3 comments
Slovakia enters Schengen
- May tours
around the world - Last minute tours
around the world
Slovakia is one of the countries participating in the Schengen Agreement; to visit it, Russian citizens must obtain a Schengen visa in advance. You need to submit documents to receive it at the Slovakian Consulates in Moscow and St. Petersburg or visa centers in 13 cities of Russia. The package of documents is standard “general Schengen”.
Slovakia follows the path of other European countries and is increasingly issuing long-term visas. The country's authorities are interested in increasing the tourist flow, so the chance of getting Multi-Schengen increases for experienced travelers.
Independent visa application
You can submit documents yourself at visa centers without an appointment.
You need to appear there in person with a pre-assembled package of papers, as well as to submit fingerprints (if the candidate has not yet undergone this procedure or 59 months have passed since the last fingerprinting). Filing for a close relative is also possible with a document confirming the relationship and provided that the fingerprint data is up to date. If a visa is required by several persons with the same purposes of travel and dates of entry/exit, then one representative from the group can submit papers for everyone if they have a notarized power of attorney from other participants.
The application can also be submitted through the consular section of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic or the Consulate in St. Petersburg by filling out an electronic form in advance and making an appointment.
The service center does not issue national visas. These documents must be processed only through official representative offices of Slovakia.
The visa center provides additional services: filling out an application form, photographing, copying, courier delivery of a passport, insurance.
Applying for a Schengen visa to Slovakia on your own: step-by-step instructions
To apply for a visa to Slovakia yourself, you need to submit documents to the Consulate or visa center.
Regardless of the chosen method of submitting documents, biometrics has been a mandatory procedure since September 2015, if the applicant has not previously submitted fingerprints when applying for a Schengen visa or more than 5 years have passed since then. An exception is made for children under 12 years of age.
Features of obtaining a visa through the consulate
There are 2 consulates of the Republic of Slovakia in Russia that issue visas:
- Consular Section of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Moscow (residents of the capital and most regions of the Russian Federation can apply here);
- Consulate General of the Slovak Republic in St. Petersburg (this diplomatic office receives residents of St. Petersburg and some other nearby regions and districts).
A Slovak visa can also be obtained from 2 more diplomatic departments:
- at the Consulate General of Hungary in Yekaterinburg (applications for a Slovak visa are accepted from residents of Yekaterinburg, as well as the Ural, Volga and Siberian federal districts);
- in the Office of the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Kaliningrad (the service is available for residents of the Kaliningrad region).
To obtain a visa you need:
- Register on the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Slovakia or at one of the consular missions (Hungary and Latvia).
- Fill out the electronic version of the application form, attaching scanned copies of all necessary documents.
- Select a free date when you can come to the Consulate.
- Submit documents to the Consulate specialists at the appointed time.
- Pay the consular fee on the spot and provide the corresponding receipt to the specialist accepting the documents.
- Wait for the decision on the application and pick up the finished document.
Features of obtaining a visa through a visa center
Documents for a visa can be submitted through one of 15 visa centers in Russia. They are in Moscow, Vladivostok, Irkutsk, Kazan, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Rostov-on-Don, Saratov, Khabarovsk, Voronezh, St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk.
Visa centers issuing permits to Slovakia are serviced by the international company VFS Global. But we must remember that only Schengen visas can be issued here. A national visa is issued only at the Consulate of the Republic of Slovakia.
To obtain a visa without the services of intermediaries you need to:
- Come to one of the visa centers to submit documents without an appointment. The applicant must appear in person if he has not previously submitted fingerprints or more than 5 years have passed since then. If personal data (name, surname, spelling in official documents) has changed within 59 months, the procedure will have to be repeated. If the applicant’s biometric data is in the VIS system, the application can be submitted by a close relative with a document confirming the relationship, or a third party if a power of attorney certified by a notary has been issued to him.
- The center's specialists will tell you how to fill out the form correctly, check all the documents and deliver them to the embassy.
- Wait for a decision.
- Pick up the finished document yourself or order delivery.
Documents for a visa to Slovakia
Required documents to obtain Schengen category C:
- International passport
Valid for three months after the end of the trip. It must have at least two blank pages. You can also provide old canceled passports (if you have them) or photocopies of them; - Photocopy of international passport
You need pages with personal data of the international passport and previous Schengen visas; - Photocopy of a general passport
Pages with personal data, stamps on registration in Russia and issuance of a foreign passport, pages 14-15 blank or with marks; - Photos
1 color photo 3.5x4.5 cm, no older than 6 months, on a light background, without corners and ovals, which must be attached with a paper clip to the application form; - Hotel
reservation Confirmation of hotel reservation: either originals certified by a seal or copies with the original payment receipt attached are accepted; - Questionnaire
Completed according to instructions. The form can be obtained at the consulate, visa center or online. Upon completion of filling out the form, you must print it out and sign it in person; - Ticket reservation
Air, bus or train tickets, or confirmation of air ticket reservation; - Certificate from the place of work
Certificate from the place of work on the company's letterhead, with a stamp, indicating the place of work, position, salary amount and a note stating that leave with job protection is provided for the period of the trip. The certificate must also indicate the address and telephone number of the enterprise. If the consulate officer is given information on this phone number that does not correspond to that specified in the certificate, a visa refusal is more than likely; - Bank account statement
Financial guarantees: these documents are most often the original bank account statement at the rate of 56 EUR per day per person, 2NDFL, traveler's checks or a sponsorship order handwritten on a separate sheet: “I, full name, sponsor the trip ... indicate family or other relationship to the tourist and the full name of the tourist ... to the Schengen countries, including ... (indicate the country of travel) from ... to ... " with the number and signature of the sponsor, as well as confirmation of the sponsor's income. - For students, schoolchildren
Certificate from the place of study, sponsorship letter with a photocopy of the sponsor's general passport, certificate from work/extract from the sponsor's account (issued according to the general rules); - Medical insurance
Medical insurance valid throughout the Schengen territory and for the entire duration of the trip (the amount of insurance coverage is at least 30,000 EUR); - Consent to data processing
completed consent to the processing of personal data;
The practice of issuing two- and 5-year multiple-entry Schengen visas is gradually being introduced. The requirements are minimal: a tourist only needs to have visited any Schengen country at least once in the past with a visa issued by it. At the same time, we are talking about the possibility of obtaining such visas, and the decision in each specific case is up to the consular service employees.
Basic package of documents
For a visa to Slovakia for Russians, the following list of required documents is provided:
- International passport. It is subject to standard requirements, as in all Schengen countries. It must be no older than 10 years and not expire in the near future (at least another 3 months of legitimacy after return). Availability of free pages for visa stamps is required (minimum number - two).
Foreign passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation
- The questionnaire is a classic questionnaire with 37 questions, valid throughout Schengen. If the form is filled out in St. Petersburg or Moscow, then this is done only electronically. In Yekaterinburg today, manual filling remains. The document is filled out on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia. It is recommended to use Google Chrome or Internet Explorer browsers. . .
Sample of filling out a visa application form
- Color photo. The size of the photo is 3.5x4.5 cm, the presence of corners and ovals is unacceptable, the background is light, preferably gray. The photograph must be taken no later than 6 months before submitting the package of documents.
- Confirmation of availability of funds for a foreign trip. For Slovakia, the current amount for daily expenses is 56 euros. A certificate from work, drawn up on a special form with company logos, is suitable for this purpose. The salary amount (for the last six months), position, length of service, details and address of the employer must be indicated. A bank statement with stamps and signatures of officials, which shows the movement of funds over the last 6 months, can also confirm financial solvency. You can apply for a work certificate here.
- If it is not possible to confirm financial solvency, a sponsorship letter with copies of the sponsor’s documents is included in the package: identification card and financial confirmation. .
- Receipt for payment of the fee.
- An international medical policy, valid throughout the Schengen area and providing medical care in the amount of 30,000 euros.
- Tickets to Slovakia and back. Ticket reservations are also accepted.
- Copies of passports: foreign travel cards and internal identity cards (only important pages: marital status, previously obtained visas, registration, etc.) There is no need to copy blank sheets.
It is important to know that all documents submitted by Russians to the Consulate of the Republic of Slovakia must be dated for issue no later than 1 month from the date of submission.
Registration of visas for children
Children under 18 years of age must provide a birth certificate (original or notarized copy). If a minor travels with one of the parents or accompanied by a third party, a notarized parental permission (power of attorney) is required with the transfer of authority to the second parent or third party. The parents' surnames indicated in the consent must match the birth certificate. In case of discrepancy, originals or copies (depending on the country of travel) of all documents confirming the change of surname are required.
If it is not possible to obtain consent from one of the parents, it is necessary to provide documents confirming this fact: a single mother’s book, a death certificate, a certificate from the police about the impossibility of establishing the whereabouts of the father (mother), a copy of the court decision on deprivation of parental rights.
Photo requirements
The dimensions of the photo are 35x45 mm, the image is located in the center. The photograph must be in color and correspond to the actual appearance of the applicant, with clearly visible facial features and without foreign objects in the frame. Only a plain white or light background is allowed. Corners, ovals, bends and frames are prohibited. There should be no unnecessary accessories on the face or hair: headbands, veils, hats, large jewelry. All this makes it difficult to correctly identify a person. You can leave the glasses on if they don't cover your eyes.
The length of the head from the chin to the crown is approximately 30 mm (70-80% of the area). The photo is taken from the front, the gaze is directed at the camera, there is no smile.
Visa validity periods
The minimum period for which a Schengen visa is issued to Slovakia is 30 days. But in fact, the entry document is approved for 6 months, 1 or 2 years and even 5 years. It all depends on your travel history. It is logical that the chance of obtaining a long-term visa is high for applicants who have already visited the country, or for those whose passport contains several closed Schengen areas without violations. In any case, you can stay on the territory of Slovakia for no more than 90 days within six months - this is a rule common to the entire European Union.
Conclusion
Now you know which countries give a long Schengen visa. We hope that our article was useful to you, and if so, we ask you to share the link to it with your friends. We wish you to receive a 5-year Schengen visa and go on many pleasant trips!
What else do you need for travel and where to find, buy or order it?:
Don't forget to take out coronavirus insurance
And also check out our article about the best online guided tours
- Read how to cheaply get to the city center from Russian airports: Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Pulkovo, Koltsovo and many others.
- Buy cheap air tickets on AviaSales.Ru Or buy a Russian Railways train ticket through the Tutu.Ru
- Or buy an “all inclusive” tour on the OnlineTours
New articles on our website
- The most interesting places on the MCD-2 route.
- We wrote about the Space Conquerors Park named after. Yuri Gagarin
- We calculated how much a spring vacation in Russia costs in 2021 .
- We updated the article about which countries are open for departure from Russia
- We traveled all over the Moscow region in search of the most interesting abandoned buildings .
- We have added information on where to urgently take a PCR test at Moscow airports .
- And then they wrote 7 ways to catch the cheapest train ticket.
- We went to Yasnaya Polyana and told you how to get there .
942
Embassy and consulates of Slovakia in Russia
Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Moscow
address | st. Yu. Fuchika, 17 |
telephone | (495) 956-49-20, 250-10-70, 250-10-71 |
[email protected] | |
website | www.mzv.sk |
Consulate General of the Slovak Republic in St. Petersburg
address | st. Orbeli, 21 cor. 2 |
telephone | (812) 244-36-66 |
[email protected] |
Slovakia Visa Application Center in Moscow
address | st. Suschevsky Val 31, building 2 |
telephone | (499) 350-36-98, |
[email protected] |
Slovakia Visa Application Center in Rostov-on-Don
address | Trolleybusnaya st., 24/2v, 2nd floor |
[email protected] |
Slovakia Visa Application Center in Kazan
address | st. Paris Commune, 8 (entrance from Moskovskaya street) |
[email protected] |
Slovakia Visa Application Center in Nizhny Novgorod
address | st. Shcherbakova, 15 |
[email protected] |