How to find out the registration number for a visa. How to check the validity of a Schengen visa at home

When picking up your passport at the Consulate or Embassy, you always start flipping through the pages in search of the coveted visa sticker with bated breath. Experienced travelers with a trained eye, they immediately determine whether everything is in order on the visa, and with a calm soul they go to pack their bags for the upcoming trip.

A person who encounters a Schengen visa for the first time hopes that they are doing this - there must be order. Sometimes this leads to unpleasant situations with borderline and customs control, because a small mistake can deprive you of the right to cross the border. In order not to become a victim of an unfortunate misunderstanding, the visa must be read upon receipt. What do you need to check in a Schengen visa upon receipt?

1 On the page with a visa in the upper left corner will be multicolored holographic image. It must be undamaged, because strikethroughs or scratches are signs of visa cancellation, which, when crossing the border, can cause additional suspicions and questions. 2 Under the holographic image should be your photo or in extremely rare cases, the inscription "Valid without photo" (the visa is valid without a photo). 3 Check the top line and make sure that the visa is valid schengen. To do this, we are looking for the word "Schengen" in any foreign language variation (ETATS SCHENGEN, SCHENGENER STAATEN, SENGENO VALSTIBES, PANSTWA SCHENGEN, ESTADOS SCHENGEN, STATI SCHENGEN, SCHENGENI ALLAMOK ...) You will recognize the word "Schengen" even without being a brilliant linguist.
If instead of the word "Schengen" the name of the country appears in the Consulate of which the passport was given, then you have received a national visa. According to the new edition of the EU Visa Code, such visas are equal in status to Schengen ones. 4 The next line indicates the corridor during which valid Schengen visa. You have the right to cross the Schengen border on any of the days that fall within this corridor. Remember that the corridor may be several months long, but the number of visits and days may be small. Pay attention to the multiplicity of the visa. 5 We look at the next line of three symbols in the form of numbers and letters.

Visa type.
A— transit through the airport. That is, change the plane without leaving the terminal, sit down and fly away.

D — national visa. Such a visa, as a rule, provides the right to reside, study, work, establish family ties, or is issued in special or emergency cases. It usually means staying in the country for more than 90 days without a break with the right to open a residence permit.

WITH- short stay visa This is the most common type of Schengen visa. In this case, it is understood that you can take one, two or more trips that do not exceed 90 days in total within one half year. For example, from January to June you went 4 times for 10 days - this is the order. If you went 1 time for 100 days - this is already a violation.
Visa multiplicity, that is, the number of trips that you can make. 01 - 1 trip, 02 - 2 trips, MULT - 3 or more trips. Here it is important to understand what “1 trip” is. 1 trip is the entry into the Schengen and the exit from the Schengen. As a result, you will receive two stamps in your passport. Accordingly, two stamps "extinguish" a single entry visa, that is, it cannot be reused for entry. Four stamps cancel a double-entry visa, etc.
With more difficult: it is considered redeemed at the end of the corridor of validity or at the end of the issued days of stay. In addition, you need to remember that even with a single-entry visa, you have the right to move within the Schengen area without leaving it, within the visa validity corridor and the days issued.
Maximum amount days which you have the right to spend in the Schengen area. The number varies from 1 to 90 days for a Schengen visa and up to 365 days for a national one. It depends on the policy of the Consulate and national legislation. This item is inextricably linked with the multiplicity of the visa. Common Mistake: you had a single entry visa and 10 days of stay. You went for a week and came back. That's it, your visa has been canceled, despite the fact that you did not leave for 3 days.
For a multiple entry visa, each time count the number of days you spend in the country and subtract them from the total. This will let you know how many days are left for future trips. The date of crossing the border and receiving the appropriate stamp is considered the first day of stay in the country. Date of receipt of the return stamp and border crossing in reverse direction- last day of stay.

6 The line below is passport details. Here you need to very carefully check the number and series of the passport, as well as the spelling of the last name and first name. Everything must match up to the last letter and number. 7 The last line will contain purpose of the trip. It is usually written in the language of the Consulate and dubbed in English. Sometimes, instead of an inscription, there may be a digital code. In this case, ask the employees of the Consulate or Embassy what it means. The stated goal must match the one you stated when filling out the questionnaire. If documents were submitted for tourist visa, and you were mistakenly given a business one, then the border guard who discovered this inconsistency has the right to turn you in with penalties up to a ban on entry and quarantine. 8 On a Schengen visa must be seal of the consulate and, depending on whether or not the national legislation of the country suggests, the signature or personal seal of the Consul.

We have indicated all the points that you need to check when obtaining a Schengen visa - be careful and accurate, then the journey from the very beginning will be easy.

Once you get your visa, don't rush to rejoice. Please check immediately if it is correct. Sometimes consular employees make mistakes, which is fraught with negative consequences such as a fine, delay, and even a ban on entering another country. If you find any inaccuracy, immediately contact the consulate for a free correction. Below we will tell you how to check the authenticity of a visa.

How to check a visa

There are about a dozen points that you should definitely pay attention to.

Photo. She must be yours. It happens that by mistake at the consulate they paste a photo of another person. Naturally, with such a visa border services you will not be missed. Sometimes there is no photo at all - this option is possible, but it is still better to find out if it should definitely not be.
Last name and first name. Must fully match those written in the passport - letter for letter. An error even in one letter - and the visa is considered invalid. Nuance: the apostrophe in the visa is omitted. Series and number foreign passport in the visa. Must match those specified in the passport itself. In this case, the series and number are written together.
Visa validity area. Always indicated in the language of the country whose embassy issued your visa. If the visa is valid only in one or a couple of states, their names are spelled out in full or their letter designations are indicated. If the visa is valid in the entire Schengen area, then the phrase “Schengen states” is written in the document. Sometimes this phrase is followed by a “-” sign and the codes of the countries participating in the Schengen Agreement are indicated, on the territory of which this visa is not valid.
Visa type. Each type of visa has letter designation and depends on the purpose of the trip. Type A - transit visa, designed to ensure that the tourist could freely be in transit zone airport of one of the Schengen countries. Type C - short stay in the Schengen area. The maximum term is 90 days within six months. Type D - national visa for long-term stay in the Schengen countries. Read more about the types of visas in our article.
Visa start date. It is recommended to always specify the date and time of crossing the border of the Schengen area. If, by the time you receive your visa, you decide to postpone your trip, the corrections will be made at your expense.
Visa expiration date. The expiration date of the permit must not end earlier than the date of your departure from the Schengen country.
Number of days of stay. You can't stay in the Schengen area Furthermore the number of days that is indicated in the visa issued to you. Keep in mind that the number of days of actual stay in the state is always less than the number of days declared in the visa. For example, if your trip involves a one-day visit to a particular country, then you must fly back on the same day that you arrived. The next day is already the second day, even if a day has not passed since your arrival.
Multiplicity (number) of visa entries. One of the following options is possible: 01 - single entry (re-entry on the same visa is prohibited), 02 - double entry (two visits to the Schengen countries are allowed), MULT - unlimited number of entries to the Schengen area during the entire period of validity of the visa. There were cases when consulates mistakenly issued six-month visas with a single entry. Therefore, check this mark especially carefully.
Seal and signature of the consulate. The absence of a signature and seal is allowed only in some cases. If they are not on your visa, immediately check this nuance with the consular staff.

We have listed the most important marks on the visa that need to be checked with the utmost care. In case of any discrepancy, you should immediately return the document to the consulate for correction.

If you want to avoid any problems with issuing a Schengen visa, apply for it through the visa center Vizovik! With our help you will get necessary visa as soon as possible.

Finland is an incredible country that attracts with its wonderful landscapes and unusual architecture. It attracts many tourists, but getting permission to enter is not easy. The process can take quite a long time, and when the documents are submitted, you want to find out if you have been granted a visa or not as soon as possible. Checking the readiness of a visa is carried out via the Internet, so tracking the status of the case is quite simple.

You can obtain permission to enter Finland at the consulate by submitting a list of required documents:

International passport.
Citizen's passport.
A set of photographs.
Confirmation of purpose of stay.
Insurance.
A bank statement confirming that there are sufficient funds in the account.
Confirmation of hotel reservations, transport, etc.

You can submit documents to the visa center, and the final list will change in each case. This is influenced by marital and financial status, status, the purpose of the trip to Finland, as well as many other factors.

So, when the application form Finnish visa filled, and the documents are submitted to the visa center, it remains to wait. The consulate will tell you the date of the decision, but it is not exact. You can track your progress online. So, how to see online what permission was given? To do this, go to the visafinland website and open the appropriate section.

In most cases, the case will take about 10 days to process. However, the period may vary depending on certain conditions. For example, during holidays or weekends, it may take 3 weeks to process a Finnish visa. This is also affected by the number of applications submitted, because in this case, the decision may be delayed. As a rule, this applies to the summer and the sales season.

If you use the services of intermediaries, then you will be personally notified about the issuance of a visa to Finland. When personal clearance all documents in visa application center, you can see online readiness visas on the visafinland website.

Attention! Due to recent changes in legislation, the legal information in this article may be out of date!

Our lawyer can advise you free of charge - write a question in the form below:

There are times when the validity of a Schengen visa is questioned at the border. Today we will tell you how to check your visa without leaving your home.

Photo. Do not be lazy, look in your passport, where the Schengen is pasted and make sure that this is really your photo. Cases when photos are confused at the embassy are extremely rare, but still, they do happen.
Passport data. Carefully, letter by letter, digit by digit, check the coincidence of your own name and surname, as well as the series and number of the passport. The data must be entered strictly, as in the passport. An error even in one letter will inevitably lead to visa annulment and disruption of your plans.
Action zone. Visas issued by the states of the union can have two areas of validity: one specific country or the entire union as a whole. This information must be indicated in the Schengen itself, in the language of the state that issued the permit. For example, a Polish resolution would say "Polska" or "Panstwa Shcengen". In the first case, you will have the right to stay only on the territory of Poland, unless otherwise indicated by the consul. On a visa marked "Panstwa Shcengen" you can travel to all 26 countries of the union.
Visa type. It is indicated by one letter "A", "C" or "D". Where “A” is a transit airport visa, “C” is a tourist or business visa, “D” is a national one. A Schengen type check is needed so as not to accidentally violate visa laws. For example, with category “A”, a tourist does not have the right to leave the airport.
Start of action. Pay attention to the date from which the permit becomes valid. Before it you will not be able to cross the border.
End of action. Also take a look at the expiration date. You must leave the union before her. An exception is if you missed this deadline for reasons beyond your control: you ended up in the hospital, your car broke down, your flight was canceled, etc.
Permitted period of stay. How to check the number of days allowed to stay in the union zone? This information should appear on the right side of the third line. That is, you will not be able to use the entire validity of your Schengen, as the number of days of stay abroad will be limited. For example, having received a visa for 6 months, you will not be able to spend more than 90 days in the union. These restrictions were introduced to combat illegal immigrants.
The number of entries and exits. Schengen can be: single; double; multiple. In the first case, you will be able to cross the border back and forth once. For example, if you enter through Finland and exit through the UK, you will no longer be able to return to the Schengen area, no matter how many unused days of your authorized stay remain. In the second, the Schengen border can be crossed twice in both directions. And in the third it can be done an unlimited number of times.
Signature and seal. Validity of a document without an official seal and signature responsible person(of the consul or an employee replacing him) is equal to zero. You will not be able to cross the border with such a document.

If you find any discrepancy, immediately return the visa back to the consulate. As soon as possible, the staff will correct everything and return the documents to you.