France is a diverse and multifaceted country. Someone goes here for romance, someone for shopping, someone likes architecture, and someone likes local cuisine. You can list almost endlessly. Everyone can find something interesting for themselves. The capital of France is the city of Paris. Here you can walk along the Champs Elysees, admire the masterpieces in the Louvre, climb the Eiffel Tower and see firsthand Notre Dame. However, in order to get into the country of the European Union, you need a visa. You can fly to Paris only if you have a Schengen!
Types of Visas
There are two main types of visas to France: short-term and long-term. Consider each view a little more.
- A short-term visa, also called a Schengen visa, is issued for a period not exceeding three months. With such a visa, you can visit not only France, it allows you to enter other states that are members of the Schengen Agreement. It is divided into three categories. A type like A or B is a transit visa. Paris with this category is only the city where the transplant takes place. It is worth noting that the Russians do not need such a visa. View C is suitable for those who visit the country for tourist purposes, visit relatives or friends. In addition, a visa of this type is needed on a business trip, however, with one clarification: the purpose of a business trip cannot be commercial.
- Those who are going to the country of Victor Hugo and Alexander Dumas for a period of more than three months will need a national visa. You need to go to Paris with this if you are planning a long stay here or moving. Obtaining a visa in this category is more difficult than a Schengen one, and it will take more time. However, this is quite natural.
A national visa has many subspecies, they depend on the purpose of entry into the country. This is, for example, a student or work visa. In Paris, you may need a visa in this category if you plan to learn a language. For a national visa an extensive list of documents. However, Russians do not often use the right to obtain it, so we will only consider the rules for applying for a Schengen visa.
When to start clearance?
You already know that you need a visa to Paris. The next question that worries travelers is when to apply for Schengen? It is worth doing this no earlier than three months before the trip and no later than a week before it.
Documents required to obtain a Schengen visa
The package of documents that are needed to obtain a visa depends on the purpose of the trip. The standard package includes:
application (we will consider the rules for filling out the questionnaire below);
foreign passport (its validity should not expire earlier than 90 days after returning to the Russian Federation);
two photographs that comply with the OACI / ISO standard;
medical insurance (which, incidentally, is the same for all countries of the Schengen zone), the amount of coverage of which should start from 30 thousand euros;
copy of the internal passport (note, absolutely all pages must be copied!);
tickets or confirmation of your reservation if you are going to France by train, bus or plane;
driver’s license, car insurance and vehicle registration certificate (needed by those planning a car trip);
documents on financial support - a 2NDFL certificate from the place of work, a verified certificate of salary, an extract from a savings or bank account, a credit card account will be suitable (you can provide either one document confirming financial security, or several at once).
If a student needs a visa to Paris, he will need to provide, among other documents, his student card and a sponsorship letter from his parents.
But the most important document required to obtain a “Schengen” is the one that indicates the purpose of the trip. For tourists, this is a hotel reservation or a letter from a travel agency stating the purpose of the trip. Those traveling to visit will need an invitation. If the purpose of the trip is business, you will need to provide an official invitation.
More accurate information can be found on the official website of the Consular Section of the French Republic in the Russian Federation.
Correct filling out the questionnaire
You have decided which visa to Paris you need and are already familiar with the list of required papers. What to do next? Fill in the form! You can do this on a computer or manually. When entering personal data, you should be as careful as possible - after all, even one missing letter can cause a visa denial! Please note: you must fill out an application for a visa to France in French or English. After writing the application, it is worth checking carefully for signatures in all the right places.
Visa to Paris for Russians: terms of registration
If you have submitted an application through the Consulate of France or the visa center, the deadline for applying for “Schengen” is 10 days. However, if specialists decide to clarify the compliance of documents, this period may increase up to 30 days.
You can issue a document in three days. There is an accelerated clearance. But it can also be delayed if the provided package of documents is in doubt or requires confirmation.
Typically, travel companies make Schengen in 6-14 days. This period depends on which visa is needed. There are a number of companies that are ready to make the coveted Schengen in just one day. This is possible thanks to established relations with the Consulate.
Cost
According to official figures, the cost of Schengen is 35 euros (for reference: on 04/22/2017, the euro / ruble rate is 60.6 rubles). This amount may vary depending on where the visa is issued. For example, in the visa center it is possible to order additional services for which you have to pay extra. A Schengen visa to Paris will cost more if urgent registration is required. Its value may amount to several thousand euros! The price of specialized companies starts from 200 euros.
Schengen for children
Many parents want to give their children a real holiday. For example, take your child to Disneyland Paris. In order for a joint trip to France not become a problem, you need to get detailed and objective information about whether children need a visa to Paris.
States in the Schengen area are attentive to children entering countries. It is worth noting that children under the age of fourteen cannot travel unaccompanied by adults. They should be accompanied by parents or close relatives, guardians, or group organizers.
Documents for "Schengen" for children
The package of documents for obtaining a visa for children is slightly different from the list that must be provided to adults. The first document is a statement. It must be completed in duplicate, signed by the parent. You will need photographs, copies of Russian passports of the parents or guardians of a minor. In addition, you must provide the original and a copy of the birth certificate, a certificate from the educational institution, medical insurance (as with an adult, the amount of coverage should not be less than 30 thousand euros). Another important document is a travel card.
In the event that the child goes to France without parents, he will need confirmation of solvency. To do this, provide:
- sponsorship letter (note: only one relative can be a sponsor!);
- a document that confirms the relationship of the sponsor and the minor;
- papers confirming the financial viability of the person acting as a sponsor.
Main mistakes
Refusal to obtain a Schengen is a rare, but quite probable phenomenon. There are certain reasons why they may refuse.
- The most important reason is the provision of knowingly false information.
- Fake documents can become the basis for getting into the black list of all countries of the Schengen agreement.
- Too small a salary or a small amount for the trip.
- Lack of insurance.
- Unconfirmed documented purpose of the visit.
Refusal to issue Schengen
If you still became one of those “lucky” who were denied a visa, do not despair. Firstly, the denial stamp always contains information about the reason. And secondly, you can appeal this decision: for this it is enough to file a complaint with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country.
If the reason for the refusal was a suspicion of a desire to immigrate, you should again collect the entire package of documents and add evidence to it that you need a visa to Paris solely for tourist purposes. Collect certificates of ownership of real estate and cars, documents on business or the presence of elderly relatives or children who are your dependents!