A Schengen visa is a special type of document, thanks to which a tourist receives permission to freely visit any state within the scope of an international treaty.
We will tell you about the types of existing visas, as well as how to collect the necessary papers faster and more profitably in our article.
Which countries require a Schengen visa?
The Schengen zone includes countries with which a corresponding agreement has been signed. In 2021, the Schengen area consists of 26 states belonging to Europe.
These are the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Hungary
- Germany (without Büsingen am Hochrhein)
- Greece (without Mount Athos)
- Denmark (excluding Greenland and Faroe Islands)
- Iceland
- Spain
- Italy (without Levigno enclave)
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway (excluding Spitsbergen and Bear Islands)
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Finland
- France
- Czech
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Estonia
In the future, this list of participating countries may be supplemented by Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Cyprus. As for Greece, most likely the country will withdraw from the list of participants; but so far they are keeping silent about it.
Permission obtained from the embassy of any state of this agreement automatically becomes permission to enter any Schengen country.
Self-application of a Schengen visa in 5 steps - instructions for tourists
Of course, there are certain nuances such as validity periods or the 1st entry rule.
But, in general, a visa is the right to free movement throughout almost the entire territory of Europe.
How to check a Schengen visa upon receipt
You can pick up foreign passports with a Schengen visa 3 working days after submitting the documents (usually the documents arrive at the visa center for issuance after 2 days). Visa centers send a paid reminder via SMS when documents are ready for issue.
Be sure to check the time on the visa center website to receive documents. The times for submitting and receiving documents vary. Visa centers offer to pick up documents outside of the schedule only on a paid basis.
The number of errors and typos in the Schengen visa is very low, but there is always a “human factor”. Therefore, be sure to check your visa yourself so that there are no problems at customs control and you do not have to fly back on the same flight.
Documents are issued in a sealed envelope. If the envelope is damaged or has traces of liquid on it, pay attention to the employees and do not sign the document acceptance certificate. If everything is in order with the envelope, check that your name and surname are on it. To accept documents, you must sign an acceptance certificate, indicating your name and phone number.
What to check on your visa
- Territory of validity of the visa (Valid for) The word Schengen must be written.
- Visa validity period (From/Until) must coincide with the initial date of travel.
- Type of visa requested: Type C visa is issued for tourist and business trips.
- Number of entries allowed (Number of entries) How many times you can enter with a Schengen visa. If MULT is set, then the number of entries is unlimited.
- The number of days of stay (Days) must at least match the number of days of travel. Regardless of the validity period of the Schengen visa, the number of days of stay in the Schengen zone cannot exceed 90 days.
- Where the visa was issued (Issued in) You don’t have to check. Here they write the city of the consulate in which the visa was issued.
- When issued (On) Date the visa was issued by the consulate.
- Passport number (Number of passport) Important point! The passport number on the visa must match the passport number.
- Last name and first name (Surname, name) Important point! Last name and first name must match the data in your passport.
- Additional marks (Remarks) This item does not need to be checked. It contains official information for customs officers.
- Availability of a seal Important point! In addition to the visa itself, it must have a small stamp from the consulate that issued it.
- Visa for a child If a child is included in your passport, you need to check the availability of a visa for him.
If you find any errors, contact the visa center within 3 business days of receiving your passport to correct the inaccuracies.
Rules and conditions for obtaining a Schengen visa
Visa rules will become more convenient this year.
The main changes that should appear soon and that you should be aware of:
- The deadline for submitting an application for a Schengen visa is doubled. If now the application is submitted no earlier than 3 months before the trip, then soon it will be possible to apply for a visa 6 months before the trip.
- In some countries, it will be possible to apply for a Schengen visa electronically – through the website of the consulate of a particular agreement country.
- For minors from 6 to 18 years old, a Schengen visa in 2019 can become completely free.
- The validity of multiple-entry visas is being extended for travelers with a good history of visiting the Schengen area.
- The Schengen visa will become more expensive - where it cost 60 euros, its price will rise to 80 euros. But this innovation will not affect Russians yet.
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The conditions for obtaining Schengen this year are almost the same as before:
- An appearance that tells the embassy staff that you are a respectable citizen.
- The applicant is not on the list of persons prohibited from leaving Russia.
- The applicant's compliance with the status of a citizen who is not dangerous to both public order and the national security of the country being visited.
Important!
Pay attention to the visa type. Many people apply for a visa from a state that sets minimum requirements for citizens. On the one hand, it's convenient.
But it may happen that in the future it will be difficult or even impossible to obtain a document, since Embassy employees will definitely check which visas the tourist previously received.
Consulate or visa center
You can apply for a Schengen visa through a consulate or visa center. The difference is that the consulate is the final point where visas are affixed to the passport. The visa center is an intermediary agency that collects documents and transfers them to the consulate.
It is worth noting that some countries do not issue tourist visas through consulates, but only work through visa centers. Consulates, in addition to Schengen tourist visas, issue other types of visas for work, study, business, and resolve emigration issues. Consulates do not recommend applying for a tourist visa during peak tourist seasons.
Obtaining a visa through a visa center will cost more than through a consulate due to an additional service fee. Submitting documents through a visa center is easier: before admission, the documents will be carefully checked, and in case of inaccuracies, they will tell you where to correct the errors.
At the visa center you can arrange insurance, book flights or hotels, take photographs and photocopies. It is better to do this yourself and in advance, since prices for additional services at visa centers are 2-3 times higher than market prices.
Unofficial visa centers
In the Yandex and Google search engines there are sites that pretend to be visa centers. At best, these “unofficial visa centers” take a power of attorney from the applicant, and then independently apply for a Schengen visa to the consulate or official visa center. The main disadvantage of such centers is that to obtain a visa you will have to pay 2-3 times more.
Official Visa Application Centers
Official visa centers work directly with consulates and have a special license for this. Consulate websites contain links to visa centers. Links to the websites of consulates (embassies) and visa centers can be found in the Avianiti Visa Directory. Follow the link to the country you are visiting; in the Contacts section you will find verified links.
Among the visa centers there are 4 large international companies
- BLS International
- VMS (Visa Management service)
- VFS Global
- Pony Express Visa
Main types of Schengen visas and their validity periods
Obtaining a Schengen visa is mandatory for all Russians, except those who have a second citizenship in European countries.
In 2021, the species remain the same and are designated A , B , C and D.
Let's consider each type of visa separately:
- Category A refers to an airport transit visa, which provides the opportunity to stay in the transit territory of an airport in any Schengen state.
- Category B is provided to all citizens of the Russian Federation who plan to travel through any state by any land vehicle. Its validity period does not exceed 5 calendar days.
- Category C includes a guest, tourist, business visa. Otherwise, it is referred to as short-term, since it can be provided when a person enters the territory of the Schengen zone for a period of less than 3 calendar months.
It is worth noting that category C permit includes several subtypes, namely:
- C1 provides the opportunity to stay in Schengen territory for up to 1 calendar month.
- C2 and C3 provide the right to stay for a period of 3 months for a period of 6 to 12 calendar months.
- C4 provides the opportunity to legally stay in the Schengen area for 3 months, the validity period varies from 1 year to 5 years.
- Category D refers to a long-term visa, the holder of which has the right to stay in Schengen for a period of 3 months.
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
