Applying for a Schengen visa for the unemployed

Who is considered unemployed?

An unemployed person is a person who cannot document his work activity.
Citizens belonging to one of 4 categories can be recognized as unemployed:

1. A person who does not have an official job, although by all criteria he should.
2. Student. As a rule, a young person is dependent on his parents. He must provide information about the status of the parents' bank account and documents from the place of study.
3. Pensioners. The consulate will request a pension certificate and a statement from the bank account to which the pension is credited.
4. People with disabilities. The procedure for obtaining a visa is simpler for them than for other categories. It is important to have a sponsor (often a charitable organization).
5. Minor citizens (young people aged 14 to 18 years). To obtain a visa, you will need a birth certificate, written permission from the parents for the child to leave (they are signed during a personal visit to the consulate or certified by a notary). Parents must prove financial solvency and responsibility for providing the child with money during the trip. A letter from school would be a good idea. It is necessary to show that teachers and the management of the educational institution have been notified of the child’s absence from classes.

Unemployed adults

Adult citizens without official work, like workers, have the right to a visa. To obtain permission to enter a particular country, they will have to not only collect basic documents, but also prepare in advance. Before receiving Schengen, an unemployed person should prepare the following documents:

extract. If you have a bank account, you must provide a statement indicating the exact amount held in it;

housing. It is recommended to temporarily rent housing in the host country in advance. If you are planning a visit, then simply show the invitation;

See also: Which countries do Russians need a visa to?

plan. The chances of success are increased by a sketched travel plan, which includes not only the route, but also the number of nights that the citizen intends to spend in the country. An example of it can be found on the Internet.

All this contributes to obtaining the document, but does not guarantee 100% results. Therefore, few people risk paying for housing even before their entry permit is confirmed.

How to apply for a visa for an unemployed person?

If in the case of pensioners, students and minors the algorithm for obtaining a visa does not raise any questions, then in relation to all other unemployed people uncertainty arises.

What sequence of actions should be taken so that instead of a long-awaited trip, you do not get disappointed by a refusal to issue a Schengen visa?

The essence of all actions of an applicant for entry is to prove that you are able to provide for yourself financially, and your visit will not become a “headache” for the state.

To do this you need:

1. Collect the documents discussed below.
2. Visit the consulate of the state you are planning to visit.

If there are no questions about the documents, then the likelihood of a positive decision is high. The consulate is not so much interested in the fact of employment as solvency and the ability to live comfortably in the country for a certain period of time.

Where is the easiest way to get a visa for unemployed people?

If there are concerns that a visa will not be issued, it is necessary to consider countries that are less picky about documents. A Schengen visa for non-working citizens will become more realistic when applying to the consulates of the following countries:

• Slovakia;
• Poland;
• Lithuania;
• Hungary;
• Latvia.

Do not forget, however, that most of the trip will have to be spent in these states, and you will also have to enter Schengen through their borders. Other actions will be considered a violation of visa rules, which will certainly lead to difficulties in subsequent applications to the missions of European powers.

What documents are needed for a visa for an unemployed person?

The package of documents for the unemployed will be wider than the standard one. So, in the usual version you need to provide:

1. A completed application form (the form can be obtained from the embassy). By the way, a questionnaire containing errors will not be accepted. Therefore, all data must be checked carefully.
2. Russian passport and international passport (originals and copies). The validity of the foreign passport should not expire earlier than 3 months after returning to your homeland (additionally read: “How to apply for a foreign passport through the MFC step by step”, or “State [anchor href=»mjj.ru/viza/kak-oformit-medicinskuyu-strahovku -dlya-vizy.html"]How to get health insurance for a visa").
3. Photos 3.5*4.5 centimeters (the face must occupy at least 80% of the photo, a light background is required). Full photo requirements can be read in the article “Photography requirements for a Schengen visa.”
4. Confirmation of the purpose of the trip (vacation package, invitation from relatives, invitation to participate in a forum, exhibition, conference, etc.).

If a citizen works, then he confirms his income with a certificate, which he takes from the employer, and a bank account statement.

An unemployed citizen, in addition to the above documents, must prepare:

1. Bank account statement. It is not the certificate itself that is important. The numbers indicated in it should assure the host that you will not have to spend money, you will be able to provide for yourself for the entire period of your stay (as a rule, at least 50-80 euros are required per night). Additionally, read the article: “How to obtain a certificate from a bank for a Schengen visa.”
2. Letter of sponsorship (if the trip is paid for by another person). It is compiled in any form. The sponsor must confirm that he will cover all expenses associated with the flight and accommodation of his ward in the Schengen country. The sponsor is also required to document his identity and ability to pay. A sample letter, as well as how to write it, can be read here.
3. If a citizen travels without any outside support, the guarantor of obtaining a visa can be a hotel room reservation (read more: “How to book a hotel for a visa”), paid round-trip tickets (read more: “How to make an air ticket reservation for a visa without paying ").
4. Trip plan (drawn up manually). It indicates the route and the number of nights that are planned to be spent in the country. In addition, read: “How to draw up an itinerary for a visa.”

The consulate may request documents about marital status and the presence of children. If a citizen provides all the data without concealing it, he confirms his own integrity and increases his chances of receiving a visa.

How to get a Schengen visa for an unemployed person?

You need a bank certificate or sponsorship letter.

Before receiving a Schengen visa for an unemployed person, the applicant awaiting permission must provide the visa commission with documentary evidence of the availability of funds in the bank account - a bank statement for a Schengen visa. In fact, the commission doesn’t matter how the money comes into your account, whether it’s a salary or savings.

Ways to provide documentary evidence of financial status:

1. Documentary confirmation of the availability of funds in a bank account or card - checks or statements.
2. If the applicant is a pensioner, he must provide a copy and original of his pension certificate.
3. A separate point in considering the issuance of a Schengen visa for an unemployed person is the presence of a sponsor who guarantees full payment for maintenance in the territory of any Schengen country.

Important! The unemployed applicant must have enough money in his bank account to visit the Schengen country.

If you need to apply for a visa under the guarantee of a sponsor, you must provide several additional documents related directly to the sponsor. The only nuance when choosing a sponsor should be the relationship, that is, one of the parents, children, etc.

To collect documents for registration with the participation of a sponsor you must:

1. The letter from the sponsor must be printed in any form. The application indicates that the sponsor undertakes to cover the applicant’s travel expenses and subsistence level for the period of the applicant’s stay in one of the Schengen countries. Sample sponsorship letter for Schengen visa 2021.
2. Any document confirming the sponsor's income.
3. A document identifying the individual and direct confirmation of relationship with the sponsor.

Cost and processing time for a Schengen visa for an unemployed person

If the documents provided are sufficient and properly executed, then the waiting period for a response will not exceed 5-10 days. The cost of a visa is standard, in 2021 it is 35 euros.

If there are problems with the documents, the visa center returns them back. It is important to pay attention to the stamp that appears on the documents:

• 1-C means that you can apply again only after 3 months (you need to find out the reason for the refusal and eliminate it);
• 2-с means that you were summoned to a personal meeting at the embassy (this fact does not always indicate a refusal, often it indicates additional questions);
• 3-c indicates inaccuracies or errors in documents that are not difficult to eliminate.

How to get a visa for an unemployed Belarusian: tested on yourself

There are different situations: lost your job, took a break, didn’t find a job after university, freelancer... How to get a visa if your work permit clearly states that you are unemployed? Traveling Editorial Board . by reliably found out what it takes to get a multi-Schengen for an unemployed person.

Which consulate to choose? The consulates of Lithuania and Poland are considered the most loyal in Belarus. Thanks to the fact that visa centers for these countries have started operating in Belarus, applying for a visa has become easier, although a little more expensive. It is even easier to apply for a visa from a travel company - you will spend money on the services of a specialist, but will significantly save your own time and nerves. We choose Lithuania to submit documents, since our candidate’s three previous visas were issued by this country and all three entries were made through Lithuania. This may be considered a good visa history by the consul.

Given: one unemployed person who really wants to get a visa to travel to Europe.

We all know that it is impossible to deceive the consulate, otherwise you can get your visa canceled and your visa history ruined, which will come back to haunt you in the future. Therefore, we honestly prepare all the documents for a specific trip on the selected dates - three days in February 2017.

So, what needs to be done to collect a complete package of documents for a visa for an unemployed person?

STEP 1. FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE

A document without which you will not even be allowed into the consulate building. In the application form, in the column about work, it is better to indicate “unemployed”, since indicating the profession may lead to a logical question - where is the employer’s information and salary certificate? When contacting a visa center, you will have an advantage - a center specialist will help you correct any inaccuracies in the application form on the spot, and here you can also print out the corrected application form. You do not have such opportunities at the consulate. Before submitting the application form, do not forget to put the date and signature in two places, and paste a photo.

STEP 2. WRITE A LETTER OF SPONSORSHIP

If you are unemployed, then you probably do not have your own funds for the trip. Therefore, someone must take care of your financial upkeep. Most often these are close relatives, family members, so-called “sponsors”. Such a person writes a sponsorship letter in which he undertakes to undertake obligations to ensure your stay outside of Belarus. The letter is written in free form with the indication “to the consular department”. A document confirming your relationship should be attached to the letter: a copy of your marriage certificate or birth certificate, depending on the type of relationship. It would also be logical to provide a copy of the sponsor’s passport, but the Lithuanian consulate in Minsk did not ask us for one.

STEP 3. PROVIDE FINANCIAL SECURITY: SALRY CERTIFICATE, ACCOUNT STATEMENT

If you, as an unemployed person, are unlikely to be able to provide a salary certificate, then an account statement is a document that can confirm your financial solvency. If you were unable to accumulate any funds earlier, then the turn passes to your sponsor. Now he needs to convince the consul that your sponsor is able to provide for your trip. Here you will need a salary certificate for the last three months (we provided six months) indicating the date of hire and position held. In addition, you need to attach a statement from your card account.

The website of the Lithuanian Consulate states the requirement to provide a statement of the movement of funds for three months, but recently the consulate has only needed a statement indicating the account balance. This is exactly what we provided.

To travel to Lithuania, you must have an amount of 40 EUR per day of stay in the country.

If you are requesting a multi-Schengen visa, then now it is enough to have funds for the first trip, and not the amount for the entire visa period. The same rule applies to health insurance.

So, we provided an invoice for the equivalent of 350 EUR and medical insurance for three days with a corridor of 15 days.

STEP 4. CONFIRM TIES WITH BELARUS

What it is? These are documents indicating to the consul that something is keeping you in Belarus and that you will not suddenly decide to stay in Lithuania, abandoning everything. What kind of documents are these: the same copy of the marriage certificate (you should also take the original with you to the consulate - this is indicated in the rules for applying for a visa), evidence of ownership of property in Belarus (real estate documents, registration certificate for the car and their copies). Copies of documents are taken along with the main documents; the originals, as a rule, are not asked to be shown. We provided a copy of the vehicle's registration certificate.

STEP 5. CONFIRM THE PURPOSE OF YOUR TRIP

We are going to Lithuania honestly, so we provide documents about already paid accommodation and travel expenses - copies of round-trip train tickets, receipt of payment for apartments for the specified travel dates. These documents are not included in the list of mandatory ones, but the Lithuanian Embassy reserves the right to request them from you when applying for a visa, which it officially warns about on its website.

STEP 6. CHECK YOUR PASSPORT

This is a common point for everyone, which does not have any specific features for the unemployed. But visa applicants often fall on it. Make sure your passport is not older than 10 years and does not expire earlier than three months before the end of your trip. That is, you must return from travel, and your passport must be valid for another three months. In addition, it must have at least two more blank pages - no stamps or even traces of ink from stamps, otherwise this page is considered damaged and is no longer counted. Along with your passport, take with you copies of pages with personal data - 31-33. Their presence in the package of submitted documents is mandatory.

STEP 7. PREPARE THE CONSULAR FEE

If you apply to the consulate, then take 60 EUR with you, no more and no less - consulate employees do not give out change. When submitting to a visa center, the consular fee is paid in Belarusian rubles, and a service fee is added to it - the cost of the service for processing your documents. In addition, right at the visa center, for an additional fee, you can fill out an application form, take a photo, print everything, stick it and apply immediately.

What other documents may be asked to provide at the consulate? For example, a copy of the employment record, but in our case we limited ourselves to the question of how long the visa applicant has been unemployed. Additionally, they requested a photocopy of the sponsor’s valid Schengen visa with the explanation “the consul must see that the sponsor has the opportunity to travel with the applicant.” If you have not yet submitted your fingerprints, you will be asked to do so at the consular window. If you have already submitted it, then this is an excellent reason to entrust all the hassles to a travel agency and receive a ready-made passport with a visa without unnecessary hassle.

Total: Schengen visa for 6 months for an unemployed person.

Of course, there is no guarantee that, given equal conditions, you will get the same result. You can get a multiple visa for a year, three months, or one trip (which may be the case if your passport does not yet have a single Schengen visa). Much depends on your visa history and - as many people joke, but are they kidding? – on the mood of the consul on the day the decision on the visa is made. In any case, be meticulous and attentive when preparing documents and request a multiple-entry visa in the application form. Have a nice trip!

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How to get a visa for an unemployed person to Italy and Germany

Obtaining a Schengen visa to these countries is generally standard, but some features will have to be taken into account.

For example, when filling out an application for a visa to Italy, the applicant indicates the status of a non-working person in the appropriate column. An unemployed person may be denied a visa if he has previously been prohibited from entering the United States, as well as if his biography contains the fact of a refusal to issue a Schengen visa.

It is important for the German consul to provide information about the employed sponsor. By the way, with regard to non-working men, the requirements of the German authorities are stricter than with regard to women (for them it is enough to indicate a working husband as a sponsor).

It is possible to obtain a Schengen visa for an unemployed person in 2021.
It is important to prove to the receiving party that you are not going to live off the taxes of its citizens. If this succeeds, then a Schengen visa will turn from a transcendental dream into a tangible reality. You can see the current rates of 163 currencies with charts of their changes on the website of our partners currency.events.

Which countries are easier for an unemployed person to get a visa for?

Despite the fact that it is much more difficult for unemployed Russians to obtain a Schengen visa than for those citizens who can confirm their stable financial situation, this does not in any way deprive them of the opportunity to visit Europe. If desired, the status of unemployed will not affect obtaining a visa, even if there is no bank account with the required amount or a sponsor.

So, how can an unemployed person get a visa to Europe? The easiest way is to buy a tourist voucher. In this case, the travel agency takes care of all the visa processing. This makes the cost of registration somewhat more expensive, but if you set out to visit EU countries, then taking advantage of this opportunity is highly recommended. A tourist voucher will become your legal justification for the purpose of the visit, which significantly reduces the likelihood of visa refusal.

Regarding which Schengen country to choose to visit, being in the status of unemployed, when traveling independently, it is recommended to choose Latvia or Finland, neighboring Russia. The Baltic countries have the lowest level of cash requirements. To issue a visa at the Latvian Embassy, ​​it is enough to have an amount in your bank account at the rate of 14 euros for one day of stay. This is approximately 4 times less than the Schengen area average.

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The choice of Finland is explained by the fact that in this country, according to statistics, in recent years the largest number of entry visas for Russian citizens has been issued. This means that Russians here are subject to much less stringent requirements than in other EU countries.