary to provide, together with a copy of the page with personal data.
The photo
Picture Size - 3.5 × 4.5 cm. It must be made not more than 6 months ago and meet the ICAO standardPhoto requirements for the ICAO standard. . Can be photographed directly by submitting documents to the service and the visa application center.
Reservation hotel or the original invitation with information about accommodation
In some cases, reservations should be prepaid.
Documents proving your financial viability
- Statement on the status of the bank account for the last 3-6 months. On the balance you should have enough money at the rate of 40 to 70 euros for each day of your stay abroad. Alternatively, you can provide the traveler's checks in the same amount.
- Information on income from employment, issued on the letterhead of the company. It should have your salary for the past six months, as well as stand stamp and signature of the head.
- For individual entrepreneurs proof of income can serve as a certificate from the tax on the income for the last six months.
- Pensioners can provide a certificate from the pension fund of the payments for the half-year pension.
- Non-working citizens should be provided with a sponsorship letter, written by those who have committed to fund the upcoming trip. By this letter you need to attach a copy of the sponsor of the first page of the passport, as well as any financial Sponsor original documents confirming his solvency, such as an extract from his bank account.
Documents confirming your intention to return to the country of residence
- Certificate from the place of work or study, which says that your work or study place is reserved for you on the trip. Students also should provide the original and a copy of your student card.
- Individual entrepreneurs can attach a certificate of registration of IP.
- Pensioners need to make an original and a copy of the pension certificate.
- If you have real estate in Russia, make a copy of evidence of ownership.
- Return tickets. If you are going travel by carProvide accurate travel times and apply law, registration certificate and an international automobile insurance.
- If you are married and / or have children, please attach the marriage certificate and the birth of children with copies.
Agreement on the processing of personal data
It must be properly executed and signed by you.
Insurance for an amount not less than 30 000 euro per person
It should apply to the entire duration of the trip. it is easy get online.
What documents need to minors
If you are traveling with a minor, you will also need:
Copy of birth certificate
If a child is traveling with two parents, you only need a copy of the birth certificate of the child. But consulates of some countries may require the original birth certificate or a notarized copy.
The consent of a parent or guardian
The consent of each parent or legal guardian must be notarized signature if the juvenile leaves are not accompanied by both parents / guardians. If the child goes accompanied by only one parent / guardian, the consent of the other parent / guardian.
If a parent has sole parental rights, it is necessary to provide a death certificate of the other parent or a court decision on deprivation of parental rights.
A copy of the Schengen visa
If accompanied by a parent already has a Schengen visa, it will require a copy, as well as evidence of a joint trip, such as booking tickets, hotel.
When paying fees and what their size
Consular fee (fee for consular services) is 35 euros, and if you need a visa urgently, 70 euros. Keep in mind that you will pay in rubles at the current rate. On payment of a fee exempt certain groups of citizensJoint recommendations on the application of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Community on the facilitation of issuance of Russian visas to citizens of the European Union on May 25, 2006Such as children under 6 years of age, people with disabilities of all groups and their accompanying person, as well as family members of Russian citizens legally residing in the territory of the Schengen states.
Service fee (payment visa center services) will cost you about 20 euros. In addition, you can offer an additional service of express delivery of finished documents.
Consular and service charges do not need to pay in advance. This is done by submitting the documents.
Where to apply
Apply for a visa in the visa centers can be, and in some embassies. If the embassy of the country you are visiting, takes his own for a visa, most likely, it does so by appointment. Service-visa centers usually operate without recording. Precise information about where and when you need to carry your documents, you will also find on the embassy's website.
Visa centers - this is not the travel agencies, and organizations involved in reception and issuance of visa documents directly with the permission of the embassy. They take your documents, send them to the embassy, and then take them out and give you.
The decision to issue a visa is received in the embassy and does not depend on the visa application center.
At the time of submission of documents to the visa application center you may be asked not to use the phone (at least not to speak of him in the waiting room). When will approach your turn, you will check the documents, will ask clarifying questions and be asked to pay your dues. Learn in advance how payment is accepted in the Visa Application Center or embassy. Non-cash payments can not everywhere, but in some places there is no ATM. If you need cash, prepare them in advance.
After payment you will accept documents and fingerprints. From September 2015 it is a mandatory procedure for persons over 12 years, which is held once in 5 years. If you have a hand of gypsum, the prints will be removed only with the fingers, with which you received. The rest will have to remove the prints when the next visa.
Can obtain a visa online. Then you do not have to go to the visa center, but will need to pay for services and service delivery for the visa at the house.
In some cases, conducted additional interviews
Additional interviews carried out in cases where there is any doubt that you are going to come back, or if any information in your documents need to be clarified. Typically, in such situations, the consular officer will contact you by phone. Usually, however, it does without interviews.
How many are considering an application for a visa
Statements by Russian citizens to obtain a Schengen visa are considered within 10 calendar days from receipt of documents to the embassy. The term of consideration of urgent applications is 3 working days.
When receiving the documents you get a number that will track the status of your application on the website of the service center or the consulate. Unfortunately, to learn about what decision is made for your treatment can not be there. You can only see where your documents.
Sometimes service centers send SMS notification that the documents are ready and can be taken away. But, as practice shows, this service is very unreliable, so it is best to monitor the status of the documents themselves.