Despite the fact that the rules for obtaining an entry permit are the same for all members of the agreement, in fact, in some places it is easier to obtain a visa, and in others it is more difficult. The deadlines for accepting documents and issuing the coveted “sticker” for your passport also vary. Let's look into this issue.
The Schengen area unites 26 European countries, and you only need one visa to visit them. It is issued at the consulate of the country through which you plan to enter the zone. Despite the fact that the rules for obtaining an entry permit are the same for all members of the agreement, in reality it is easier to obtain a visa in some places, and more difficult in others. The deadlines for accepting documents and issuing the coveted “sticker” for your passport also vary. Let's figure it out.
Where is it faster and easier to apply for Schengen?
Let's start with a brief assessment of Moscow visa centers, which was unofficially given by experts from major tour operators. The process of submitting documents and obtaining permission is best organized when applying to Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy and Greece.
CCs in Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Malta, Hungary, and Portugal work more or less well, but not everything goes like clockwork there.
Where to apply for a Schengen visa?
For questions regarding any type of Schengen visa, please contact the visa department of the consulate of the country of planned stay. The Schengen countries strive to standardize the rules for issuing visas to their territory, therefore the procedural activities of various consulates coincide in most points.
If a foreigner intends to visit more than one country during a trip, a visa should be applied for at the consulate of the country in which the longest stay is planned: if such a country cannot be determined, an entry permit is issued to the first Schengen country that should be on the visitor’s route.
Which computer centers are simple, but not fast?
There are no complaints about the Spanish visa center, but it can barely cope with the influx of applicants. Therefore, the deadline for submitting documents is up to 2 weeks. During the May holidays, due to a large number of applications at this EC, there was a failure in issuing entry permits. You also have to sign up for the French CC half a month in advance, and the documents are reviewed quite quickly. At the Hungarian Exhibition Center before the holidays, waiting in line took up to 3 hours.
The champion in terms of visa processing time is the Czech Republic, you will have to wait as much as 15 working days (about 3 weeks)! The wait takes about the same time in the Austrian and Finnish Exhibition Centers. Of course, before the holidays you should play it safe and submit your application even earlier.
What is a tourist visa
With this document you can enter the territory of a foreign state and stay there for a specified period. You can apply for a tourist visa yourself or through a company. It will be needed by those who want to get acquainted with the history and culture of a foreign country, or visit friends or relatives living abroad. And for business trips or short-term business trips you need a business visa.
A business visa differs from a tourist visa in that you can engage in work with it. It is issued if there is an invitation from the receiving party.
Where is it more difficult?
Germany and Switzerland are not the easiest countries to enter the Schengen area for the first time, especially if you have not been to Europe before.
Experts say that collecting documents for a visa is not easy, they need to be submitted in advance, and the verification will be scrupulous. You can start applying for a visa to any country directly on the Subtleties website. Right here.
Often tourists are faced with having to re-submit their biometric data. Although according to the regulations they should be stored for up to 5 years, in fact this rule does not always work. Most often (from 20 to 30% of cases) you have to take fingerprints again at the CC in the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France and Hungary. Consulates explain this by the need for better fingerprinting.
New rules for issuing Schengen cards: what will change for Russians? Check out the review:
How to get a Schengen visa yourself
The process of applying for a visa yourself is not as complicated as some tourists think. Doing this yourself is quite easy. But you should still know a few subtleties. They relate to the choice of the country for which you will need to apply for a visa, and the type of visa.
The fact is that there is no such country as Schengen. This means that you will have to apply for an entry permit to a very specific European state. According to reviews from tourists, it is easier to get Schengen in Finland, Spain or France. Not surprising, since these countries receive a significant portion of their income from tourism.
As for the type of visa, not only the purpose of the trip plays a role, but also whether any Schengen visa has been previously obtained. And also whether any violations were identified related to its registration and rules of stay in European countries. If they are not found, then you can get a visa again with a longer period of stay.
You need to apply for a visa, which gives you the right to travel freely throughout almost all of Europe, at the embassy or consulate of one of the countries that are members of the union.
You can apply for it in person, but many prefer the services of various types of intermediaries. This is completely acceptable. You just need to make sure that the organization is trustworthy.
Embassy of Greece in Moscow at the address: Spiridonovka, 14.
What visas exist
All types of Schengen visas issued by embassies can be divided into three large groups:
- transit;
- short-term;
- long-term.
They are designated by the letters of the Latin alphabet - A, D, C and D. There is also a division within them, depending on the length of stay, the number of possible entries and exits, and the purposes of visiting the European Union.
Transit visas A and B are intended for those traveling to countries in another region: America, Africa or Asia. At the airport, when connecting in Europe, you will need to present them. But there are a number of significant differences between them.
It’s not for nothing that Visa A is called an airport visa. It gives a person the right to stay exclusively in the transit area of the airport terminal. In order to spend a few hours between transfers from one flight to another. So, holders of this visa will be able to look at Europe only from the airplane window and the windows of the passenger terminal.
Visa B, although it is a transit visa, gives its holder the right to spend from 1 to 5 days in Europe. With such a visa you can leave the airport if the time between flights is up to several days. Or even go further by land transport, crossing the borders of states inside the Schengen zone. The main thing is not to exceed the time allotted for your stay in the European Union.
When issuing transit Schengen visas, the same requirements are observed as for issuing a visa of another type. The documents that accompany the application for a transit visa are also the same.
Type C visa is the main type of Schengen visa. This is what most tourists going to Europe strive to get. Within this type, several subtypes can be distinguished, the receipt of which largely depends on the purpose of the visit.
A single-entry Schengen visa, or C1, requires a stay in the Schengen area of up to one month. However, you can only enter it once. After crossing the border of a Schengen country with a third country, it is no longer possible to return with this visa. For the first tourist or short-term business trip to some countries, this type of visa will be issued.
All other type C visas are multivisas, which means they allow you to enter and exit the country several times during the validity period of the visa. The length of stay is also limited and amounts to three months. If a multiple-entry Schengen visa is issued for a period of more than six months, then it may set a maximum period that can be spent in the country for six months. For example, Spain can issue a 6-month Schengen visa immediately for the first time. Therefore, many travelers prefer to contact the Spanish embassy or visa center first.
The C2 multiple entry visa is valid for 180 days. It can be obtained if a tourist visa was previously issued for a month, and during your stay in the Schengen countries there were no violations of the terms and destination. True, some countries are still inclined to provide such a visa only to those who travel to Europe solely for business matters.
The C3 annual multiple visa is provided only for serious businessmen, and the C4, which is valid for up to 5 years, is intended for special categories of high-ranking people: politicians and diplomats. Type D visas, strictly speaking, are not Schengen. These are national visas, the registration of which gives the right to a longer stay in the country.
Depending on the purpose of your trip to the country, a special work or student visa may also be issued.
What documents will be needed
First of all, of course, a foreign passport, as the main document confirming a person’s identity. You just need to make sure that there is a certain period left from the declared end of the trip until the end of its duration. The requirements for it differ in different countries. The range ranges from three months to six months. Therefore, this point should be clarified when submitting documents.
To obtain a multiple visa, you may also need a photocopy of your old passport, especially if it already contained a Schengen visa. Therefore, experienced travelers are advised to have such a copy. But those who have this international passport for the first time may need a certificate of this fact.
In addition to a foreign passport, some European embassies are also interested in an internal passport. Or rather, a photocopy of it. And although most often they demand to photograph only those pages where there are records, it is still better to play it safe and have copies of absolutely everything, even blank ones.
Next you will have to fill out an application. It can be downloaded from the official website of the diplomatic mission, filled out, printed and signed. In fact, this is a form that can be filled out in Russian, English or the language of the country that issues the visa. A photograph that meets the requirements is pasted onto the application form.
You can download the application form for obtaining a Schengen visa here. But the completed sample application and form for issuing a Schengen card is here.
Next, you will have to confirm your financial solvency. To do this, you must submit one of three documents:
- a certificate from work with a signature and seal (2-NDFL is possible) about the salary received; a certificate from work with a signature and seal about the salary received (sample can be downloaded in Russian and English);
- bank account statement, which should show an amount of at least 50 euros for each day of stay in Europe ();
- a letter from the sponsor (download a sample here) and a certificate from his place of work ().
You can submit only one of these documents, especially if the official salary is small or there is no bank account. But then the likelihood of failure increases. Therefore, it would be good to have two documents at the same time, especially if this is a family trip.
Paid tickets for any type of transport and a paid or confirmed hotel reservation will also be needed for those who are applying for a Schengen visa for the first time. A single-entry visa necessarily requires such confirmation. In this case, it is necessary to clarify whether the booking document through one of the online systems is valid.
You will also have to obtain medical insurance to obtain a visa. It is better to find out the amount of coverage at the embassy, as it may vary depending on the specific country. Recently, this condition has been mandatory for everyone, regardless of whether you are applying for a multiple or single entry visa. Motorists must obtain insurance for their vehicle.
For children, even those who already have their own passport, a birth certificate may be required. When leaving with one of the parents, the other must issue a notarized consent. Sometimes an apostille is also required, as well as additional information, the need for which must be clarified in advance. You will also need a completed application form and a photo.
Completing the fingerprinting procedure.
From September 14, 2015, fingerprinting is required. The European Union wants to introduce this practice to simplify control over the issuance of visas, as well as to carefully monitor the legality of refusals. In addition, such an identifier will serve as additional protection for personal information and personal data.
How long will the wait be and how much will it cost?
The official deadline for obtaining a Schengen visa is 5 days from the submission of documents. But as a rule, it turns out to be larger, especially during periods of greatest tourist activity. In this case, the wait for a response may take up to several weeks. It’s worth taking this into account when planning your trip. The processing time may be delayed even if there are points in the documents that require clarification. This may also lead to a refusal to issue a visa.
The cost of a Schengen visa is 35 euros. This is the amount you will have to pay if you register at the embassy yourself.
Intermediaries, for example, visa centers or travel agencies, will ask about the same amount for their mediation and assistance in paperwork. Plus the costs of photography, re-issuance of a foreign passport, notarized consent for the child’s departure and other expenses.
Typical visa center
How many weeks before your trip do you need to start applying for Schengen?
If you are going to such popular countries as Spain, Italy and Greece, and you do not have a Schengen visa, it is advisable to purchase a tour at least 2 weeks before departure, and in high season (from May to August inclusive, on New Year, etc. . p.) - at least a month. On the websites of tour operators you can see more accurate processing times, taking into account statistics and holidays.
As we told earlier, in 2021, every 4th Schengen in the world was received by Russians, and in total there were 3.6 million. Spain, Italy and France took the podium in popularity among our fellow citizens. However, due to the deterioration of people’s solvency and other factors, the number of people traveling to Europe decreased by 5% over the year.
July 2, 2019
Validity period depending on visa type
With the first classification, everything is clear - the purpose of the visa is reflected in its name: with a single-entry permit you can visit the Schengen territory only once, with a double-entry permit - twice, a multiple visa does not limit its owner in the number of crossings of the Schengen zone border (of course, within the validity period of such a visa) .
For example, if a Russian has received a short-term multivisa of category C for 3 months, which states that the validity of the permit is limited to one year, this means that within a year from the date of receipt of the visa, its holder has the right to cross the Schengen borders an unlimited number of times, provided that that the total stay will not exceed three months.
In the second case, each of the categories of entry permits has its own characteristics. For example, it makes sense to apply for visa A in the case when a passenger traveling from one country that does not belong to the Schengen agreement to another such country is forced to wait for a transfer to another plane at an airport in a Schengen country.
Visa C is divided into 4 subcategories, each of which provides for different validity periods and duration of stay in the Schengen zone.
| Visa type | Validity | Allowed stay time |
| C1 | 1–30 days | 1–30 days |
| C2 | 6 months | up to 90 days |
| C3 | 12 months | up to 90 days |
| C4 | 1–5 years | up to 90 days |
Category C is considered to be the most popular, due to the fact that this type of permit provides a fairly large target list - this is the type of visa that foreigners who intend to get acquainted with the sights of Schengen countries, visit relatives or receive quality medical care apply for.
It should be remembered that such a visa is not suitable for foreigners planning to study or work in one of the Commonwealth countries.
Finally, foreigners who are planning a long stay in the Schengen area should pay attention to a category D visa. If a Russian has entered into a contract with one of the European employers, has enrolled in one of the educational institutions of the Schengen countries, or is simply preparing to change his place of residence to one of the European countries, it is time for him to apply to the consulate of the selected country for a category D visa. Validity period Such a visa can last up to 5 years, but leaving the country that issued the visa for more than 90 days is not allowed.
What documents will be required?
To obtain a visa, the applicant must prepare a package of required documents, which may differ for different countries. There is a basic package, as a rule, it includes:
- a correctly completed application form, the form of which is provided by the consulate. The questionnaire can be submitted in paper or electronic form and is usually filled out in Latin letters. If a minor goes on a trip, a parent or guardian fills out the form for him;
- two color photographs measuring 35x45 mm.
Among the requirements for visa photographs are the absence of tinted glasses and hats in the picture (unless the presence of a headdress is due to religious reasons), the position of the head is strictly frontal, the background of the picture is light and plain. The age of the photograph should not exceed six months; This size should be the photo for a Schengen visa - international passport. The passport must expire at least three months after the planned end date of the trip;
- receipts for payment of consular and visa fees;
- confirmation of financial solvency. The applicant must confirm that he has sufficient funds to support himself during his stay in the Schengen area. This requirement may vary for different countries, for example, to obtain a Schengen visa to Spain you must have a minimum of 62 euros per day per person. As confirmation, you can prepare bank statements, credit cards, it is acceptable to provide salary certificates;
- confirmation of intention to return. Such confirmation may include the presence of real estate in the homeland, elderly parents requiring care, work or business in the country of permanent residence;
- applicant's internal passport;
- an insurance policy covering probable expenses associated with the provision of medical care in the amount of at least 30 thousand euros;
- confirmation of the purpose of stay. This may require hotel reservations, travel tickets, invitations from relatives, etc.
If the applicant has already applied for Schengen visas within the previous 5 years, proof of this must be provided.
Here you can download the application form for obtaining a Schengen visa.
What does Schengen look like on a passport?
According to the rules for obtaining a Schengen visa, it must be pasted into the foreign passport. With some exceptions, the general appearance of the Schengen visa does not depend on the consulate or center that issued the permit. There is one standard for all 26 states.
What does a Schengen visa look like? Here are three samples issued by the consulates of Germany, Poland and Greece:
Germany
Greece
Poland
