How to get a Schengen visa?

To enter the zone of the European Union, citizensRussia needs a Schengen visa. In principle, if you receive a visa from any country in the European Union, you can travel throughout Europe. But if you got a German visa and went to France for example, then when you apply again to the consulate you may be required to prove that you visited the country you used. This proof can serve as hotel vouchers or air tickets. If you can not provide any confirmation, then it is possible that you will be denied re-issuance of an entry permit. Therefore, it is best to get a Schengen visa in the consulate of the country that you are actually going to visit. So, how to get a Schengen visa ...

Not so long ago the consulate of each Schengen countrythe zone made its demands on the documents that Russian citizens had to provide together with the application for a visa. Now the procedure for issuing a visa has become simpler, and the list of documents has become one for the entire Euro zone. Less has become and unreasonable refusals to obtain an entry permit, as the consulates have been obliged to argue for each specific case of refusal to issue a visa.

Documents for obtaining a Schengen visa

1. Foreign passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, valid for at least three months after the end of the trip.
2. Two photos 3.5х4.5
3. Confirmation of income (certificate from the place of work withan indication of wages, an extract from a bank account, for nonworkers - a sponsorship letter written by the person who finances the trip. To the sponsorship letter it is necessary to attach a certificate from the work of the sponsor or an extract from his bank account.
4. Confirmation of the place of stay abroad (hotel reservation, invitation of the company or private person).
5. Medical insurance for the duration of your stay abroad.
6. Questionnaire.
7. Copies of air or railway tickets in both directions.
8. Old foreign passport or a copy of it, if it has Schengen visas.

If minor children abroad are traveling alone or with one parent, a notarized authorization to leave the country (from one or both parents) is required.

In addition, sometimes in the consulate may require some additional documents.

If you are traveling as a touristgroup or just buy a tour, then you will only need to bring the documents to the agency that will process your visa. But it is worth bearing in mind that you can be invited for an additional interview. For example, all German citizens who are new to the Schengen visa are invited to the German embassy, ​​the other consulates usually appoint an interview only if any documents you provide appear doubtful or unreliable to them.

How to get a Schengen visa yourself

If you want to visit a particularcountry, then you need to apply for a Schengen visa to her consulate. If in your plans visit to several countries, the best option is to get a visa of the country in which you will stay the longest or the one in which you will arrive first.

List of documents for obtaining a visa forindividual trip does not differ from the one that needs to be prepared in the event that all the trouble with registration for permission to enter the country takes over the travel agency.

The rules of writing to the consulate for filingdocuments are different, for example, to obtain a visa to Germany, you must either personally come to the consulate, or make an appointment by phone, but the call will be charged. In order to obtain a Czech visa, you can contact a special service center where you will be helped to properly prepare all the documents, but will take an additional fee. You can come to the consulate with all the documents, the receptionist will get acquainted with the secretary, and if everything is in order, he will write you down on a certain day for filing documents.

Terms of obtaining a visa

Each consulate has its due datesdocuments for a visa. Greek visas are issued within three days, Czech - 11 working days, and the German will have to wait two weeks. Information on the timing of consideration of documents can also be found on the website of the consulate. If a visa is needed urgently, then for an extraordinary consideration of your documents will take an additional fee, but it should be borne in mind that not all consulates are issuing urgent visas, therefore, it is better to file documents in such a way as to have sufficient time.

How to get an annual Schengen visa

To obtain an annual visa, not so long agothere were very good reasons. Even those who have real estate in Europe issued an annual visa, which limits the duration of stay in the Schengen area 180 days a year.

Annual visa without entry restrictions is usuallygive out to persons who are recovering for studies or are invited to work in any of the countries of the European Union. Naturally, when applying for such a visa, you must have invitations from the employer, which are very strictly checked.

The annual multivisa not so long ago began to give outthe Italian consulate. In this case, there is also a restriction on the length of stay in the country - no more than 180 days per year. In addition, only those citizens of Russia who have received at least one short-term Italian visa for the last two years and have not had any violations of the visa regime in the European zone can apply for issuing an annual multivisa.

Many EU countries (for example, Greece,Spain, France) automatically give the Russians a six-month Schengen visa, which allows five times to enter the European Union. And with the repeated treatment, the above-mentioned countries can issue an annual visa.