Registration of a Schengen visa in 2019 – terms and list of documents

A Schengen visa is a special type of document, thanks to which a tourist receives permission to freely visit any state within the zone of action 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.

The content of the article:

1. Which countries can I open a visa to?
2. Terms and conditions of receipt
3. Types, validity periods
4. Photo
5. Consular, visa fee
6. List of documents
7. Terms of registration
8. Reasons for refusal

Which countries do you need to open a Schengen visa to?

The Schengen area includes countries with which a corresponding agreement has been signed. In 2019, the Schengen area consists of 26 states belonging to Europe.

These are the following countries:

1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Hungary
4. Germany (excluding Büsingen am Upper Rhine)
5. Greece (excluding Athos)
6. Denmark (excluding Greenland and Faroe Islands)
7. Iceland
8. Spain
9. Italy (excluding Levigno enclave)
10. Latvia
11. Lithuania
12. Liechtenstein
13. Luxembourg
14. Malta
15. Netherlands
16. Norway (excluding Svalbard and Bear Islands)
17. Poland
18. Portugal
19. Slovakia
20. Slovenia
21. Finland
22. France
23. Czech
24. Switzerland
25. Sweden
26. Estonia

In the future, Bulgaria with Romania, Croatia and Cyprus may join this list of participating countries. As for Greece – most likely, the country will withdraw from the list of participants; but so far they are silent about it.

A permit obtained at the embassy of any state of this agreement automatically becomes a permit to enter any Schengen country.

Self-registration of a Schengen visa in 5 steps – instructions for tourists

Of course, there are certain nuances such as the validity period or the first entry rule.

But, in general, a visa is the right to free movement practically throughout Europe.

Terms and conditions for obtaining a Schengen visa

The rules for obtaining a visa will become more convenient this year.

The main changes that should appear soon, and which you should be aware of:

1. The deadline for applying 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.
2. In some countries, it will be possible to apply for a Schengen visa in electronic form – through the website of the consulate of a particular country of agreement.
3. For minors from 6 to 18 years old, the Schengen visa in 2019 can become completely free.
4. The validity period of multiple entry visas for travelers with a good history of visiting the Schengen area will be extended.
5. The Schengen visa will rise in price – where it cost 60 euros, its price will rise to 80 euros. But for the time being, this innovation will not affect the Russians.

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The conditions for obtaining Schengen this year are almost the same as they were before:

• Appearance that informs the embassy staff that you are a good citizen.
• The absence of the applicant in the list of persons banned from leaving Russia.
• Compliance of the applicant with the status of a citizen who is not dangerous, both for public order and for the national security of the country visited.

Important!

Pay attention to the type of visa. Many people open a visa for the state that puts forward minimum requirements for citizens. On the one hand, it is convenient.

But it may also happen that in the future it will be difficult or impossible to obtain a document, since the Embassy staff will definitely check which visas the tourist previously received.

The main types of Schengen visas and their duration

Obtaining a Schengen visa is a mandatory event for all Russians, except for those who have a second citizenship in European countries.

In 2019, the types remained the same, and have the designations A, V, WITH and D…

Let’s consider each type of visa separately:

1. Category A refers to an airport transit visa, which provides the opportunity to stay in the transit territory of an airport of any Schengen state.
2. Category B 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.
3. 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 Schengen area for less than 3 calendar months.

It is worth noting that the resolution of category C includes several subspecies, namely:

• C1 provides the opportunity to stay in the Schengen area for up to 1 calendar month.
• C2 and C3 grants the right to stay for 3 months in the period from 6 to 12 calendar months.
• C4 provides the opportunity to legally stay in the Schengen area for 3 months, the period of validity varies from 1 to 5 years.

4. Category D refers to a long-term visa, the holder of which is entitled to stay in the Schengen area for a duration of 3 months.

What photo is needed to apply for a Schengen visa – photo requirements for Schengen

It is very important to correctly arrange a photo for a visa, because even it can become a causal refusal to obtain it.

The basic rules for the design of photos for Schengen 2019 are as follows:

• Photo parameters for a Schengen permit – 35 by 45 mm.
• The person’s face must occupy at least 70% of the area of ​​the entire image. The distance from the top of the head to the chin should be 32 – 36 mm.
• There must be at least 2 mm distance between the top of the subject’s head and the upper background, and the distance from the eyes to the chin must be at least 13 mm.
• The upper shoulder area is required for the picture.
• Definition. The image should be free of shadows, glare, red eyes, natural skin color.
• The illumination on the frame is uniform, over the entire area of ​​the image.
• No additional details. It is not allowed to add frames, corners to the photo. The person being photographed in the frame must be alone.
• Photographs of a face with glasses are prohibited. Clear lenses can be used.

Consular or visa fee for obtaining a Schengen visa

The cost of a Schengen visa for Russian citizens in 2019 is the same – 35 euros… The consular fee for obtaining a Schengen visa will not increase even after the entry into force of the new rules for obtaining such visas.

We can say that the Russians are in an advantageous position. The visa will not rise in price for us, but innovations that make life easier for tourists are spreading to us.

The increase can be noticed by tourists who apply for a visa to intermediaries, travel agencies or visa centers. Additional services, as a rule, “wind up” several times.

Please note that the fee for applying for a Schengen visa at the Consulate has not changed…

Moreover, for urgent registration Schengen visa will have to be given double the amount of the fee, that is – 70 euros. The finished document will go to the applicant’s hands within 3 days after the application.

List of documents for obtaining Schengen in 2019

An applicant applying for a visa must prepare a standard package of documents.

It will include:

1. International passport. It must be issued no earlier than 3 months from the date of the requested visa.
2. General passport and its copy.
3. Application form.
4. Two photos. We talked about their parameters and criteria above.
5. An invitation from relatives or friends living in the country.
6. Documents confirming the purpose of the trip. For example, a tourist voucher.
7. Receipt for payment of the hotel reservation.
8. Certificate from the place of work. The document must indicate the position held, the amount of salary, information about the upcoming trip (if you are going to the Schengen territory for work).
9. The unemployed must provide any other confirmation of financial security and intention to return to their homeland: documents on the availability of real estate, a bank statement for the previous three months, a sponsorship letter.
10. Medical insurance certificate.
11. Currency exchange certificate.
12. Documents confirming the availability of funds for staying in the Schengen countries. There should be about enough cash on your account so that you can spend 50-57 euros per day.
13. Pensioners also need to provide a pension certificate.
14. Minors submit parental consent, a copy of the metric, and a copy of the accompanying visa.

This is a complete list of documents.

If you do not provide any paper, you will be asked to either deliver it, or your visa application will be refused.

Schengen visa processing time

How much does a Schengen visa take? In certain situations, this question may become the most important for a person traveling abroad.

Usually documents are drawn up in 5-10 days… The standard processing time is 10 days, but sometimes it can be extended up to 1 month…

When submitting an application, it is worth considering the possible presence in the coming days of various national holidays… These days the Embassies and Consulates are closed.

If you are under a lot of time pressure, it is worth ordering a permit using an expedited procedure. It will cost about 2 times more, but you will get the finished result in 3 days.

This solution may be especially advisable in the summer season.

Reasons for refusal to apply for a Schengen visa

Upon receipt of a notice of refusal, the citizen receives from the Embassy, ​​as a rule, a written response-comments. After reviewing them, the reason for the refusal to apply for Schengen will become clear.

The most common grounds for refusal to obtain a Schengen visa:

• The applicant has provided incomplete or incorrect information about himself in the visa application.
• For potential emigrants – the inconclusiveness of arguments designed to prove your connection with the country.
• Suspicions that you are going to work illegally abroad.
• Having a criminal record.

Also, refusal is possible if you have any problems with documents.

For example, if a child’s drawing is drawn in a passport with a pen.

You will have to change it, and then re-apply for a visa.