Multivise: rules and deadlines for obtaining

When planning a trip abroad, Russian tourists often face the need to issue a visa for travel. There are countries where visa-free entry is allowed, for example, Vietnam, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Fiji and others. But if you decide to visit the Schengen countries, then a visa is required. The purpose of visiting the country determines the type of visa: business, student, tourist, guest, working or transit.

Depending on the frequency of entry into the country, visas are divided into:

Single entry visas permitting one entry into the country during the approved period. It is important not to violate the specified terms of stay in order to further avoid difficulties when re-requesting a visa to this country.

Two-entry visas give you the right to enter the country that approved the visa twice during a certain period. Compliance with the country’s requirements for the time interval between the first and second entry is important. Each state has individual requirements, the average period between entries is from 14 to 30 days.

Multivisas allow an unlimited number of entries into the territory of the country that issued the visa. They last from six months to five years. And there is only one limit for them - the number of days in the country.

Travelers who often visit European countries often dream of a multi-Schengen for several years and move freely to all 26 countries of the Schengen agreement. According to the rules of the multi-visa, its holder can visit the Schengen countries an unlimited number of times and move freely throughout the territory, during the validity of the visa.

So, if you are planning to issue a multi-visa, the first thing you need to do is decide on the main country of stay. The visa will be issued by a member state of the Schengen Agreement and in the future the itinerary of your trip must include repeated visits to it or the longest stay among the others. If the trip covers several countries and the duration of stay in them is approximately the same, and there is no possibility to choose, then it is better to choose the state that is first in the list of visits for the visa, so you follow the “first border rule”.

When considering your application, the presence of a Schengen visa, which has been opened within the last three years, will positively affect. Of course, if its use was targeted, without violating the terms of stay and the general rules of movement in the Schengen countries.

The second important point when applying for a visa is a package of documents prepared in accordance with the requirements of the specific state from which it is requested. The more responsible and careful you are in preparing documents, the more likely you are to approve a visa application. The full list of required documents can be specified on the website of the consulate of a particular country, since the requirements of different countries may vary slightly. But there is a standard list of documents, and sometimes it can be supplemented.

Documents:

Photocopies of civil passport and foreign passport with copies of previously issued visas.

* Your fresh photo in compliance with state requirements (background color, image size and other conditions).

* Confirmation - a certificate from the place of work or study, as well as confirmation that you will return to the country of residence.

Correctly completed questionnaire and availability of health insurance.

* Bank statement. Confirmation of your financial solvency is very important for visa approval. The more proof of finance you bring, the better the chances.

Biometrics for a Schengen visa. Since September 2015, this procedure has become mandatory. The consulate must provide biometric data – fingerprints and digital photos. This data is stored for five years and should be updated.

To obtain a multi-visa, it will be useful to collect documents confirming the need to visit the country to which you applied. Perhaps you have relatives living there or you need to visit the head office of the company where you work.

By applying for a multi-visa for the first time, you will most likely receive an entry permit for up to a year. And with a subsequent application to the embassy, the chances of a longer-term visa increase significantly.

According to the rules of multi-visa, the time of stay in the Schengen countries is limited to 90 days per half year. The cost of a multi-entry visa is, of course, much more than a single-entry visa, for which you pay a consular fee of 35 euros. The final cost will be affected by the validity of the visa (from six months to five years).

To apply for a visa, you can contact the consulate of the destination country directly or use the services of certified agencies that will help with the processing of documents.