The Avianiti visa guide tells you how to apply for a Schengen visa in 2021 for a long period of time without unnecessary problems. In the article we look at what visa centers there are, how much a Schengen visa costs, what the issuance deadlines are, and how to fill out the application form for the consulate. We share life hacks on how to get a long-term visa, how to check a visa upon receipt and what to do if it is refused.
Please note that in 2020/2021 most visa centers are closed, visas are issued by country consulates. In addition, there may be restrictions on the issuance of tourist visas. The issuance and validity period of the Schengen card is limited by travel dates. As soon as the situation with the coronavirus pandemic stabilizes, visas will be issued as before.
- What are the types of Schengen visas?
- Consulate or visa center
- How much does a Schengen visa cost?
- Schengen visa issuance deadlines
- Set of documents
- How to get Schengen for a long time
- Rules for filling out the form
- Instructions for filling out the form
- How to check your visa upon receipt
- What to do if you receive a refusal
If you have any questions, we will answer them in the comments at the end of the article.
What are the types of Schengen visas?
There are different types of Schengen visa, depending on the purpose of the trip you need to request a specific visa. If at the border of the European Union a customs representative asks you a question about the purpose of your trip and the answer does not match the type of visa, your visa may be revoked.
A Schengen visa can be obtained for the purposes of tourism and travel, transit, business, work, residence, study or treatment. The trip must be confirmed with documents: tickets, accommodation reservation, invitation, etc.
Types of Schengen visas
- Schengen visa type A Provided only for transit through EU airports to third countries. This visa is needed if the applicant does not plan to leave the airport building.
- Schengen visa type B A transit visa that allows you to stay in the European Union only for short periods of up to 5 days. Typically, such a visa is requested to cross the border by car when heading to third countries.
- Schengen visa type C Tourist or business visa. The most common Schengen visa, which allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days, is issued for a period of up to 5 years. A visa can be with a restriction on the number of entries, or without restrictions (multiple). It is worth noting that the visa is suitable for tourism and travel, as well as for business purposes, but does not give the right to work, only negotiations and meetings.
- Schengen visa type D National Schengen visa. Allows you to stay in the Schengen zone for more than 90 consecutive days. Designed for special cases when the applicant needs not to leave the Schengen area for more than 3 months. This visa is often equated to a residence permit.
Our guide to obtaining a Schengen visa covers ways to obtain a Schengen C visa for travel, tourism and business. This type of visa is divided into 4 subtypes.
Tourist Schengen visa type C
The main differences in the subtypes of Schengen visa type C are the validity period of the visa and the period of stay in the EU countries.
- C1 – period of stay in the Schengen zone up to 30 days.
- C2 – stay up to 90 days, visa validity up to 6 months.
- C3 – stay up to 90 days, visa validity up to 1 year.
- C4 – stay up to 90 days, visa validity up to 5 years.
When requesting a Schengen visa type C, you cannot select a subtype. The consulate, at its discretion, issues visas for different periods.
Schengen visas by country
To visit one of the 26 Schengen countries, it is enough to obtain a Schengen visa from any country on the list. To obtain a visa, you must contact the representative office of the country you are going to. It doesn’t matter which border you cross first.
- Austria
