Current aspects of self-issuance of unified EU visas

There are many opinions on the World Wide Web regarding self-registration visas. They are very contradictory: someone considers this process elementary, and someone considers it extremely complex. And the truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle. We decided not to mislead you, but to provide you with information on how to independently apply for a visa to the Schengen area. And it’s your right to decide for yourself whether you can cope with this difficult process or whether you should entrust it to professionals so as not to worry about the result and get rid of all worries.

However experienced travelers they won’t let you cheat: a Schengen visa when applying on your own is hard work, a waste of time and always an absolutely unpredictable result. And even they often make a choice in the direction of their own comfort and tranquility, turning to the help of specialists from the Visa4you visa agency.

And for a beginner who has never dealt with this issue, we are ready to give a few practical advice. However, they are of a general nature, because even in different representative offices of the same country, different requirements may be imposed both on the procedure for applying for a permit, and on the papers presented to them.

How to apply for a Schengen visa on your own and not suffer too much?

Obtaining a permit to enter the EU consists of several stages. They are mandatory, but some of them may change places. But this is no longer important: the main thing is to overcome them with victory.

We decide on the purpose of the trip and fill out a visa application form

The purpose of the trip is the fundamental point on which all further actions of the applicant (that is, yours) are based. If you have an invitation from a physical or legal entity or a tour package - then this should be repelled.

Now about the questionnaire. Forms of questionnaires-applications can be obtained at the representation of any power in the required quantity. However, there is a "but". In many consulates, filling out application forms manually (in block letters, with a ballpoint pen) is allowed only for applicants who are not very “friendly” with a computer a priori: the elderly, people with disabilities. And that's all: the rest need to fill out the appropriate forms using modern technology. You can download the questionnaire to fill it out in a relaxed atmosphere without rushing. Some especially experienced travelers enter data online on the websites of the representative offices of the respective powers.

The best way to fill out the form is to state language chosen country, it is often allowed to enter information in other EU languages. Common English is an excellent option. Sometimes it is possible to fill out the questionnaire in Russian, and often it is required to use Latin transliteration. For each traveler, including children included in the parents' passport, a personal form should be filled out.

The completed application form must be printed on standard A4 sheets (sometimes in 2 copies, sometimes one is enough) and a photo is pasted. By the way, about the photos.

Photographed for a visa

It may sound ridiculous, but some would-be travelers get Schengen visa denied because of a wrong photo! “How many times have they told the world”: the requirements for a photo for a Schengen visa are uniform and strictly mandatory, and they are well known in good photo workshops. But no, some applicants, trying to save money, take pictures almost on the phone. Needless to say, this stinginess doesn't end well. So look for a good photo studio and go there.

Checking the passport

A travel document (in other words, a passport) is the most important part of the package of papers that will have to be submitted to the consulate. The requirements of the EU Visa Code regulate the mandatory validity of a passport for issuing a Schengen visa: at least 3 months after the end of the trip. If your passport is about to “spoil”, you should take care of obtaining a new one. Make sure that the data of your children is entered there and their photo is pasted (if they are traveling with you).

Making an appointment at the consulate

Practically in all representations of the European powers, a preliminary appointment is practiced. Decide which consulate your region belongs to and sign up for an interview. Sometimes this can be done by phone, sometimes the recording is carried out exclusively online on the corresponding resource. "Live queue" is practiced very rarely and under special circumstances.

We form a package of documents

This stage is the most difficult and responsible. You should first study the requirements for documents for a single visa to the EU, and then proceed to collect them. For your convenience, we have posted a list of official papers that you will need on our resource. However, it is not exhaustive, we repeat: each monastery has its own charter, each representation has its own requirements. For example, a lot of questions arise when issuing evidence of financial solvency: somewhere such papers are valid for six months, somewhere - only 3 months, somewhere you only need a certificate of account balance on this moment, somewhere - statements on the movement of funds for a certain period.

If you do not have enough of your own funds for the trip, you will have to submit an appropriate sponsorship letter (most often from a close relative).

Sometimes it is required to submit copies of the pages of an internal Russian passport, and sometimes not. In general, almost every document may have questions. Many papers need to be translated and apostilled (certification). And do not forget that all documents must be folded in a strictly defined order.

If you are traveling with a child, then the process of paperwork becomes even more complicated: a pile of papers needs to be collected for him. And if the second parent of the child is absent and cannot give the appropriate permission, then this “song” becomes very, very long. By the way, multiple visas are almost never issued to children. The same applies to persons traveling to the EU for the first time.

Remember: missing and incorrectly executed documents are the most common cause visa denial!

Let's go to the consulate

Usually, the queue for submitting documents is quite long: the waiting period can stretch for a couple of weeks (depending on the influx of applicants).

If you made an appointment at a representative office for a certain time, this does not mean at all that you will be received minute by minute: in most cases you have to wait, sometimes even several hours. Remember: At this time, about a dozen people sign up and everyone expects to get an appointment as soon as possible. One joy: on this day you will definitely submit the documents, despite the huge (as a rule) number of “competitors”.

An employee of the representative office may ask you a number of questions, or may accept documents almost silently. Or maybe immediately send home, it's as lucky. You may be given a chance to bring the missing documents, but this is not at all necessary: ​​it happens that the whole procedure has to be started all over again.

By the way, do not take any electronics to the reception: laptops, tablets, video cameras, and so on, as well as piercing objects and flammable liquids. Banned even ordinary nail polish remover!

Win or lose

The standard process of issuing an EU entry permit usually takes about a week, sometimes more. However, in accordance with the provisions of the visa code, this period can be extended up to 30 days, in special cases - up to 60. Can you imagine how much time can be wasted? In principle, there may even be no need for the trip itself.

And there is an even worse scenario: the applicant instead of the coveted visa sticker receives a nondescript refusal stamp. Sometimes this “disease” can be overcome, but often it remains to come to terms with your unenviable fate and wait for the end of the visa quarantine.

Applying for a visa through the Visa4you agency

After reading this publication, you yourself will be able to weigh your strengths and capabilities and think about how to get a Schengen visa: on your own or with the help of specialists from our agency. Let's make a reservation right away: if you want to apply for a multivisa, having never been abroad, then you are unlikely to succeed on your own, it is better to contact us. By the way, we can also assist in obtaining a passport.

The same applies to people who value their nerves and time, which, as you know, cannot be bought for any treasures in the world. We offer you a full cycle service: obtaining a Schengen visa on a turnkey basis. In other words, you absolutely do not have to do anything yourself. We will take care of all stages of this difficult process, including the collection of documents. We don't get rejections!

The finished visa will be delivered to you by a free courier, and if you live outside the Moscow Ring Road, you will receive it by mail. Attention: we do not practice a prepayment system: all calculations are made upon receipt of ready-made documents by you.

Visa4you: the choice of smart and prudent travelers!

Not far away. Only formalities remain. According to forecasts, the regime will begin to operate from mid-June, approximately from the 11th. Along with good news people have many questions, such as what EU entry rules? What documents, besides a biometric foreign passport, do I need to have with me? And indeed, useful information this is not enough, so today we will dispel the myths and figure out what the visa-free regime gives and which countries will become visa-free for Ukraine.

The content of the article:

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What gives a visa-free regime for Ukraine

The visa-free regime of Ukraine with the European Union gives Ukrainians the right to travel 90 days out of 180 to all EU countries (except for Great Britain and Ireland) without issuing visas at embassies. In this case, the main document is, so whoever has not received it and wants to travel without visas needs to get it.

Biometric international passport This is a passport with an embedded chip that contains your data, signature, photo and fingerprints.

At the same time, I remind you that old-style foreign passports continue to be valid. When crossing the border with them, you need to get a visa in advance, at the embassy of the country where you plan to go.

Another important point is that visa-free regime does not give the right to work in countries European Union. Basically, it will operate and apply to tourist, business and business trips, as well as to visit relatives and friends.

Where can Ukrainians travel with a biometric passport without visas.

Ukrainians will be able to visit 26 EU countries with a biometric passport, except for Ireland and the UK.

List of visa-free countries:

In addition to them, citizens of Ukraine will be able to visit without visas on a biometric passport Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway, which are not part of the EU, but are part of the Schengen zone.

Do not forget that in addition to them there is also a huge list, which is updated every year.

Let me remind you that 5 more countries are applicants for joining the European Union:

• Iceland
• Macedonia
• Serbia
• Türkiye

It is worth mentioning the so-called "White Schengen List" with countries that are being negotiated for a visa-free regime. At the moment, it includes 60 countries including: Japan, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Uruguay, Venezuela, Canada, Colombia, Israel, Panama, Singapore.

EU entry rules

Suppose we have a biometric passport, the visa-free regime has come into effect, the question arises, what else is needed to cross the border of the EU countries? There are many discussions about this, but no specifics. There is a lot of fictitious information and more and more questions arise in people. The main one is: What documents, besides a biometric passport, should I take with me?

It's no secret to anyone that there is a visa or not, the last word remains with the border services. EU border guards are guided by the Schengen Border Code. It specifies the rules and procedure for passing the border by foreigners. So, the main rule, it says: "There is not a single additional requirement for foreigners traveling to the EU under a visa-free regime."

However, it does not matter whether you enter under a visa-free regime or with a visa, there are several basic entry rules for foreigners in the EU. Those who have traveled at least once in the Schengen area probably know them.

Entry to EU countries is allowed foreign citizens, which:

1. They have a valid document for crossing the border.

This can be a biometric passport or an old-style international passport with a visa.

2. They can justify for what purpose and under what conditions they visit the EU countries.

To justify the purpose of the trip, take, for example, tourism, you need to provide a travel itinerary written in free form. Regarding the conditions of your stay in the EU, the border guards may ask for a printout of the hotel reservation or an invitation from the inviting party. Plus, the second one does not need to be notarized. It is written in free form with the address and phone number of relatives or acquaintances in which you will live. And also, return tickets (optional for auto travelers).

For official and business trips, you need to have an invitation to a meeting or a ticket to an exhibition, concert, meeting, etc. with you. or other document confirming the purpose of your trip.

3. They have enough financial resources to stay in the EU countries and to return back.

To do this, you do not need to make any bank statements and the movement of money on the card, as we did for a visa. You only need to provide your credit card or cash, subject to the minimum amount on the day of stay. They will not necessarily be checked or recalculated, it is enough to show them.

The minimum amount of funds for some countries when crossing the border under a visa-free regime

• Belgium - 45 euros for foreigners who stay with private persons. 95 euros, for those staying at the hotel
• Hungary - 3 euro
• Germany - 45 euros per day
• Greece - 50 euros per day, minimum 300 euros for 5 days.
• Spain - 71 euros
• Italy - 55 euros
• Latvia - 14 euros per day
• Lithuania - 40 euros per day
• Liechtenstein - 91 euros, for students - 27 euros
• Luxembourg - minimum amount funds are determined individually
• Malta - 48 euros per day
• Netherlands - 34 euros
• Norway - 50 euros
• Portugal - 40 euros
• Poland - 71 euros (stay up to 3 days); 25 euros (more than 3 days)
• Slovakia - 56 euros per day
• Slovenia - 70 euros. For minors accompanied by parents - 35 euros Finland - 30 euros per day
• France - 32.50 euros (there is a booking of accommodation); 120 euros - persons who cannot prove the availability of housing
• Czech Republic - 40 euros
• Switzerland - 91 euros. For students - 27 euros
• Sweden - 47 euros
• Estonia - 86 euros

To confirm solvency, any of the following options will do:

• Cash
• Credit cards
• Travel checks
• Paid accommodation and tickets
• Sponsorship of the inviting party

4. Have a tourist medical insurance, and in the case of traveling by car - also the civil liability insurance policy of the owner of the vehicle.

Similar to what we applied for a visa. I have already written about medical insurance, I will not repeat it.

5. Not included in the list of persons who are prohibited from entering the EU countries.

If you have previously been deported and you have been included in the list of persons who are prohibited from entering the EU.

6. Do not pose a threat to public order, security, public health and international relations.

In a word, if a citizen (in our case) of Ukraine cannot provide information about the purpose of entry into the EU, he does not have financial means to stay in the country, or he is on the list of persons who are denied entry, border guards may refuse to enter the territory EU countries.Therefore, take care in advance of all the documents that may be needed at the border.

I want to note that at the same time, all documents, except for a biometric passport, are not mandatory, but recommended, you can not issue them. But the employees border service EU have full right request one of the above documents, and in case of their absence, refuse entry. The last word is theirs.

How to find budget accommodation
Cheap accommodation or hotels can be found through the hotellook booking system, we use it ourselves, checked. The convenience of the service is that it compares the prices of dozens of booking systems - you just have to choose the best offer for yourself and buy.

How to buy cheap flights
A plane ticket can be bought directly on the website of the airlines, but it is most advantageous to take advantage of flight offers in the direction from Aviasales, the unit that we use ourselves. The service selects the most advantageous offers for prices and destinations - you just have to choose the best one by price, departure time or your favorite airline.

Proven resources that help us save on
independent travel planning

We have compiled a list of useful and proven resources that we ourselves use when traveling. They help us save time, money and nerves.

Aviasales- budget flights around the world.
Buruki- also search for air tickets around the world.

hotellook- search budget housing, hotels and apartments around the world and through all popular booking sites, including Agoda, Booking.com and other popular booking systems.

Kiwitaxi- booking a transfer from the airport.

Thanks for reading our blog. See you soon on the pages of our .

According to the decision of the EU Parliament on the abolition of visas for citizens of Ukraine from June 12, Ukrainians with biometric passports will be able to travel to the countries of the Schengen zone without visas. Full list Countries: Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria , Hungary , Greece , Germany , Denmark , Iceland, Spain , Italy , Cyprus , Latvia , Lithuania , Liechtenstein , Luxembourg , Malta , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Romania , Slovakia , Slovenia , Finland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia.

From the second half of summer, residents of Ukraine will be able to visit the countries of the Schengen zone without a visa. Of course, there are many questions regarding visa-free regime for Ukraine. We will try to understand this issue and tell you what documents are needed for a visa-free regime in the EU.

In order to use the visa-free regime, a citizen of Ukraine must provide a biometric passport. This is the most important document, without which no Ukrainian can cross the borders of the Schengen zone without a visa.

This passport has a chip that contains personal information including fingerprints. If the passport is non-biometric, then entry into the Eurozone will be closed until you apply for a visa at the appropriate consulate, with the submission of biometric data.

WITH biometric passport or with an ordinary, but with a biometric visa (VIS), all your movements, both by bus, car, and plane, are recorded by the Unified Information System of the European Union.

And with any of your violation, this information will fall into it. Accordingly, the next time you travel abroad, you may be denied entry.

For example, a girl worked illegally according to the Lithuanian tourist visa in Italy 4 months, while the period of stay was only 3 months in half a year (90/180). When departing from Italy, she may not be told anything about the violation, but when applying for the next visa, she may be refused. Upon entry into force of the visa-free regime - denial of entry. And here she can do nothing - neither “lose” her passport, nor change her last name. Fingerprints are already in the system.

EU countries with visa-free entry

The UK and Ireland have special conditions for membership in the Schengen area, so they still require their own visas, as they do now. But, as reported in the European Commission, citizens of Ukraine will be able to travel without visas to four countries that are part of the Schengen zone, but not included in the EU - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

List of documents for visa-free entry

The documents below are recommended, but any of them may be required by the border guards. So, what is needed, in addition to a biometric passport:

• return ticket to Ukraine;
• confirm financial solvency (at least 45 euros for each day of stay). It can be cash, a credit card or a traveller's check;
• travel medical insurance, without which they may not be allowed to cross the border;
• green card if you travel around Europe in your own car ;
• Letter of guarantee if this is a business trip;
• An invitation letter, if you are going to see friends or relatives, which must contain the address of residence and the period of your stay abroad;
• accommodation vouchers or any other confirmation booked room. It could be a Booking.Com booking

We recommend to all Ukrainians planning to travel abroad without fail take out travel medical insurance. And do it well in advance.

In principle, the list of documents for a visa-free regime has remained almost the same as it was before. However, the procedure for visiting EU countries has become more simplified, since Ukrainians will no longer have to pay extra money for visas and wait until they are issued. This will make movement between countries freer and everyone, with all the documents, will be able to go abroad at any time, timed to coincide with a vacation, business trip or family holiday.

It should be clearly understood that visa-free entry to these countries, only trips with tourist, family or business purposes are provided. To travel to work abroad, you must apply work visa, as before. The same goes for long term training.

The prospects for a visa-free regime for Ukraine are obvious. The abolition of visas allows you to make decisions about the timing of business trips much faster, plan your vacation not six months in advance, but when its immediate date has already been determined, etc.

As the European Commissioner explained, the entire package of documents was left in such a way that people who could pose a danger to local residents and internal security of the country. Such citizens include persons who have already once violated the laws and rules of conduct when visiting the Schengen countries. All data on such persons are available in the SIS (Schengen Information System).

Before traveling, it is better to get advice from the consulate of the country you wish to visit. And then you don't have to worry about something that might happen at the border when checking documents.

In any case, the refusal to pass abroad is always documented, where the reason for the refusal is mandatory described. If you are a law-abiding citizen who has everything Required documents- nothing to worry about. Travel, explore the world and get only pleasure and pleasant emotions from trips!!!

border crossing Russian Federation implies the presence in the passport of a visa allowing stay in the country for the period stipulated by the current legislation. This requirement does not apply only to citizens of the CIS countries. All others are forced to acquire a similar permit. The process of obtaining a visa to Russia for Europeans requires detailed consideration.

The procedure for issuing a visa is carried out on the territory of the state in which the candidate lives. It is issued for 90 days. If a citizen of another country wants to enter Russia for more than long term, he needs to attach a certificate confirming the absence of HIV infection to the main package of documents. The validity of this certificate is 3 months.

A Russian visa for citizens of the European Union is issued within 7-10 days.

In some cases, this period is 21 days, which depends primarily on the country in which the applicant lives, as well as on the type of permit obtained. Exists urgent clearance visas (1-3 days), the paid fee at the same time, however, doubles.

Untimely departure from the Russian Federation entails fines, the amount of which depends on the number of overdue days. If they are not more than three, then the visa can be extended at the airport by paying a fine right there on the spot. If the period is longer, then the whole procedure takes place at the FMS department, and administrative responsibility implies a larger amount. It is worth remembering that all fines and violations are entered into a single database of the migration department, and this may already adversely affect the result of the request for the next visa. To prevent such misunderstandings, you should apply for visa extension before the expiration date.

In addition, it should be remembered that the actual purpose of the visit to the Russian Federation must correspond to the type of visa received. All citizens crossing the border fill out a migration card, which indicates the purpose of their stay in the country and its duration. The allowable period of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation is determined by the type of visa issued.

Tourist visa

This type of entry permit is the most common today. Obtaining this visa provides for the following set of documents:

• personal information about the tourist (name, date of birth, passport number);
• date of entry into the Russian Federation and departure from it;
• registration data of the tour operator;
• list of services paid by the tourist (hotel, flight, transfer, excursions);
• stamp and signature of the travel agency.

A copy and original of the insurance, an insurance card filled out by hand in block letters in Russian or English.

Transit visa

To obtain transit visa, the traveler does not need an invitation from the Russian side. This type of entry permit assumes that its bearer will only use the territory of the specified state to transfer to another flight. That is why the scope of this document is the airport. To go beyond its limits, having only this type of visa in hand, the tourist has no right.

Documents for obtaining a transit stamp are the same as for a regular one. tourist visa. To attach to them, however, you still need a visa of the country to which you are going and tickets for connecting flight. The permit is valid for 72 hours.