How to get a Schengen visa in Moscow on your own

Applying for a visa is a rather complicated process and takes a certain period of time. But what to do when there is no time at all, and you need to get a pass? How to get ahead of time? Is it possible to get a Schengen urgently and independently? Or will you have to look for help among offices in Moscow and the regions?

Types of visas

Before applying for a visa, you should decide on the most appropriate type of document. There are several of them. To do this correctly, you can ask for help from specialists.

Depending on the purpose of the trip, the following types of visas are distinguished:

tourist;
working;
student.

You can arrange a tourist type yourself. As a rule, such permission is short in terms of validity. The possibility of its use is determined by each specific country. The most common period of its validity is 90 days, regardless of where it is made, in Moscow or other regions of the Russian Federation.

A student visa must be opened to persons who wish to use the prospects of studying in the Schengen countries. Today, such education is widely popular among Russian citizens. Most often, a student pass is sought to be made for studying in Germany, Austria, France and other Schengen countries. This visa is issued for a long period of time. However, you can't just open it. To do this, you must have an invitation from a foreign university to study in your hands. In addition, the future student is required to provide a place of residence.

A work visa is also popular among Russians. Citizens seek to acquire work abroad. The Schengen countries are promising due to the high wages of their employees. The working type of permit is long-term. To get it, it is important to present an invitation to work from a foreign employer. Persons with a high professional category can count on such a visa.

Citizens who wish to have the right to enter the Schengen area for a long time can obtain a long-term multivisa. It is issued for a period of several years (up to 5). With such a pass, you can visit the country many times during its validity period. Registration is carried out by persons who travel frequently or make frequent business trips.

If the document is drawn up for the first time and independently, you should not rely on luck and ask for an annual version. It is better to put a stamp on the permission of short-term entry. Late registration of a long-term pass will not cause difficulties.

In addition to these types of visas, the following are distinguished:

A. Russians don't get it. It is only needed to stay at the airport.
B. This option must be obtained if you need to cross the country. It is issued for up to five days.
C. This category is the most popular for short visits, travel and business trips.
D. Long term option.

Having decided on the type of visa, you can begin the process of obtaining it.

Terms and cost of registration

You can get a Schengen pass on your own in a week. At the same time, it is important to understand that if a visa application is submitted during the holidays, you will not be able to count on a quick processing. In this case, the period will increase. You can make a pass faster by requesting help from specialized companies. Such assistance will cost several hundred euros.

The applicant must expect an increase in the processing time for a Schengen visa under certain circumstances:

tourist season;
the appearance of problems during registration, as a result, the need for an additional interview with an employee of the Consulate.

Can be issued within a month. This period is determined by the rules. If the representative office is very busy, you can expect up to 60 days.

It will not work to make a visa on your own in the shortest possible time if the applicants do not live in Moscow. Visa Application Centers forward applications to the Consulate. The term can be reduced if you independently transfer the documents directly to the main representative office in Moscow. However, the amount of costs will increase significantly (road, shipping or other costs).

Experts advise starting the issuance of a Schengen visa no earlier than 3 months before the date of entry into the territory of the country of application. The latest application deadline is 14 days.

The standard cost for an ordinary visa for the Schengen countries is 35 euros. This is the so-called consular fee. Visa Application Centers charge up to 40 euros for their services. For urgent Schengen you need to pay 70 euros. You can do it in 3 days.

Tourists, when planning their trip, often leave several hundred euros to travel agencies for visa information.

Urgent Schengen visa

In a person's life there are situations when an urgent visa is needed. You can get such a visa on your own in three working days. Some firms in Moscow offer to buy a visa for the Schengen zone per day, while paying 2,000 euros.

An urgent Schengen visa may be requested under certain circumstances:

the need to visit a seriously ill relative living in the Schengen area;
funeral of a close relative;
the need for a business visit;
need for urgent treatment in a foreign clinic.

To obtain a document as soon as possible, it is necessary to present evidence of extreme urgency. This may be an official invitation, notification, certificates from the clinic, etc. If the documents have been submitted, the consular fee for urgency is not charged. Such a rule is valid under an agreement between the European Union and the Russian Federation (Article 6, paragraph 3).

An urgent visa can be obtained at the visa center or consulate of the state where you plan to enter. It is important to understand that the processing time is delayed by the time the application is transferred to the central representative office in the capital. The embassy in Moscow gives the final answer to the request, so experts advise you to directly contact the staff of the representative office in Moscow.

You can get an urgent Schengen visa on your own for 3 days for 70 euros, the services of a travel agency will cost an additional 40 - 50 euros. An urgent visa through a visa law firm will cost 500 euros.

Visa Documentation

Each applicant for a visa to visit a Schengen country must submit the following package of documents to the representatives of the representative office:

a passport with a validity period of more than 90 days from the date of completion of the trip;
a questionnaire filled out according to the rules;
photo size 3.5 * 4.5 cm, issued according to Schengen requirements in the amount of 2 - 4 pcs. depending on the country of visit;
documents confirming the purpose of the trip, for example, tickets, hotel reservations, job invitations, and others;
papers on solvency, for example, bank statements, on average about the presence of 50 - 70 euros for each day of the trip;
itinerary for traveling by car;
travel insurance;
certificates of employment or sponsorship letters of consent to support the visa applicant for the duration of the trip;
copies of student card or pension certificate.

If the applicant does not have an official place of work, his relative may assume the obligation to pay expenses during the trip. In this case, in addition to the sponsorship letter, a copy of the relative's passport, an extract on the state of his bank account and a certificate of employment should be submitted.

The application form for a visa to the Schengen area must be completed without errors and corrections. To simplify the procedure for entering information, you should pay attention to the examples of filling out.

Insurance is a must . The cost of coverage must be at least 30,000 euros. Citizens have the right to order insurance for 5 - 7 euros. The package of services will be the smallest.

Photos must be taken according to the requirements of the country of application. The general list of requirements for the Schengen area can be supplemented. The size of the photo and its quality will be the same.

Visa problems

Citizens who rely on self-applying for a document should be aware of all the possible difficulties that may prevent registration.

The most expected difficulty may be a refusal. It may be caused by incorrect paperwork or misconduct during a previous visit to the Schengen area. If the income of the applicant does not meet the stated requirements, the citizen may not be allowed into the Schengen country.

An unsatisfactory impression can be made on an employee of a representative office in person. Experts advise dressing for an interview formally.

Payment of the consular fee may result in visa refusal. Before making a payment, you should consult about the possible payment method. This can be done through a bank or consulate cash desk, in rubles or foreign currency. Specific requirements should be clarified before submitting documents.

Absence of stamps about visiting Schengen countries earlier. Such difficulties arise for citizens who want to obtain a visa through countries that are reluctant to provide such a pass. Long-term visas at the first application are also rarely issued. Citizens are advised to complete the paperwork at the representative office of a country known for its loyal attitude towards visitors.

The emergence of questions is a reason to contact lawyers or consult the consulate. Do not rely entirely on your own strength and luck. First of all, it should be remembered that the possession of information is a guarantee of obtaining a positive result, i.e. visas to the Schengen countries.