Germany is one of the most developed European countries. It is not surprising that many tourists wish to visit it in order to get acquainted with the local culture, as well as very interesting sights.
As you know, this state is part of the European Union, which means that Russians must have a visa to cross the German border. Where, how to get a visa to Germany yourself? What is required for this and what subtleties do you need to know before applying for an entry permit? About it further.
What is a visa?
A visa is usually called a certain permission to enter a certain country, which looks special. In some countries, a visa looks like a separate document, but, as a rule, it is a small seal that is placed on the pages of a person’s international passport.
To enter Germany, you must have a Schengen visa, the general form of which is the same for all EU countries. It is issued to each person individually.
The procedure for processing such a document has some features that are associated with an unprecedented interest in this state from refugees. That is why, before submitting a finished package of papers for consideration, you should consult the consulate in advance about the need for some of them, as well as the procedures for filling them out.
Where to apply for a visa
As practice shows, not all tourists know where to get a visa to Germany. The procedure for its registration is such that before obtaining permission to enter the country, you must visit a consulate, a visa center or other diplomatic mission of the country located in Russia and consult about the necessary list of documents for its submission. This can also be done online by going to the official website of any of these institutions. After all the necessary documents are collected, you can submit them to a special commission.
In fact, it often turns out that getting a visa to Russia in Germany is much easier than vice versa. Such conclusions suggest themselves as a result of the fact that many tourists applying for entry permits are refused. In this case, the person has the right to submit all the papers again.
Where to get a visa to Germany in Moscow? For residents of the capital on Shabolovka, there is a large visa center that accepts Russian citizens who wish to visit this European country for various purposes of the visit. In addition to him, five more German representative offices function in Russia, which can also be contacted. They are located in cities such as Samara, Krasnodar, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, as well as in Saratov.
Type C visa
How to get a visa to Germany class C? Practice shows that this type of permit is most often requested, as it is ideal for people planning a short trip in the country. It can be issued in order to make a tourist trip to the country, for treatment, as well as for any other purpose that requires a short stay in the state.
As for the terms for granting such a permit, a Type C visa is issued for no more than 90 calendar days.
How to get a tourist visa to Germany? Anyone who wants to become the owner of such an entry permit has the right to obtain it both independently and by resorting to the help of specialists working in travel agencies. As practice shows, the second option is simpler, but also very expensive.
Documents
Having figured out where to get a visa to Germany, you should pay attention to the package of documents that must be submitted to apply for a permit. It necessarily includes the submission of a personal passport, to which some requirements are presented. First of all, it must be valid for at least three months after the intended return, and secondly, at least two of its pages should remain blank. In addition to the passport, it is necessary to present color copies of the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, including those on which there is any information about previously issued foreign documents.
In addition to a passport, a correctly completed application form must be presented to the consulate or visa center. Her form can be found on the official website of the German diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation. Also, a person who wants to obtain a visa must provide two applications written in his own hand and strictly according to the model. In one of them it should be written that the client confirms the veracity of all the data provided, and in the second - that gives his permission to process the information provided about himself.
A couple of photos taken in accordance with the established requirements, as well as a certificate issued at the place of work should be attached to the entire package listed above. This certificate must contain information on the person’s place of work, his position, as well as the average monthly salary for the last six months. It can also be supported or replaced by an extract made from an individual bank account, which must be opened in the name and surname of the person applying for a visa.
Very often, retired pensioners go on a trip to European countries. For such persons who wish to visit Germany, there is a small list of documents that must be provided in a common package. First of all, these include a pension certificate (both the original and a copy are needed). As for the certificate of employment laid down for an ordinary employed citizen, it can be replaced by a certificate from the employer, who must attach a statement, the contents of which will indicate that this person is ready to pay all financial costs (letter of guarantee).
Application Form Requirements
One of the reasons why documents with a negative response to a visa request are often returned are an incorrectly completed application form. There is a certain list of rules that govern the procedure for entering data into it.
First of all, you should pay attention to the fact that absolutely all the data provided on the pages of this form must be true. Otherwise, the tourist will certainly receive a denial of his request. In such a situation, it is even possible to ban the entry of this person for a certain period.
As for accuracy, this is another requirement for entering data into the questionnaire. As practice shows, a special machine is engaged in reading information from the documents provided, which cannot recognize characters unknown to it. In the event of a dispute, she may give an error, which will result in a refusal to further examine the provided package of securities. It is better for tourists to take into account that you can fill out this form online, using a PC, or do it with an ordinary ballpoint pen, entering the data in block letters, without making corrections.
More detailed instructions on filling out such a questionnaire can be found on the official website or by consulting a specialist working in a visa center.
Photo Requirements
Many citizens of the Russian Federation cannot get a Schengen visa to Germany only because they provide photos that do not meet the requirements established by the rules. As a rule, the commission is very meticulous about the photographs provided, so you should seriously approach their creation and choose for this purpose only a proven photo shop in which they make high-quality photos - a card made on a home printer will not work.
The requirements for the photo indicate that it should be 3.5x4.5 cm in size printed on high-quality matte paper. The person’s face should look very clear and fit approximately 32-34 mm of the entire area allotted for the image. As for the background, the white color in it is best avoided - you should pay attention to colors such as light blue, light gray, etc.
What should not be in the photo? First of all, hats, glasses, and other unnecessary accessories should be avoided. You should also avoid hairstyles that cover your face too much - extra strands must be stabbed.
Documents required to provide a child visa
How to get a guest visa to Germany for a child? Parents who plan to travel with their child to the company must submit additional documents to the main package of necessary documents so that the state grants permission to enter a minor citizen of the Russian Federation.
First of all, you need to provide a copy of his birth certificate, both in its original form, and translated into English or German. The second document of these must be notarized. In the event that the child is entitled to a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation by age (from 14 to 18 years), it is also necessary to provide color photocopies of this document.
In addition to all of the above, in case of departure of a child with one of the parents, it is necessary to provide permission for his removal, written by the second parent, it must be notarized. Moreover, this document must also have a translation into the foreign language of the host country (German or English). There are situations when the second parent is not due to death or in connection with any other situation. In this case, you must provide a notarized copy of the supporting document (for example, a death certificate).
Type D visa
How to get a visa to Germany class D? First of all, it should be determined that this type of permit is longer-term in comparison with class C - such a visa is issued for one calendar year. In this regard, the conditions for its provision are more stringent.
First of all, a tourist who plans to make a long trip to Germany is obliged to indicate the purpose of his visit and confirm it with documents. An example of such a goal may be marriage, long-term treatment, employment, education, as well as some other situations of a private nature. If necessary, in the future, such a visa can be reissued into a residence permit in the country.
How to get a visa to Germany for a year and what documents are needed for this? About it further.
Documents to receive
First of all, special attention should be paid to the fact that the package of documents required for an annual visa to Germany is somewhat different from that which is needed to issue a Class C permit.
First of all, in order to obtain a national visa to Germany, you must fill out two applications, the information in which should be provided in German. As for the form, then, like the sample form, it can be downloaded on the official website of the representative office. If you need a D visa for minors, then you should fill out a separate set of forms on them, but they must be signed by legal guardians or parents.
In addition to two copies of the application, three biometric photographs taken in accordance with the established requirements, as well as the original passport, from the first page of which you must first make a couple of color duplicates, must be attached to the general package. Also in the list of documents required for a Class D visa is the original passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, as well as a couple of copies taken from him. The consulate pays special attention to the pages where marital status and postscript is noted.
In addition to all of the above documents, a visa fee payment certificate, medical insurance (the total amount must be at least 60,000 euros), as well as the maximum number of certificates that can confirm a person’s financial viability (bank statements, payroll certificates) must also be attached evidence of own business, etc.).
A package consisting of the above list of documents must be issued in triplicate, one of which should consist of the original documents, and the second of copies. During the consideration of the submitted documents, the embassy has the right to request other papers confirming certain information - all of them must also be provided in triplicate.
Confirmation of financial solvency
This item is very important in the process of applying for a visa to Schengen countries, including Germany. Particular attention is paid to it when foreign citizens wish to obtain the right to a long-term stay in the territory of the state.
How is the financial viability of a person confirmed? To this end, the embassy can be provided with certificates that indicate the existence of their own business, statements from bank accounts (they should be issued only in the name and surname of the applicant), as well as certificates of employment and other financial documents.
What is the optimal amount of income for Germany? The consulates consider applications from individuals whose daily income is from 40 euros per day.
How to get a visa to Germany by invitation
Visa by invitation can only be obtained by those who have relatives in the host country. In order to obtain permission to enter on such grounds, you should provide the embassy with documents proving your relationship with these people, as well as the original invitation from them, drawn up on a special form. An invitation to enter Germany can also be issued by friends living in this country and being its citizens.
Where to get a visa to Germany by invitation? This document, as well as permissions of other types, is drawn up at the consulates and other representative offices of the country's diplomatic mission on the territory of the Russian Federation.
How to get a work visa to Germany
The procedure for obtaining this type of permit in practice is a rather troublesome task. It is also necessary to carry out it by contacting the representative office of the German diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation, however, in order to get an affirmative answer, a small list of additional documents should be presented.
How to get a visa to Germany for employment? To obtain one, you must provide a document confirming the existence of a higher education recognized in Germany, as well as a contract signed with the prospective employer on the form in the prescribed form.
In the event that a person does not have a signed contract with a specific employer, he has the right to apply for a visa to look for work. It is issued for six months and only for certain categories of specialists most in demand in the country.
Cost
How to get a visa to Germany? The detailed instructions on this say that for its registration it is necessary to pay the visa fee established by the rules, which is paid in rubles at the exchange rate to the euro set at the time of payment.
For persons who wish to obtain a category C entry permit, the fee is 35 euros. The term for consideration of such an application, as a rule, is no more than a couple of weeks. In the event that the client wants to get permission much faster, his documents can be reviewed within five working days, but the price in this case will double - up to 70 euros. Long-stay visa D visa fee is 75 euros.
As for the paperwork for minors, the price of the service is 50% of the cost of considering an adult's documents, that is, 37 euros for applying for a visa D. Short-term type C permission for persons under 6 years of age is provided completely free of charge.