Getting a Schengen visa is not difficult, but if you like to travel to Europe often, like me :), then applying for a visa for every trip is tedious. It’s better to get Schengen once and forget for 3 or even 5 years. From my own experience, I have come up with several rules for how to get a Schengen multiple visa - thanks to them, all my friends now even receive their first visa in a clean passport for at least six months. To avoid explaining it every time, I’ll save it here and update it as needed. I hope my advice will help you get a Schengen visa for a year or more. I have already written detailed instructions on what documents are needed and how to apply for a visa, using visas to Greece as an example, but here I will tell you in more detail the universal rules for the entire Schengen area.
The main thing to understand when applying for a visa is that it is important for the consulate to understand that you do not intend to stay in Europe or look for work there. Our task is to prove that we are traveling for tourism purposes. Here's how to properly collect and submit documents for a Schengen visa in 2021:
Collect and submit visa documents yourself
If you think that agencies have any connections in the consulates, then you are mistaken. Visa agencies can only tell you how to properly collect documents for a visa. But they charge money for this. I'm telling you the same thing and even more, but for free. In addition, when applying for a visa yourself, you can add or correct something locally.
Keep in mind that travel agencies issue shorter visas, even if all documents are prepared correctly. You will never get a 5-year visa on a “package” tour.
When filling out the form, in the “Visa is requested for...” section, do not forget to check the “multiple entry” box! Some travel agencies “forget” to do this.
Biometrics for Schengen visa
To obtain a Schengen visa, you must provide biometric data - fingerprints and a digital photo. The received data is processed by the Visa Information System (VIS). The applicant undergoes the procedure of taking 10 fingerprints every 5 years; children under 12 years old do not submit biometric data.
Biometrics are carried out by consulates of Schengen countries or authorized visa centers. The fingerprinting procedure takes a few minutes, watch the video.
New system for issuing Schengen visas
Prove your financial worth
To get a long-term Schengen, confirm your finances
In addition to a certificate from work, be sure to attach an official certificate from bank accounts - do not limit yourself to the minimum required amount, let it be indicated as much money as possible and in different accounts: credit, debit, currency, etc. It is better if the amount on your accounts exceeds the minimum required by 5-10 times.
Advice: We went - we know. The amount on your credit card is also proof of your solvency. Additionally, get a certificate from the bank about this account.
Get visa insurance not only for the days of your trip, but also annual multi-insurance
To obtain a multiple entry visa to Europe you need travel insurance. Many tourists take out insurance only for the days of their trip - this is a big mistake! What happens if you are not given a visa at all? It is best to take annual multi-insurance, which is valid not for one single trip, but throughout the year. This means that you can stay abroad as many times as you like, but no more than the number of days specified in the insurance.
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Firstly, if suddenly for some reason you are not given a visa, then with this insurance you can go to another country, for example, a visa-free one, and at another time - you are not tied to deadlines.
Secondly, for obtaining a “long” visa, such insurance looks more convincing - you show that you are going to make not one trip, but several.
Thirdly, annual insurance can be cheaper than several one-time ones if you often travel abroad. Discussed in more detail here. You can now buy inexpensive visa insurance – here’s a detailed breakdown of where to buy. This type of insurance will be sent by e-mail – we download it to your smartphone and you don’t need to take any papers with you on vacation. For a visa, print it out.
For children and those who don’t want to deal with the insurance company when an insured event occurs, I recommend buying more reliable insurance (you don’t have to pay anything on the spot, they really help and don’t “blow your mind”) - read more about why these travel insurances are better here.
Attach copies of pages of your previous passport
In the photo: show all previous Schengen visas.
If your previous passport has expired, but it contained visas (not necessarily Schengen), then be sure to attach copies of all pages - this will show that you love to travel, but always return to your homeland.
If in the old If your passport had at least one Schengen visa, then in the new one it is quite possible to get a Schengen visa for a year or more.
What is the best way to apply for a visa: through an agency or on your own?
For trips to Schengen, a one-year visa is very convenient, but in principle you can get by with short-term permits. Therefore, if you do not desperately need a visa, you can submit an application to the embassy yourself. Even if you don’t become the owner of the coveted multiple visa, you will at least gain useful experience.
If the question of how to obtain a Schengen visa for a year causes difficulties, you should contact the appropriate agency. It is better to do the same if it is important for you to get an annual multiple visa quickly and guaranteed. The price in this case is higher, but you will save time.
Where is the best place to make a hotel reservation?
Many people ask whether booking from AirBNB is suitable for a Schengen visa - it used to be suitable. Now tourists sometimes have questions from the consulate in connection with problems with this company in Europe. Therefore, it is better to make a reservation for a visa for the first trip on Booking - there have never been any questions. Moreover, now Booking already offers almost all the same apartments at the same prices as AirBNB.
It is ideal if you include a detailed planned itinerary with your hotel reservations, what and where you are going to see.
Book your hotel without cancellation
In the photo: to get a multiple Schengen card, you need to book a hotel for real.
Often, newbie tourists find on forums that they can book a hotel without prepaying for a visa, and then cancel the reservation. Keep in mind that consulates are now increasingly canceling visas if a tourist cancels their reservation. Or next time it may cause a visa refusal. Sometimes tourists learn about the cancellation of their visa only at the border. There have already been cases - for example, here and here. In addition, hotel reservations made without a credit card at all do not contribute to obtaining a long-term visa. To obtain a multi-Schengen visa, it is best to submit prepaid reservations. If you have doubts about obtaining a visa, then look on Booking for a hotel with the possibility of cancellation, but one in which you will actually stay later, so as not to cancel in the future. And if suddenly, after receiving a visa, you need to rebook a hotel or apartment, then it is better to write a letter to the consulate and attach an explanation and a copy of the new reservation.
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List of countries where it is easiest to obtain a long-term Schengen visa in 2021
In the photo: all Schengen countries
Multi-Schengen is easiest to get in France (most often they give it for 5 years), Greece, Spain, Italy, Slovakia. But keep in mind that these are the countries that zealously ensure that tourists rest on their territory for as long as possible, and do not rush around all over Europe. Therefore, when submitting documents, you will have a better chance of getting a long-term visa at the consulate of the country where you already vacationed last time. This means that if you already had, for example, a French visa, then it is better to apply for the next visa to the French consulate. Those. try to stick to the consulate of one country.
According to reviews from tourists. In 2021, the easiest way is to get a 5-year visa to France. In Spain, if all documents are collected correctly and submitted independently, newcomers are usually given a year, experienced – 2 years, if they have real estate – 3 years. Long-term visas to Greece have become increasingly rare.
Where is the Schengen visa valid?
A Schengen visa issued by one of the Schengen countries is valid for stay in all countries included in the Schengen agreement.
List of Schengen countries 2021
- Austria
- Belgium
- Hungary
- Germany
- Greece
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Spain
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Finland
- France
- Czech
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Estonia
With a valid Schengen visa you can enter third countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Romania, Croatia.
Countries that issue Schengen visas better than others: Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Czech Republic. The consulates of these countries, as a rule, issue multiple visas with a validity period of 6 months or more, even upon first application. With subsequent applications, there is a chance of receiving a Schengen visa for a period of 1 to 5 years.
Countries that most often refuse a Schengen visa: Norway, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland.
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Answers on questions
I will post some answers to questions here for convenience.
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Where to find the list of documents for a visa, current, 2021
There is a lot of outdated information on the Internet, so always check lists of documents and requirements only on official websites! Information may change at any time. We are publishing a list of official websites of those countries where it is easiest to obtain a visa - official websites of consulates and visa centers in Russia :
- Addresses and list of documents for a France visa are here.
- Visas to Greece – office. website.
- Applying for a visa to Spain - list of documents, requirements and registration for submitting documents here.
If there is no consulate in your city, there may be a visa center - see the information on the official websites, everything is written in detail in Russian.
Noticed the changes? Write in the comments.
Do you have to enter only the country where you are applying for a visa?
No! This is not in the rules. However, there are rumors that consulate officials take entry stamps into account when issuing the next visa.
There is no first entry rule - you can enter the country you want, but then according to the rules, you must spend most of the trip in the country where you are applying for a visa. This is confirmed by hotel reservations.
Rules for those who open Schengen for a year
For those who have put a stamp in their passport allowing entry into the 26 Schengen countries, rules have been created that must be followed. The rule states that on your first visit, entry must be made either through the country in whose Embassy you prepared the documents, or you must spend more time there during the validity of the Schengen visa.
However, this rule is not strict. Many travelers do not have the opportunity to travel from Russia or other countries of the former USSR on a direct flight: in some cities the choice of destinations is very limited or plane tickets to the destination country are very expensive.
In this video you can watch your personal experience of trips and travels in European countries of the Schengen area.
Knowing this point in advance, you must indicate the country of first entry in the application form and provide tickets for the entire journey: a plane to the country of first entry and a train or bus to the country of primary destination. Initially, not everyone likes this rule, but after thinking carefully, you will understand what bright prospects it gives you. In some embassies, obtaining a Schengen visa is so simplified that literally in a matter of days you can become the owner of the coveted permit without any problems. Poland and Latvia are especially promising in this regard.
The building of the Polish Embassy in Moscow
Another important rule is to comply with the period of stay in the permitted zone.
Having received Schengen for a year, you can stay in its countries for a total of 180 days. Moreover, in the first half of the year there are 90 days and in the second exactly the same.
The number of entries can be any. If entry was not carried out immediately, but after some time, the first half of the year may overlap with the second. If the second one does not become less than three months, the Schengen guest retains the right to visit it for 90 days.
You need to keep in mind that Consulates can issue annual Schengen for a shorter period. Within six months, they may be allowed to stay abroad for 45 or 60 days. But such restrictions are quite rare and almost all foreigners are allowed to stay in the countries of the European Union for 90 days in one half-year. This point is always indicated on the visa: the number of days allowed for stay is written under the expiration date of the Schengen visa.
In 2021, the EU Council introduced uniform rules for issuing multiple visas for Schengen countries. To obtain an annual Schengen visa, you must first use at least 3 single-entry visas. If multiple visas were issued earlier, before the innovations, the issue of issuing an annual multiple visa will be decided by a specific consulate.
