Schengen visa one time

Most Russian citizens apply for a Schengen visa without complications, with the exception of first-timers.

They are keenly interested in the procedure for obtaining it, the types of visas and the validity period, which undoubtedly worries them. A Schengen visa is granted to all interested persons if they meet certain requirements imposed by international law.

What it is

The wording "Schengen visa" means official permission to enter the territory of the zone of 26 European countries. Its owner can enter it without problems, move around it freely and leave it when the visa expires. It is issued by the consulate of one of the countries for the period established by the norms, laid down in the EU visa code.

For foreign citizens, this kind of opportunity appeared due to the signing of the agreement by the European countries that are part of the EU. They merged into one territory, called the Schengen zone. It is similar to a single state, so border control is carried out only on its outer border.

At the same time, foreign citizens are subject to verification when entering and leaving it. Border control is not carried out at the internal borders of the countries included in it. It has been eliminated in accordance with the norms of the EU VC, which are aimed at strengthening the external borders that interface with third states.

Varieties

Currently, several types of visas are valid throughout the territory included in the Schengen zone. All of them are endowed with equal powers, although they differ in purpose and duration.

These include:

• a one-time visa that allows a foreign citizen to travel once to the Schengen countries;
• a double-entry visa that allows you to cross the border of the Schengen zone twice;
• multiple-entry visa intended for unlimited use.

A visa as a permit issued by one of the Schengen countries that is a member of the Schengen Agreement allows you to stay in the Schengen area for no more than 90 days of the prescribed 180 days. The term is counted from the day the foreign citizen enters the host country.

In addition, the Schengen visa is divided into categories:

• "A" - a transit airport visa, used when flying to the country of destination;
• "C" - short-stay visa;
• "D" - long-term visa.

It provides its owner with ample opportunities. Each of these visas is endowed with special powers, the main of which is the simplification of the border control procedure.

Why do I need a single entry visa

A single entry visa is granted for a specific period of time for the applicant to fulfill a single purpose. For example, for a period of study at an educational institution with a subsequent return to their homeland. It is divided into short-term and long-term visas.

The first allows its owner to stay in the host country from 3 days to 3 months. And the second is provided to persons who are studying in one of the educational institutions located on the territory of the Schengen countries or are officially employed in one of them.

It is mainly used for tourist and business trips or a private visit. For example, visits to relatives, friends and acquaintances, as noted in the rules of the EU visa code.

Validity

A person holding a Schengen visa is entitled to stay on it for no more than 3 months in every semester. It is determined by the category of visa, which is established depending on the purpose of the foreign trip. For example, a transit visa allows you to stay at the airport of one of the countries for 48 hours. The time of stay is allotted for making a transfer to the Airbus, sent to the country of destination.

With regard to a one-time short-stay Schengen visa, the EU VC provides for a stay for a period of 3 to 30 days in any country in the Schengen area.

It expires after leaving it, which is an indispensable condition. If the holder of a visa leaves the host country before the expiration of its validity period, he will lose the right to re-enter it.

How to issue

A person interested in obtaining a visa can carry out the procedure personally or through an intermediary organization. It must collect a number of documents and submit them to the consulate of the country of interest to him, where he intends to go.

As a rule, a Schengen visa is issued within one month, if a positive decision is made. But the specified period is delayed for an indefinite period of time if it becomes necessary to submit additional documents or their insufficiency, incorrect execution.

List of documents

To apply for a one-time Schengen visa, you need to collect a package of documents that is submitted to the consulate of the host country.

It includes:

• filled out on a special form. It is issued by the consulate or visa center;
• international passport containing at least 2 blank pages;
• a copy of individual pages of a civil passport, which contains personal information;
• a copy of the medical insurance policy, the cost of which is equal to at least 30,000 euros with a period of validity similar to the period of stay in the country of the Schengen area;
• indicating the position held, salary, length of service. It must be drawn up on the letterhead of the enterprise, which must have its details;
• official paper certifying solvency, for example, a bank certificate. It confirms the availability of funds in the current account, indicating financial transactions on it;
• a sponsorship letter, if the cost of a foreign trip is borne by a third party;
• a copy of travel tickets in both directions;
• official paper confirming the reservation of a hotel room or a tourist voucher, a lease agreement for living space;
• business paper containing an invitation to visit.

In addition, the person interested in the trip must submit 2 photographs of 3.5x4.5 cm in size taken in color. They must clearly depict the visa holder's profile in order to clearly identify their identity.

Where to go

Documents are submitted to the consulate of the host country or the visa center, which has the right to issue a visa. His functional duties include assistance to foreign citizens in the preparation of documents. They are submitted to the consulate of the respective country so that it gives permission to enter it with further visits to the Schengen countries.

The visa center of an individual state is authorized to protect its interests, therefore, it acts in accordance with the regulations in force in it. In addition, you can contact a travel company that is engaged in this kind of activity. It should be noted that its actions are limited. For example, it lacks the ability to collect biometric data.

Price

Official permission to enter the Schengen area is granted to a foreign citizen by the appropriate authority of one of its member countries. He must pay for the services provided to him in issuing a visa, so the applicant bears some kind of costs. They are an integral part of the entry permit procedure.

What does it depend on

A foreign citizen must notify the consulate where he submitted documents about any changes in the conditions of his trip abroad. He must indicate in the documents submitted for consideration to indicate reliable information about himself and the persons accompanying him. Otherwise, the Schengen visa is revoked on the basis of their inconsistency with reality. In addition, the applicant is deprived of the right to receive it for an indefinite period of time.

In accordance with international law, the cost of a Schengen visa is determined by:

• type of visa, its purpose;
• the urgency of the application;
• the amount of information to be processed.

The final cost of a visa is set taking into account the service fee, which is payable for consideration of an application for its issuance, processing of submitted documents.

Types of Estimated Costs

According to the norms established by the EU VC, the cost of a Schengen visa consists of:

• Consular fee in the amount 35 euro. If a person wishing to make a trip abroad applies personally to the consulate of the country of entry in order to obtain a Schengen visa, then his expenses are limited to the payment of consular fees. They are non-refundable if the consulate refuses to issue a visa.
• Fees for services provided by the Visa Application Centre. It is paid by the applicant separately if the Schengen visa is issued through the visa center. In such a situation, the costs are increased by taking into account his services, the cost of which, on average, is approximately 30 euro. It must not exceed the fee charged for consular services, including for issuing an entry visa. Often, consular fees often change according to the political situation and the general policy of the immigration services, which is noted in the norms of international law.

Each visa center sets the amount of fees for the provision of visa services at its discretion. In addition to the above costs, there may be additional costs directly related to the issuance of a Schengen visa.

These include payment for:

• medical policy issued by an insurance company. Its price for one day is about 1 euro;
• services of translation companies that are engaged in the implementation of the translation of the content of documents into a foreign language. For example, English, which is most often used in the Schengen countries. As practice shows, a service of this kind is worth 200 rubles for the translation of one page.

Children under the age of 6 are completely exempted from paying consular fees. It is also not payable when applying for a long-term visa for children under 15 years of age.

The cost of urgent production of a Schengen visa is 70 euro, which is double the amount of consular fees. If it is issued for a child who is inscribed in the parents' foreign passport, then the cost of services will be 50% of the consular fees.

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that the cost of the services provided should not exceed 50% of the consular fee. The norm is provided for by the instructions of Article 17 of the EU Visa Code, which regulates the issuance of a Schengen visa to a foreign citizen. It provides for the rules for setting prices for the services of visa centers, where anyone can apply.