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5 European countries that quickly and permanently open Schengen
If you have a Schengen visa, you can travel almost all of Europe. True, not all states consider documents promptly and allow multiple entries. Rambler/Travel represents the top countries that quickly issue long-term multiple visas.
Greece
According to the recognition of tourists and tour operators, this country is the absolute leader in 2016. The Greeks issue visas quickly, for a long time and almost never refuse. Even despite the failures that Russian tourists faced before the May holidays, when visas were issued on the day of departure or even late.
“Recently, getting visas to Greece is easier, faster and for more long term. Such work at the embassy began after the strongest failures in the issuance of visas during May and June, ”the press service of the tour operator TUI Russia explained.
In almost all cases, Greek representations give a multi-visa for a period of 1-3 years. True, sometimes a three-year visa can be put in a clean passport, and an annual visa can be put in a document with numerous travel notes.
The processing of documents, as stated on the website of the visa center, takes at least two working days. In fact, three days after the application is submitted, the visa is usually ready.
Spain
The Spanish consulate works clearly and promptly, according to tour operators. In the low season, it takes 2-3 days to process documents, in the high season it is better to lay down 5 days for this.
The Spaniards, like the Greeks, try to issue multiple and long-term visas, at least for six months or a year.
“This year, many countries began to fight for Russian tourist, including Spain. Simplification of visa procedures, the issuance of multiple entry documents and the creation of favorable conditions for obtaining visas just helps to attract the attention of Russians to one or another direction, ”said Alexander Osaulenko, director of the association of tour operators for outbound tourism Turpomoshch.
On April 5, the cross year of tourism between Russia and Spain officially opened, within the framework of which negotiations on the mutual facilitation of visa procedures will continue.
Italy
The Italian consulate is considered by tour operators to be perhaps the most efficient and well-coordinated. If you decide to open an Italian Schengen, know that the documents will be issued quickly enough - no longer than a week. And there is a high probability that the visa will be multiple and valid for a long time.
“Terms for consideration of documents are 4-5 days. As a rule, in the presence of previous trips, they put multiple visas from a year, ”explained Dinara Khaertdinova, head of the visa department of the tour operator BSI group.
However, when applying for an Italian visa, there are some nuances. For example, if you have previously traveled to, say, Germany or any other country in the Schengen zone, have your fingerprints applied for a visa, or have taken a digital photograph, then be prepared that the Italian consulate will require you to do all this again, but at their place. Although biometric data must be stored in unified system and updated only once every five years.
Latvia
Although Latvia is not the most massive tourist destination, it nevertheless issues long-term Schengen multi-visas to Russians quickly and without problems.
“They try to give visas immediately for 6 months, documents are considered promptly. Even taking into account the heavy workload in the summer months, it is possible to open a Latvian visa without any problems, this is one of the most inexpensive and affordable destinations, which is conveniently reached by train, plane, or car. Latvians willingly issue visas for significant cultural events, you just have to attach a ticket,” explained Larisa Akhanova, PR director of the Tez Tour tour operator.
According to representatives of the tourism business, other Baltic countries are also interested in guests from Russia. So both Estonia and Lithuania will also process the documents promptly.
Finland
The documents in the visa center are treated very carefully, but if everything is in order, they issue a visa quickly. You need to carefully fill out the form: if you indicate that a visa is needed only for the duration of the trip, they will give you only for these dates. In this case, the visa will be multiple, but in fact it will not be possible to use it. So it is better to apply for a visa for a longer period, and then there is a high chance of getting the right to enter Europe multiple times within a year or even several years.
“You can apply for a visa for 5 years. But the decision to issue or not issue a visa is within the exclusive competence of the consulate, and only the visa officer, based on the criteria known to him, can decide for how long to issue a visa to a particular applicant. I can only note that tourists with a good visa history - with multiple trips and without any violations of the laws in their host countries - are more likely to get a “long” Schengen,” said Ibrahim Lyanov, head of the Mobile Biometrics project.
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To visit Europe in 2017, as before, you need a European visa - Schengen. This standard document, recognized in 26 countries, allows you to travel from country to country without additional visas. The presence of this visa opens up a lot of opportunities for tourism, business, study and other travel purposes.
What is Schengen
In the world there is a united union of European states - the European Union. To facilitate the rules for crossing the borders of these countries, the leadership of the states signed an agreement according to which it is enough for any European to apply for a single visa - Schengen - valid for 5 years to travel around the countries. Going to European countries, a Russian must issue this visa through Visa Center by providing a list binding documents. Unlike limited visas for visiting one state, a multivisa to Europe is issued at any branch of the official visa center for the regions of the country. Some non-Schengen countries have representative offices only in Moscow.
Benefits of applying for a multivisa to Europe
It is possible to obtain such a visa to Europe both independently, by submitting the necessary documents personally to the visa center, and with the help of intermediaries. Obtaining a visa to Europe is carried out only with the personal presence of the applicant on the appointed day.
In the case of self-submission of documents, money is saved, but more time is spent. If you contact the office that provides assistance in obtaining visas, you will have to overpay, but you can save a lot of time.
It must be remembered that such organizations will help in filling out an application and suggest the correct list required documents to obtain a visa to Europe, but they are not involved in the direct execution and decision on permission or refusal to issue.
The Schengen Process
Before applying for this visa, the applicant has a lot of questions - how to apply for a visa, how is it easier to get it, what documents are needed for a visa and how much does a visa to Europe cost? About everything in order.
Types of visas to Europe
There are 4 generally accepted types of Schengen, each of which has its own list of documents, conditions and terms for considering an application.
Tourist Schengen
The most common request among applicants. Tours to Europe are popular, and subject to registration tourist visa for citizens of the Russian Federation for 5 years, this gives the opportunity to visit different countries every year or several times a year.
If you come across last-minute offers, you need to take care of obtaining a visa for traveling around Europe in advance.
The term allowing tourists to freely stay in a particular Schengen country is different. This question should be clarified in advance with the tour operator. Usually it is from a month to three. Excursion trips from country to country, sealed by an agreement, will not create problems. If you plan to visit a country that does not accept Schengen, then a separate visa is required.
Applying for a student visa
Studying in foreign countries has become popular for Russians since the early 90s. With the adoption of the agreement on a single visa, Russian students have opened the way to the famous universities of Europe. To obtain a student visa, in addition to the usual list of documents, you need to attach a letter - an invitation from the host and documents at the place of residence. The validity of such visas to Europe for Russians is from six months to a year. Extension of the visa is carried out on the spot in migration service upon presentation of valid documents.
Work visa to Europe
A fairly common visa for those who travel abroad for temporary or permanent work. To obtain such a Schengen visa, you must submit supporting documentation. This must be a certified letter, agreement or contract with the host. The requirements for such a visa are strict, the verdict in obtaining is made only after a thorough check of the data.
Multivisa for 5 years
The rules for obtaining any of the visas are practically the same (with the exception of specific documents for the direction of the visa).
Multivisa is a special document. With its help, you can freely travel abroad for all five years and even apply for a residence permit in some countries.
For those who make frequent trips, it is easier to apply for such a visa and not worry every time you go abroad. It saves time, because you need to draw it up only once, no additional confirmations are needed anymore.
What documents are needed to apply for a Schengen
The list of documents for obtaining any visa is almost identical. Only the nuances may differ:
- International passport. It is better to have a stock of validity for more than six months, because. the rules in each country are different;
- Application for a visa. You can fill it out yourself without errors right at the Embassy, or you can ask for help from intermediaries involved in providing this service to the public for a fee;
- Photo. The number varies from 2 to 4, it is necessary to clarify on the spot. The requirements for a photo for a visa are the same everywhere, when you take a picture, just specify that it is needed to obtain a Schengen;
- Documents indicating the purpose of the trip.
- Income certificate and a document showing sufficient amount for travel. This amount varies from state to state. It is worth orienting in the amount of 50-80 dollars per person per day;
- Medical insurance. When traveling to Europe, a visa is needed as the main document. Insurance covering the possible costs of treatment should be 30 thousand euros. This does not mean that you need to pay this money. Like any insurance, the document is purchased for a smaller amount. Usually the price is 2-3 thousand rubles.
European visa prices
Applying for the Schengen visa on your own, you can save up to 4,000 rubles. Usually this is how much it costs to apply for a visa through a travel agency. Even going to Europe in transit, you will need a visa. The price of any visa (except multivisa) will be 35 euros. The amount will increase to 70 European units if a visa is needed urgently. This fee is considered a consular fee and is payable regardless of the country you intend to travel to. You can get a visa only after the presented receipt of payment. It is valid for three years, so it almost cannot expire.
How much is the Schengen
Regardless of which country you need to travel to, you must apply for a visa no later than 15 days before the date of receipt of the Schengen. Please note that there is a high risk of being denied the execution of this document, so it is recommended to plan your actions with a margin of time.
Failures and their reasons
Based on the documents provided, you can easily get a refusal to issue a visa to European countries. In addition to providing documents, when obtaining a Schengen visa for 5 years, you need to go through the fingerprinting procedure, and when applying for any Schengen visa, you must also pass an interview at the Embassy. In this case, the reason for refusal may be the unreliability of the applicant. During the interview, it is important to show yourself as a calm, honest person, in every possible way confirming the purpose of your trip.
In case of refusal, you should not stop, you can repeat the request after a while. This does not apply to such reasons as offenses in Europe on past trips or the lack of stamps in the passport for crossing other borders.
To ensure reliability, you need to go to another state, get a visa to open, and from there you can go to the Schengen countries.
Trip to Russia
There are certain travel rules for both Russians and Europeans. for Europeans, it is issued on the territory of their country at different times. Usually they do not exceed two weeks. The time of permitted stay on the territory of the Russian Federation on a regular Schengen visa is 90 days. The cost of a visa to Russia already depends on the country from which the applicant departs. In addition to a visa, passport and other documents, a European traveler must provide a certificate of the absence of HIV - infection. This document is valid for three months and requires re-obtaining.
A Russian visa is issued for a different period depending on the purpose of the trip. According to the rating, the most popular purposes of entry are work, transit or student travel.
There are uniform rules for the movement of minors. The child must have a separate passport (or it can be entered in the parent's passport, this rule is not valid for all countries, it is better to clarify the issue in advance), a birth certificate and, if necessary, separate medical insurance with photographs. You can make a visa for a child, regardless of age, for the same amount as for an adult.