Is it possible to get a Schengen visa for an unemployed person? Of course you can!

In order to visit Europe and some adjacent countries that are part of the Schengen agreement, in addition to a foreign passport, you must also obtain a visa. If the trip is planned not to one country, but to several at once, then it is better to apply for a Schengen permit. It allows you to move freely throughout the Schengen area.

European consulates have many strict requirements for visa applicants. Sometimes people don’t want to deal with this and deprive themselves of the opportunity to visit Europe and choose to vacation in visa-free resort countries. However, a visa is necessary to improve security and protection from illegal migrants.

Embassy specialists pay special attention to the financial security of the traveler. They believe that in addition to a constant high income, he must have a reserve of funds in his bank account, of which he must attach an extract from a financial institution to the package of documents as confirmation.

It would seem that it is impossible for an unemployed person to obtain a visa to the Schengen zone, but this is not entirely true. Getting permission will be quite difficult. But, even without legal and confirmed income, you can go on vacation to Europe.

Who are the unemployed?

The unemployed include:

children;
pensioners;
unemployed citizens without looking for work;
citizens who are on the labor exchange.

In all these cases, people do not have a permanent income (except for a pension); they cannot bring proof of work, even if they work illegally. A document from work about the position held and income level is one of the main and mandatory items in the list of documents for a visa. But, without having this paper and explaining the reasons, you can get permission to fly to the visa zone.

These citizens must provide statements from their bank account indicating that there is a sufficient amount of money there. The level of savings is determined by each European state independently. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with all the embassy requirements several months before your trip. You can also provide a letter of sponsorship from a person who pays for the trip and provides for the unemployed citizen. For children, sponsors are usually parents or guardians.

Although pensioners have a permanent income in the form of a pension, they still must provide a sponsorship letter and a bank statement about the availability of funds in the account. This is due to the level of pensions in the country.

How to get a visa for an unemployed Belarusian: tested on yourself

There are different situations: lost your job, took a break, didn’t find a job after university, freelancer... How to get a visa if your work permit clearly states that you are unemployed? Traveling Editorial Board . by reliably found out what it takes to get a multi-Schengen for an unemployed person.

Which consulate to choose? The consulates of Lithuania and Poland are considered the most loyal in Belarus. Thanks to the fact that visa centers for these countries have started operating in Belarus, applying for a visa has become easier, although a little more expensive. It is even easier to apply for a visa from a travel company - you will spend money on the services of a specialist, but will significantly save your own time and nerves. We choose Lithuania to submit documents, since our candidate’s three previous visas were issued by this country and all three entries were made through Lithuania. This may be considered a good visa history by the consul.

Given: one unemployed person who really wants to get a visa to travel to Europe.

We all know that it is impossible to deceive the consulate, otherwise you can get your visa canceled and your visa history ruined, which will come back to haunt you in the future. Therefore, we honestly prepare all the documents for a specific trip on the selected dates - three days in February 2017.

Tours to Lithuania for all categories of citizens

So, what needs to be done to collect a complete package of documents for a visa for an unemployed person?

STEP 1. FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE

A document without which you will not even be allowed into the consulate building. In the application form, in the column about work, it is better to indicate “unemployed”, since indicating the profession may lead to a logical question - where is the employer’s information and salary certificate? When contacting a visa center, you will have an advantage - a center specialist will help you correct any inaccuracies in the application form on the spot, and here you can also print out the corrected application form. You do not have such opportunities at the consulate. Before submitting the application form, do not forget to put the date and signature in two places, and paste a photo.

STEP 2. WRITE A LETTER OF SPONSORSHIP

If you are unemployed, then you probably do not have your own funds for the trip. Therefore, someone must take care of your financial upkeep. Most often these are close relatives, family members, so-called “sponsors”. Such a person writes a sponsorship letter in which he undertakes to undertake obligations to ensure your stay outside of Belarus. The letter is written in free form with the indication “to the consular department”. A document confirming your relationship should be attached to the letter: a copy of your marriage certificate or birth certificate, depending on the type of relationship. It would also be logical to provide a copy of the sponsor’s passport, but the Lithuanian consulate in Minsk did not ask us for one.

STEP 3. PROVIDE FINANCIAL SECURITY: SALRY CERTIFICATE, ACCOUNT STATEMENT

If you, as an unemployed person, are unlikely to be able to provide a salary certificate, then an account statement is a document that can confirm your financial solvency. If you were unable to accumulate any funds earlier, then the turn passes to your sponsor. Now he needs to convince the consul that your sponsor is able to provide for your trip. Here you will need a salary certificate for the last three months (we provided six months) indicating the date of hire and position held. In addition, you need to attach a statement from your card account.

The website of the Lithuanian Consulate states the requirement to provide a statement of the movement of funds for three months, but recently the consulate has only needed a statement indicating the account balance. This is exactly what we provided.

To travel to Lithuania, you must have an amount of 40 EUR per day of stay in the country.

If you are requesting a multi-Schengen visa, then now it is enough to have funds for the first trip, and not the amount for the entire visa period. The same rule applies to health insurance.

So, we provided an invoice for the equivalent of 350 EUR and medical insurance for three days with a corridor of 15 days.

STEP 4. CONFIRM TIES WITH BELARUS

What it is? These are documents indicating to the consul that something is keeping you in Belarus and that you will not suddenly decide to stay in Lithuania, abandoning everything. What kind of documents are these: the same copy of the marriage certificate (you should also take the original with you to the consulate - this is indicated in the rules for applying for a visa), evidence of ownership of property in Belarus (real estate documents, registration certificate for the car and their copies). Copies of documents are taken along with the main documents; the originals, as a rule, are not asked to be shown. We provided a copy of the vehicle's registration certificate.

STEP 5. CONFIRM THE PURPOSE OF YOUR TRIP

We are going to Lithuania honestly, so we provide documents about already paid accommodation and travel expenses - copies of round-trip train tickets, receipt of payment for apartments for the specified travel dates. These documents are not included in the list of mandatory ones, but the Lithuanian Embassy reserves the right to request them from you when applying for a visa, which it officially warns about on its website.

STEP 6. CHECK YOUR PASSPORT

This is a common point for everyone, which does not have any specific features for the unemployed. But visa applicants often fall on it. Make sure your passport is not older than 10 years and does not expire earlier than three months before the end of your trip. That is, you must return from travel, and your passport must be valid for another three months. In addition, it must have at least two more blank pages - no stamps or even traces of ink from stamps, otherwise this page is considered damaged and is no longer counted. Along with your passport, take with you copies of pages with personal data - 31-33. Their presence in the package of submitted documents is mandatory.

STEP 7. PREPARE THE CONSULAR FEE

If you apply to the consulate, then take 60 EUR with you, no more and no less - consulate employees do not give out change. When submitting to a visa center, the consular fee is paid in Belarusian rubles, and a service fee is added to it - the cost of the service for processing your documents. In addition, right at the visa center, for an additional fee, you can fill out an application form, take a photo, print everything, stick it and apply immediately.

What other documents may be asked to provide at the consulate? For example, a copy of the employment record, but in our case we limited ourselves to the question of how long the visa applicant has been unemployed. Additionally, they requested a photocopy of the sponsor’s valid Schengen visa with the explanation “the consul must see that the sponsor has the opportunity to travel with the applicant.” If you have not yet submitted your fingerprints, you will be asked to do so at the consular window. If you have already submitted it, then this is an excellent reason to entrust all the hassles to a travel agency and receive a ready-made passport with a visa without unnecessary hassle.

Total: Schengen visa for 6 months for an unemployed person.

Of course, there is no guarantee that, given equal conditions, you will get the same result. You can get a multiple visa for a year, three months, or one trip (which may be the case if your passport does not yet have a single Schengen visa). Much depends on your visa history and - as many people joke, but are they kidding? – on the mood of the consul on the day the decision on the visa is made. In any case, be meticulous and attentive when preparing documents and request a multiple-entry visa in the application form. Have a nice trip!

Apply for a visa using a travel agency

Applying for a visa for the unemployed

There are quite a lot of illegal workers in our country. They can work without registration, engage in freelancing or part-time work. Even if they have a permanent income, but it is not reflected anywhere on paper, they will not be able to obtain a visa without special certificates. The only solution is a sponsorship letter.

You can spend your own money on the trip, but you will still need to provide this paper for the consulate.

The sponsorship letter must be written by the person who will enlist support for you, that is, who will take on all the burdens of the waste. He must attach to the letter a certificate from his work about employment, position and salary level.

To write a sponsorship letter, it is not necessary to use a specific sample. It can be compiled in free form. The main thing is that it indicates the name of the document, as well as the details of the sponsor, passport, consent to pay for the trip, as well as information about the date of travel. At the end, the date and signature of the compiler must be placed. Documents from work or from the sponsor's savings account are attached to the letter.

Oddly enough, the sponsor may not be present when submitting the application and submitting the letter at the consulate. It is also not certified by a notary.

As for the bank account statement, the citizen must have savings in the amount of 50-70 euros for each day of stay in the European country. Tickets should not be included in this calculation. They need to be purchased in advance before contacting the embassy in order to be provided there later. If the amount in the account is less than the required amount, then most likely the citizen will be refused. In this way, European states are fighting emigrants who illegally stay in their country to work. They believe that wealthy travelers should come to Europe to spend money on entertainment, improving the economic condition of the country.

But even the provided certificates and letters sometimes do not save the situation. Unemployed citizens are subject to careful verification. And even with excellent documents, Schengen is issued to them with reluctance. Consulate representatives are very afraid that a citizen with no encumbrances and a permanent job goes abroad only to stay there to earn money.

How to get Schengen for an unemployed person without money

If you don’t have money or a sponsor, but you only have enough for the trip, there is another way. According to our observation, the majority of Russians use it. As of 2021, it is still relevant; in 2021 and 2019, nothing fundamentally will change either. The point is this: you can borrow the required amount from friends or take out a loan and deposit the money into your personal account. To obtain a Schengen visa, it is enough to have 50 euros for each day of the upcoming trip per person. Then you need to request a bank statement about the status of the account in which the borrowed amount will be located, and on the same day you can withdraw money and repay the debt or pay off the loan in full. Fortunately, we do not penalize you for early repayment. The received certificate can be safely taken to the consulate as proof of income. Schengen countries that are more or less loyal to Russians will accept it without problems. These include Austria, France, the Czech Republic and some others.

Preferential categories of citizens

Some categories of citizens of the state may not provide a certificate of employment and bank account statements. These include people with disabilities and students.

People with disabilities can quickly apply for Schengen without a certificate from work and a bank statement, but they are required to provide a sponsorship letter with accompanying documents. Their expenses can be paid by both citizens of their native country and foreigners. When traveling abroad for treatment, an invitation from a medical center in a European country will be an excellent help. Disabled persons do not need to pay a consular fee.

Students do not have to pay the consulate fee if they are going to Europe to study. In this case, the student must document the purpose of the trip, for example, provide an agreement with the university. They are unlikely to be able to provide a certificate of employment; not all students find permanent employment while studying.

To go on a trip, a student must submit documents for Schengen:

questionnaire;
2 photos;
medical insurance;
a certificate from the university stating that the citizen is a student;
foreign passport and its copy;
Russian passport and a copy of all pages.

Is it possible or not to get a Schengen visa for an unemployed person?

Can an unemployed person travel to Schengen? Since you asked such a question, it means that you have never encountered the issue of obtaining a Schengen visa. The main criterion for the European countries included in Schengen, where a person plans to go, is not the availability of official employment, but material, or, in other words, financial guarantees. Thus, the unemployed person confirms that he is ready to pay for his trip around the country and accommodation in it. Such guarantees may include:

1. Bank statement showing the person has money. Judge for yourself, if a person is unemployed, this does not mean that he is not wealthy and cannot go, for example, to the Czech Republic. He probably has accumulated finances from past jobs, proceeds from the sale of real estate, a car or other material goods. 2. Sponsorship letter. One of the simplest methods on how to get a Schengen visa for an unemployed person. Note that the guarantor may be a relative or just a friend to the traveler. This option for obtaining a visa is most often used by pensioners, students and other unemployed citizens.

Photo requirements

The main requirements regarding the photo are as follows:

mandatory provision of color photographs with established dimensions of 3.5 x 4.5 cm. The background color must be extremely light;
the image must be clear (without blur), the face must occupy at least 70 - 80% of the entire photograph;
It is strictly forbidden to be photographed wearing reflective glasses or hats (unless required by religion).

There are often situations when, in order to save personal money, many people cut out photos from group shots. So, it is strictly forbidden to do this, since refusal will be guaranteed.

Required documents

The package usually includes a well-filled application form and a foreign passport, which will remain valid for another three months after the end of the trip. You will need photographs, documents confirming the purpose of the trip, and material support. You also need insurance and papers from your place of work. And if a person is not employed - other certificates, depending on which group he belongs to.

A very important part of the package is the visa application form for an unemployed person, which is drawn up with particular care. You cannot make mistakes - this is the only reason for failure.

It will be enough to contact the bank a month or earlier before the planned visit to the embassy. Then, immediately before submitting the application, you can already go for an extract.

Who is classified as unemployed?

Before you figure out whether an unemployed person will be given a visa, you should know who foreign Consulates classify as this category of citizens. Conventionally, there are 4 groups: those without a job, students, pensioners and minors. A separate category includes incapacitated persons crossing the border with a guardian. These applicants cause the greatest concern among Embassy employees.

Before starting the visa process, it is necessary to prepare evidence that the applicant does not plan to stay in the Schengen area. In this case, a visa will be issued even if there is no official place of work.

A letter of sponsorship is the main document in the form of an application in which a specific person voluntarily undertakes to provide financial support. The sponsorship letter for a Schengen visa is drawn up in free format. Paper and electronic versions are accepted.

Students

Obtaining a Schengen visa for a student is much easier than for any other unemployed person. Firstly, parents can vouch for him and prepare a letter of sponsorship. Secondly, if he goes to Europe to study or is a member of an international student organization, he is exempt from the consular fee.

questionnaire;
international passport;
photos;
sponsorship letter, confirmation of a training grant or bank certificate;
air tickets;
diploma, certificate;
confirmation of admission to the university and payment of tuition;
payment receipt (if the trip is not related to studies);
tourist insurance.

A student is assessed less pickily than an adult, since the bulk of the expenses for him are borne by his parents. The purpose of the trip is of great importance. If this is not tourism, but a meeting with relatives, you will have to prepare an invitation and confirm family ties with documents.

If a student applies for a student national visa, the list of documents will expand significantly. In particular, you need to attach confirmation of admission to a European university, tuition fees, school completion certificate, and a certificate from a Russian university (if you attended training). There will be more serious requirements for the financial level of the applicant. Studying assumes that you must have at least 500-700 euros per month to pay for living in the country and you will have to prove that you or your parents have a similar amount for the entire period of study.

Countries where it is easier to get a Schengen visa for an unemployed person

In the absence of money, working relatives who are ready to act as sponsors, acquaintances who could lend a certain amount, and a bad credit history, there is still a chance to get a Schengen visa for an unemployed person. There are countries in the Schengen area that do not require the provision of such certificates at all. A striking example is Finland, where you can freely enter by providing a scan of your passport, application form, insurance, photo, and foreign passport. Fingerprinting is mandatory, performed on a first-come, first-served basis every 5 years. The Russian unemployed are treated well at the embassies of Austria, Poland, and Latvia.

Some people advise “transforming” an unemployed person into a person who has official employment with a good salary. But for this it is necessary to have family or very close ties with the head of any organization or enterprise, who will issue a certificate confirming that the leaving citizen is actually working. But at the same time, the HR department will also be required to confirm this fact when they call from the consulate and ask about the citizen. This method is illegal and if a fraudulent scheme is discovered, everyone will bear criminal liability. Here everyone has the right to decide for themselves whether it is worth the risk.

Which countries to choose for travel?

In order to be more likely to get a visa in the absence of employment and proof of income, you can use the services of a travel agency and buy a ticket to Europe there. You will need to pay extra for the services of these specialists, but it is worth it, since they are interested in getting the permit issued and will make every effort to achieve this.

Finns and Latvians are the most loyal to unemployed tourists. These states set a minimum threshold for daily coverage. It is 14 euros per day, less than in other European countries. Such conclusions were made thanks to statistics. Finland and Latvia have issued the most entry permits over the last five years.

Refusal

Before buying tours, plane tickets and booking a hotel, you need to familiarize yourself with all the embassy’s requirements for tourists. Some citizens will be refused even with a perfectly collected package of papers.

Such citizens include:

If their foreign ID expires in less than 3 months.
The citizen knowingly provides an incomplete package of documents.
A person who broke the law in a European country and was forcibly expelled from it.
Suspicious and dangerous person.
A person who provides incorrect information to the embassy of his own free will.
A person who provides false documents.

If a refusal was nevertheless received, then you can re-apply for Schengen only after 3 months. But if you have been refused permission to enter the EU, you should not stop trying, unless it is an indefinite ban. The embassy is obliged to explain why the refusal was made. The tourist can read it carefully and correct mistakes. No one can prohibit you from re-applying for Schengen. It is better to apply again to another embassy. Requirements may vary from organization to organization.

To avoid a refusal, you must carefully fill out the application form and application, as well as provide reliable documents. Error or fraud will be identified during the verification stage.