How to get Schengen for 5 years on your own?

Schengen visa definition

A Schengen visa is a document that allows a citizen to move freely within countries that have signed the agreement. These include 26 countries: Greece, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, France, Estonia, Poland, Portugal, etc.

There are several categories of Schengen visa:

• Type A - permission to stay only in the airport area in any Schengen country.
• Type B - since 2010, this category of visas was no longer issued; it was allowed to those who crossed the Schengen zone by land transport. Now, instead of this type of visa, category C is issued.
• Type C - short-term, for a period of less than 90 days. C1 - up to 30 days. C2 and C3 - up to 90 days within six months. C4 - up to 90 days in the period from 1 year to 5 years.
• Type D - gives the right to stay in Schengen territory for more than 90 days.

What you need to know about the Schengen visa

If you have a desire or need to visit a state that is part of the Schengen zone, the question of obtaining a visa arises. It is necessary to understand its varieties. There are several categories:

1. Type "A" - intermediate visa. This type is also called airport. It is intended for those who fly across the borders of a certain state. This kind of document gives the right to be in the transit zone, that is, at airports. Travel within the country is prohibited on this visa.
2. Type “C” is a category of multiple visa or temporary, short-term permit. This type of document is intended for a tourist holiday, which can last up to three months during the entire visit to the country for one hundred and eighty days, but no more than this time. And this takes into account all entries and exits. If you want to travel a lot under this Schengen zone, then carefully read the rules of stay and stay in Schengen countries in 2021. Category C also includes the well-known multiple visa.
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3. Type "D" - national visa. This visa allows you to stay in the country for more than three months, but less than six months.
4. Resident card. This is a permit for permanent residence in the country. Typically, residence permits are issued by students and workers. The document is issued for one year, after which it is renewed directly in Europe.

Package of documents required to obtain a visa

In order to obtain Schengen, you need to prepare certain documents. These include:

• International passport.
• National passport (copies of all pages).
• A document indicating length of service and average salary from work.
• For non-workers - a document from the bank indicating financial capabilities.
• Health insurance policy.
• Written consent of one of the parents for the departure of a child under 18 years of age with the other parent, which is certified by a notary.
• Documents that confirm the reason for the trip.
• Military ID (for males aged 18 to 27 years).
• Color or black and white photograph (2 pieces).
• Receipt for payment of state duty.

Greek Schengen for 3 years

At one time, Greece willingly gave Schengen for 3 years (in 2016-2017). There is even a topic on the forum about this: Visa to Greece for 3 years in Moscow: experience of successfully obtaining

And even now, judging by the voting schedule, it is clear that the Greeks often give three-year Schengen cards. But the truth is not for everyone.

Examples from the topic about statistics on issuing visas to Greece:

1. Moscow 2. VC 3. Applyed on April 9, 11.04 status on the website “visa ready”, took it on April 12 4. Current passport contains annual Hungarian, Italian and Greek, before that annual Hungarian, several Italian for short periods 5. Given for six months . Asked for 3

And then several people write that on these very dates:

1. Moscow 2. Exhibition Center on Mytnaya 3. Submission - 09.04, ready 11.04, received 12.04. 4. 2 adults. One of them had a six-month German visa last year. Another has not had a Schengen card for the last three years, only UK + two Schengen cards in her old passport (a month and six months 6-7 years ago) 5. insurance for a year, a certificate from work, a certificate from the bank about the balance, housing reservations + paid tickets 6 They asked for 3 years, and they gave it for 3.

1. Moscow 2. VTs 3. submitted 04/08 (no queue), ready 04/10, received 04/11 (queue - 5 minutes). 4. 2 adults and 2 children - many Spanish visas, the latest - annual and 2-year 5. paid non-refundable tickets, unpaid apartment reservations from booking, insurance for travel dates, bank statements, work certificates 6. asked for 3 years and One child was given six months for the duration of his passport, they gave all of them 2 years, and the child, as requested, was given six months.

As I say, they throw the dice.

Visa Process

Currently, the process of obtaining a passport for citizens is very simplified. There is no need to personally contact consulates and embassies of foreign countries and waste time waiting in lines. The Government Services web resource helps you obtain a foreign passport without leaving your home. How to apply for Schengen through State Services? Unfortunately, it is impossible to apply for Schengen through State Services, but you can find out exactly what documents need to be provided and which departments can provide the service. So, to obtain information through the portal:

1. You must log in to the system and have a verified account. If it is missing, you should register on the portal.
2. Go to the Services section and select Life Situations.
3. Select Travel from the list on the left - Travel abroad.
4. You will be redirected to a page with detailed information about what to do to travel abroad and what documents are required.

What is needed to obtain a Schengen visa?

Of course, one cannot help but pay attention to the fact that to obtain a multi-visa for 5 years, you need at least the same documents that citizens would submit for a regular one-time trip to the European Union in 2021, from a foreign passport to biometric data, such like fingerprints.

But before we talk about what documents are needed to apply for a Schengen visa in 2021, we will note some features of the requirements for multiple stays.

• The tourist must be reliable in the eyes of the missions and services of the country to which he is going to receive a long-term entry permit. This means that he must have already made a trip more than once, for which a Schengen visa is needed, never violated the established period of stay, have verified bank accounts, and be sufficiently wealthy. In fact, the grounds on which a citizen can be considered trustworthy may differ from country to country: in some places they will be easier, in others more difficult. Therefore, a lot depends on what country you are going to visit in 2021 and subsequent years;
• In addition, it is necessary to confirm that the citizen has a sufficient reason to regularly visit Schengen countries. Of course, this reason will need to be indicated in the visa application form. Such a reason could be relatives living in Europe, as we discussed above. In any case, a visa valid for 5 years is issued only on some compelling basis. In a word, if you want to receive it simply so as not to apply every time, most likely you will receive a refusal. It is not surprising that the visa services of the Schengen states will consider this reason insufficient;
• Your passport must be valid for more than five years. It is quite obvious that the requirements for a foreign passport, common to any visa documents, also apply to this specific case. The document must be valid six months after the expiration of the Schengen visa. In addition, they will definitely ask you for your previous passports in order to get acquainted with your entire visa history.

Visa fees

Every citizen must pay a visa fee when applying for a visa. This fee cannot be returned, even if the department refuses to provide you with a service.

There is also a category of citizens who do not need to pay a visa fee. These include:

• Children under 6 years old.
• Students and accompanying teachers who travel for the purpose of learning.
• Scientific researchers.
• Citizens participating in seminars.

Registration of a Schengen multiple visa for 5 years

If you need to regularly visit EU countries, then from time to time it becomes necessary to extend your visa. To simplify the procedure, it is possible to try to obtain Schengen visas for 5 years , which will allow you to visit any European countries with minimal time and financial costs for their registration.

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What to do if you can’t get a visa through State Services

It is impossible to submit an application for Schengen through the State Services portal; you can only find out information on the required documents and the addresses of consulates in the city of residence.

Applying to the embassy in person is the most difficult process of all, but perhaps the cheapest. To apply for a visa, you need to fill out an application in person and receive a document. You may also be denied a visa if you make simple mistakes in the application, which must be completed in English.

Ordering a visa through a special visa center is much easier; the center’s staff will check and submit documents for Schengen registration and bring you a ready-made visa. But you will need to pay not only the visa fee, but also for the company’s services. Also, employees are not always ready to help in solving unforeseen situations, especially if your Schengen visa was denied several times.

If you have already purchased tickets for a trip abroad, you can contact the travel agency staff, they will help you obtain a visa. But purchased tickets do not guarantee that you will be granted Schengen. The money spent on tickets will not be fully refunded to you.

The easiest option is to contact a company that has been specializing in the Schengen area for many years. At the same time, you can avoid mistakes when filling out the application form and preparing documents. Company employees will check the availability of all documents and help with any questions or problems that arise. Contacting such a company helps save both time and nerves. And the cost is practically no different from visa centers.

How to get a Schengen visa for 5 years

Apply for a visa only yourself

Someone may mistakenly decide that when contacting an agency in the hope of getting help in collecting the necessary documentation for obtaining a Schengen visa,

it will save time and money.
But this opinion is wrong. Because, firstly, the agency carries out this procedure for a fee. And secondly, they do not have any benefits for quickly obtaining a Schengen multiple visa. In addition, by contacting the consulate yourself, you will have the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to the documentation on the spot.

Be sure to provide a correct financial statement

You need to bring the following documents to the consulate (which will significantly increase your chances of obtaining a Schengen visa for a year):

• a certificate from your place of employment indicating information about your salary;
• a bank statement showing the availability of funds in your accounts (it will be an ideal indicator if the amount of money available is five to ten times more than the declared minimum amount for obtaining a visa) if you don’t have money, borrow from friends for 3-4 days, drop it on invoice and make a statement! Find out how much money you should have in your account for each country.

Don’t skimp, take out insurance for a period of one year

We strongly recommend that you take out multi-insurance for Schengen for a period of one year; it gives you the opportunity to stay in European countries for up to three calendar months per trip. Moreover, you have the right to travel an unlimited number of times during the year.

Advantages of this insurance:

• if your Schengen visa is refused, you can use this insurance when traveling to a country where there is no visa control;
• for consulate employees, such insurance will act as a strong argument in favor of issuing a Schengen visa;
• By purchasing insurance for a period of one year, you significantly save your family budget.

You can get medical insurance for a Schengen visa directly on this page by comparing the cost of insurance for Schengen through the Cherehapa .

An old passport may be useful

We strongly recommend that you include photocopies of your previous passport in your package of documents to submit to the consulate. This will indicate that you are an avid traveler, and at the same time you have never violated the rules of staying abroad. Having a Schengen visa in your previous passport can play a positive role when deciding whether to issue a multiple visa. This will increase your chances of obtaining a Schengen visa for 5 years.

Where to book a hotel?

Based on many years of experience, we recommend booking hotels through the Booking system. Here, from the wide range of options presented, you can choose the accommodation option that suits you. It would also be absolutely useful to demonstrate a pre-thought-out route of your movements abroad.

When booking, don't cancel!

However, you can get a Schengen visa without a hotel reservation. Some not entirely conscientious travelers make a reservation without making an advance payment, which is canceled after receiving a visa. This is a very reckless act that will entail negative consequences:

• the consulate, having learned about such actions, may refuse to obtain a visa, and the news that the visa has been canceled may reach the traveler already abroad;
• if such a fact becomes known, it will negatively affect the receipt of subsequent visas.

If you are concerned that you may not receive a Schengen visa, you should book a hotel without paying in advance for your stay. But you must clearly understand the following: if you receive permission to visit the Schengen countries, then you must stay in the previously booked hotel. If, by coincidence, you are forced to make adjustments related to your place of residence for the period of your trip, you should immediately provide this information to the consulate along with an explanation of why you changed your previously made choice.

Attach property documents

To obtain a Schengen visa, information about the movable and immovable property at your disposal is not always required. At the same time, providing documentation confirming that you are the owner of a living space, car, land, etc. will be a big plus for the approval of your candidacy for a multiple visa.

Will they be allowed to register a criminal record?

Even the slightest violations of the law, which are officially recorded, can create problems with issuing a visa. In case of criminal liability, the right to leave the country is limited. If the criminal record is cleared or expunged, this does not affect the decision to issue a visa.

There are exceptions for entering the Schengen countries and obtaining a visa: if the convicted citizen has a close relative abroad who is seriously ill. To do this, you must submit documents from the hospital that confirm the fact of the disease.

Thus, obtaining a Schengen visa through State Services is impossible. You need to either visit the embassy in person and fill out the form yourself and provide the necessary documents, or contact companies specializing in visas for entry into the Schengen zone.

How to get Schengen for 5 years: real experience of travelers

We approached this issue comprehensively - we found out at the visa centers what is needed to obtain a Schengen visa for 5 years, and asked for advice from travelers who are already in full swing on their “five-year plans”.

What kind of visa are you dreaming about?

First, let's figure out what types of visas there are. A tourist Schengen visa falls under type “C” - this is a short-term visa that allows you to stay in the Schengen zone for no more than 90 days in six months. It is divided into 4 more types:

• C1 – visa for a period of up to 30 days – the so-called visa for travel dates, getting it is not very pleasant, because next time you will have to apply for everything again;
• C2 – visa for up to six months – also for beginners, not at all serious;
• C3 – visa for a year – not bad, but the appetite comes with eating;
• C4 – visa for a period of 1 to 5 years – this is exactly the ultimate dream of avid travelers.

Who really got Schengen for 5 years?

We found several travelers who received Schengen for 5 years. And they all applied for a visa at the French consulate.

Natalya Luchko travels abroad at least 10 times a year and only recently received the coveted long-term visa:

“Frequent flights to Europe do not guarantee that you will receive a five-year Schengen. For several years in a row, I methodically submitted documents only to the French consulate and constantly received a visa for a year. True, sometimes I never even went to France using them. But the last time I visited France and saved receipts for purchases at the outlet and payment for the hotel. I attached them when applying for a visa. In addition to the hotel reservation for the upcoming trip, I added another reservation - supposedly for a planned trip to Paris in six months. As a result, my husband and I were given a visa for 5 years. Next, I needed to obtain a visa for my mother and child. We simply attached scans of our visas to their documents and received five-year visas the very next day.”

Kirill Komarov, author of the telegram channel “Ideas for Travel,” also received a Schengen visa for 5 years from the French consulate.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect such generosity at all (I was hoping for at least two years). I submitted standard documents: air tickets to France, hotel reservation, insurance for a year, a visa application form, two photographs, a certificate from work and a bank statement. In general, everything is the same as what any applicant who wants to get Schengen submits. Have I been to France before? Yes, three times, but I never received the French Schengen. And there were no stamps about crossing the French border in my passport. Were there other Schengen visas in the passport? Yes, two annual ones, issued by Switzerland,” said Kirill.

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