The issuance of visas to the Schengen area is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the EU Visa Code. Specification of the procedure for obtaining permission to visit countries participating in the Schengen Agreement, depending on the classification of foreign tourists into various categories (children, pensioners, students, etc.), is enshrined in the Consular Instructions, mandatory for use by all institutions authorized to consider and make decisions on applications for issuing visas. A Schengen visa for pensioners is issued free of charge, subject to the established requirements.
Features of the Schengen visa for retirees
Important! Please keep in mind that:
- Each case is unique and individual.
- A thorough study of the issue does not always guarantee a positive outcome. It depends on many factors.
To get the most detailed advice on your issue, you just need to choose any of the options offered:
- Use the online chat in the lower corner of the screen.
- Call: Federal number: +7 (800) 511-86-74
Citizens who have reached retirement age have the same right as others to obtain permission to visit the countries of the Schengen area. The application procedure is identical to the visa request for other categories of citizens.
A distinctive point is the complete package of documents required by the consular office of the state of appeal. A number of differences are advantages for pensioners, but some points complicate the procedure for them to obtain permission to enter European countries. The presented features of obtaining a Schengen visa for pensioners include:
- There is no need to pay for document processing in the presence of special circumstances (free visa for certain categories of pensioners - veterans, disabled people, etc.).
- The need to confirm financial solvency (can be a problem for a non-working pensioner).
- Mandatory confirmation of the intention to return to the Russian Federation upon expiration of the permit or earlier (also not relevant for citizens of retirement age who are officially employed, since the presence of a permanent job is a significant fact indicating the veracity of the desire for a short-term visit to Schengen).
- Providing an insurance policy with a larger amount of insurance payment (applies to pensioners who are over 70 years old).
Obtaining a family visa to England for pensioners
The most important thing that any applicant needs to do is decide on the type of visa. If you want to visit family members, a Standard Visitor visa (guest purpose of travel) is issued for this situation. But be careful: it has two important conditions that are inseparable from each other. The inviter must be legally residing in Britain, have citizenship of this country or permanent residence permit, and the degree of your relationship with him must be fairly close (brother/sister, parent, child). If these conditions are not met (you are traveling to distant relatives or relatives are living in the country temporarily), then you should apply for a tourist visa.
If your relatives comply with the law, then there should be no problems with the visa. There are many options for how to create a package of documents. Financial guarantees can be provided by documents from sponsors of the trip, for example, the applicant’s children, both living in the UK and those in Russia. You should also demonstrate a pension certificate and savings. A plus will be the presence of property, which will confirm ties with the homeland and a number of other documents. To avoid difficulties with the package of documents, we recommend applying for a UK visa for pensioners together with our company.
The British have strict rules that applicants must comply with in order to obtain their visa. This applies primarily to situations where you want to visit relatives living in the UK illegally. If your immediate family once traveled there, for example on a tourist visa, and stayed there, then the British may suspect that you want to do the same. You should not try to hide the presence of relatives in Britain - this will lead to negative consequences. Having non-law-abiding relatives makes it impossible to obtain a British visa not only for pensioners, but also for applicants of any age.
Where should I go to get it?
The issuance of a Schengen visa for pensioners on a general basis is carried out by bodies authorized to take appropriate actions - consular offices and diplomatic missions of the member states of the Agreement.
If you want to obtain permission to enter the countries of the European zone, before submitting the set of required documents, you should decide on the route and the desired time of visiting them.
The Schengen permit gives citizens of third-party countries the right to move freely across all borders of allied countries that have signed the Schengen agreement. In order to prevent unscrupulous tourists from visiting Schengen, a number of rules have been established that make it possible to establish compliance with the route stated in the visa application form and the actual direction of travel. It is these rules that form the basis for determining the consulate of the state to which the visa request is submitted.
Important! You should submit documents for a permit to the country in which you plan to spend the longest period of time or to the state that you will be able to visit first.
If a citizen does not want to independently prepare and complete a package of documentation, he can enter into an appropriate agreement with a travel agency. The services provided are convenient, but have a high cost.
Countries where it is possible to obtain a pensioner visa
Countries that use monthly income to qualify for a visa include: (with approximate monthly amount in US dollars as exchange rates do fluctuate.)
- Nicaragua – US$600 (and US$150 per family member. You must be over 45 years old)
- Honduras – 600 US dollars
- Costa Rica - 1000 US dollars (You must be able to prove that this income will last you for life.)
- Guatemala – 1000 US dollars
- Thailand – USD 2,000 (or USD 25,000 deposit account. You must be
- more than 50 years.)
- Aruba – USD 2,300 (You must be over 55 years old)
- Malaysia – USD 2,500 (You must be over 50 years of age and show approximately USD 83,000 in
- assets)
- Mauritius – 1500 USD (only for people over 50 years old, family members can also come.)
- Spain – USD 2600 (Spain retirement visa is called non-profit visa)
- Vanuatu – 2800 US dollars (This amount must be transferred to a commercial bank in Vanuatu)
- UK – $2,900 (You must be over 60 years of age and have an existing connection to the UK)
The Panama retirement visa works a little differently. You must deposit a minimum of US$170,000 for a 5-year time deposit at the National Bank of Panama. This investment will generate approximately $750 in income per month.
What documents are required to obtain?
The list of required documentation is established by the Consular Instructions. A main list is determined, which is the same for all citizens applying for a Schengen permit, as well as additional documents submitted by individual categories of citizens.
Schengen registration for pensioners involves submitting the following set of papers:
| Title of official paper | Put forward requirements and features |
| International passport | The document must be valid for another 3 months after the pensioner returns from the trip and the document must contain more than one spread of blank sheets for putting permit marks. |
| National passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation | All necessary age photographs must be pasted in. A Russian passport is submitted to identify the applicant for a visa. |
| Pensioner ID | A copy (scanned copy) of the submitted document is attached. Confirms the status of the tourist applicant as a pensioner and is the basis for exemption from paying the fee for obtaining a permit. |
| Photos in the amount of 2 pieces | Color photographs, measuring 3.5 by 4.5 centimeters. With a clear portrait of the applicant, without third-party unacceptable accessories (for example, sunglasses). The background is exclusively white, its volume cannot exceed 20% of the total area of the photo. |
| Application form | Filled out in English, without any blots, errors or corrections. Forms are provided free of charge by consular offices, and can also be downloaded from official Internet resources. |
| Medical insurance | The insurance policy must have a validity period that is equal to or greater than the duration of the trip. The rule of the established minimum insurance payment must be observed. |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint impressions and digital photo. For all Schengen countries except Italy, submitted documents are valid for 5 years (the exception is Italy, which requires identification for each permit request). |
| Documents confirming the applicant's marital status | A paper confirming the entry into force of marriage or divorce (if any). |
| Certificates of financial viability of a pensioner or a letter from a sponsor | An important point is to confirm the solvency of the pensioner applying for a Schengen visit permit. A number of states only accept a letter from the sponsor as confirmation. |
| Papers confirming the purpose of the trip and the desire to return to Russia | If the pensioner is not employed, such papers will be required when submitting an application - a questionnaire. These include travel documents in both directions, tourist vouchers, checks for payment of accommodation at the destination, etc. |
| Receipt for payment of consular fee | Some states do not collect the presented payment from pensioners-veterans of the Great Patriotic War, disabled people and other prescribed categories. |
The nuances of obtaining health insurance
Medical insurance is required for all tourists applying for Schengen. However, for citizens of retirement age this document has some features.
Important! For pensioners who have turned 70 years old, a different mandatory amount of insurance payment has been determined - 45 thousand. This situation is due to frequent cases of requests from elderly tourists while staying in Schengen for medical help.
It should also be taken into account that a number of states that are members of the Agreement do not accept policies filled out manually by the insurer. To avoid conflict situations, you should purchase insurance in printed form and always have its electronic version with you.
It is acceptable to purchase a policy on the Internet resources of accredited insurance companies.
Confirmation of solvency
If a pensioner works, a document from the place of work (income certificate) is provided as confirmation of his financial solvency. In other cases, the appropriate confirmation is documents on the availability of bank deposits, checks on the recent purchase of currency, confirmation of the ownership of real estate or a car. If the trip is paid for by close relatives, they can write a letter of sponsorship confirming their commitment to bear all expenses associated with visiting the Agreement area.
Features of obtaining a visa to Germany by invitation
To obtain a Schengen visa, you will need to provide proof of your solvency to the consulate. A certificate from the bank about the status of the cash deposit is generally accepted. In any suitable bank you must have a deposit with a certain amount in your account. At the moment, the consulate is based on the calculation that a tourist may need approximately 60 euros for one day of travel. Plus, don’t forget about round-trip travel and additional funds intended to cover expenses in case of unforeseen circumstances.
This means that when traveling to Spain for 10 days, your account should have: funds for a round trip (if traveling by plane 300-400 euros) funds for accommodation 10*60 = 600 euros 150-300 euros for unforeseen expenses. In total we get 1050-1300 euros.
How to apply for a Schengen visa for a pensioner if there is no bank account? If you do not have the above certificate, you must submit to the consulate any other documents confirming that you have material wealth:
- Certificate of vehicle availability.
- A certificate confirming the availability of real estate.
- A recent receipt confirming the purchase of foreign currency with the obligatory indication of your full name.
- An ATM statement showing the balance on the plastic card with a photocopy of the card itself.
The consul will treat such documents with particular pickiness and your chance of obtaining a Schengen visa will decrease somewhat. Read more in the article: “Certificate from the bank for a Schengen visa.”
Step 1. Select a country. The Schengen Union includes 26 European states; a visa issued by any of these states is valid throughout the territory of the union. But at the same time, it must be issued in the country where you will spend the most time.
When planning to go on a tour of Europe through Poland, where you plan to spend 1 day, Germany 2 days, France 2 days, Belgium 1 day and Holland 3 days, you must contact the Dutch Embassy.
If you plan to spend no more than 2 days in Holland, you can apply for permission from the embassies of France, Germany and Holland.
If you yourself are not sure where you will spend the most time, contact the embassy of the country that is first in line to visit. In this case, it is Poland.
Step 2. Where to contact. A Schengen visa for pensioners can be obtained through:
- Embassy.
- Visa Center.
- Travel company.
- Specialized agency.
Please note that when applying through an embassy or center, all major concerns will fall on you. But at the same time, travel agencies and agencies charge a significant percentage for Schengen registration.
Step 3. Fingerprinting. Since 2015, tourists must submit fingerprints and undergo a retinal scan to obtain a new Schengen visa. This can be done at the visa center. Read more in the article: “Surrendering fingerprints for Schengen”.
Step 4. Collection of documents.
Step 5. Submit documents and wait for the result.
Read more in the article “How to apply for a Schengen visa yourself.”
A special point is obtaining a visa to Germany by invitation. The process of obtaining such an entry permit contains its own characteristics, which are expressed as follows:
- The package of documents must be submitted to the consulate by the applicant in person, which is strictly controlled by its employees. However, papers submitted through visa centers will not be accepted for consideration. Such categoricalness is associated with the need to clarify all the details of the future trip and determine the veracity of its motives.
- It is necessary to sign up for an interview in advance, since the time frame for consideration of the case may be significantly extended. However, the duration of visa processing depends on the complexity of the issue and the results of personal meetings with the applicant.
- Often, the inviting party is called for an interview to clarify the details of a future trip. The purpose of the meeting is to determine the relationship with the applicant and the nature of the trip.
- A person residing in Germany must confirm the possibility of keeping a guest and guarantee that he will be provided with a place to stay.
Sample of filling out an application form for obtaining a Schengen visa to Germany
Visa processing time and cost
The cost of obtaining a permit is the same for all citizens (except for benefits) and amounts to 35 euros with a total waiting period for consideration of the application and making a decision. The presented time frames depend on the number of relevant applications to the consulate and can vary from 5 days to 2 months. For this reason, you should submit a set of documents in advance.
Note! It is possible to speed up the procedure. Its cost is 70 euros, and the issuance time is 1-2 working days.
Schengen validity period for pensioners
The duration of a visa depends on its type, which, in turn, is determined by the purposes of foreigners visiting the Schengen state. The most common is a 30-day permit. However, it is possible to receive it for six months.
It should be taken into account that it is better to submit the first application for Schengen for a minimum duration with one entry. After recommending your identity as a bona fide tourist (by following uncontrolled rules), almost any country participating in the Agreement will issue a long-term multi-entry visa.
Why can they refuse and what should they do?
The main reasons for not obtaining a Schengen visa for pensioners:
- incorrectly completed package of documents;
- unconfirmed financial situation (both of the pensioner himself and his sponsor);
- unclear explanation of the reason for visiting the Schengen area;
- being on the lists of unscrupulous tourists (violators) or persons posing a threat to member states.
Solutions:
- eliminate the shortcomings and submit the application again after 4 months;
- find another sponsor or provide other proof of your financial situation;
- correctly formulate the purpose of the trip.
If the applicant considers that the subsequent refusal has no legal basis, he has the right to appeal the submitted decision.
Visa to England for applicants of retirement age
It is a widely known fact that obtaining a UK visa is not easy. The list of required documents includes employment certificates and other proof of income. Does this mean that it is impossible to obtain a British visa for a pensioner? Of course not. Like any other category of applicant, retired citizens are eligible to apply for and be approved for UK tourist and family visas. This category of citizens has its own special requirements. Our company has been successfully helping pensioners obtain a UK visa for many years and knows well what is needed for this.
- Features of a UK visa for pensioners
- Obtaining a family visa to England for pensioners
- UK Tourist Visa for Retirees
- Applying for a UK visa with our company
