Order a visa to Germany from 3500₽

List of documents for a tourist visa

• Application form for a visa to Germany
  The application is filled out online through the website, then printed and signed. The signature must be in paragraph 37 and the next two paragraphs. Along with the form there is a barcode on a separate sheet; it is needed to quickly transfer your data to the database. Print it out and take it with you. If it is not possible to fill out an online application, it is acceptable to provide a hand-filled form.

  Help for filling out the online application (pdf).

  Visa application form (pdf).

• International passport

  Original + copies of data pages, stamp pages, copies of issued Schengen visas for the last 3 years. If visas were issued in another passport, make the same copy for the second passport. The passport must be valid for more than 3 months after returning from the Schengen countries. Minimum 2 blank pages for visa.

• Internal passport of the Russian Federation

  Original + copies of pages with personal data, registration, marital status, information about previously issued passports. Required for concluding an agreement for obtaining a visa at the visa center. Foreign citizens are granted a residence permit in the Russian Federation.

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• Photo 35×45 mm

  On a white background. The shelf life of the photograph for the consulate is 6 months. The height of the face in the photograph is between 32-36 mm.

  Examples of bad and good photographs (pdf).

• Travel medical insurance

  The insurance policy must cover all costs of treatment and transportation of the patient in the amount of at least 30,000 €. It must be valid in all Schengen countries for the entire duration of the trip. Insurance with floating dates is also suitable for obtaining a visa. For example, a 1-year policy with validity up to 30 days. The first and last name in the insurance must be written exactly as in the passport. For travel to sporting events, insurance must cover the relevant risks.

• Airplane tickets

  Or other confirmation of round trip transport. When traveling by car, provide documents for the car and driver's license, fill out a detailed travel plan.

  Travel plan form

• Financial guarantees

  One or more documents will do

• Bank statement for the last 3 months. There must be a sufficient amount in the account to cover all expenses for the trip, taking into account its duration. The embassy does not officially indicate a specific amount per day; according to unofficial information, it is from 50 to 90 euros per day per person. Please note that a certificate is required indicating transactions over the last 3 months and the account balance, the original with the stamp and signature of a bank employee. For online banks without branches, a printout is acceptable.

Credit card account statement + copy of the front side of the credit card.

• Sponsorship letter from a relative. Attach financial guarantees from the sponsor and confirmation of family ties.

The statements must be stamped and signed by a bank employee.

Sponsorship letter form

Each of these points increases the chance of visa approval. If none of this can be proven documented, write a letter of commitment guaranteeing return to the Russian Federation after the end of the trip. To it, compose an information letter in free form in Russian, German or English, in which you describe your situation.

The validity period of bank statements for the consulate is 7 days. Employment certificates are valid for 14 days. Invitations are valid for 1 month.

The consulate may require additional documents at its discretion.

In order for foreign citizens to apply for a Schengen visa in Russia, they must attach documents confirming their legal stay in Russia for more than 3 months after returning from a trip. For example, a residence permit or registration in Russia.

If you have a valid German Schengen visa, but your passport has run out of free pages for stamps, you can transfer it to a new passport. To do this, contact the consulate or visa center with an application to transfer a visa from your old passport to a new one (pdf).

Additional documents for children

A separate visa is issued for children. In addition to the main list of documents, additional ones will be required.

• Birth certificate
• Permission for a child to travel abroad

  From every parent who will not accompany the child on the trip. Certified by a notary. The permit must indicate travel dates and allow travel to all Schengen countries. If only one parent has parental rights, the location of the other parent is unknown, or the other parent is deceased, this is confirmed by a court order, a police certificate, or a death certificate.

• Valid accompanying person visa

  If parents or accompanying persons have a valid visa, please attach a copy of it.

Parents can apply for a visa for children under 12 years of age without the child’s personal presence at the visa center. If you contact the consulate directly, the personal presence of the child and at least one parent is required. Documents for minor children are signed by their parents.

Self-application of a Schengen visa

General list of documents for German Schengen

To apply for a German Schengen visa, the applicant must prepare the following documentation:

• application form, completely filled out in Latin letters and signed by the applicant (for minors, the application form is signed by a parent or guardian),
• a passport valid for at least 3 months after the last expected date of departure from the Schengen area, containing at least two blank pages and not older than ten years,
• a copy of the passport page with personal data and photograph,
• another valid international passport and a copy of its pages with personal data and photograph (if available),
• 2 photographs of size 35×40 mm, meeting ICAO requirements (https://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/russia/moscow/pdf/ICAO_Photograph_Guidelines_170115.pdf),
• receipt of payment of the visa fee (issued when submitting the application),
• medical insurance , covering the entire period of stay or the first trip and valid for all Schengen countries, covering all costs in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, emergency medical care, emergency hospitalization or death of the applicant during the stay, with a minimum coverage amount of 30 thousand. Euro,
• a copy of the pages of a general passport with personal data, information about registration, previously issued passports and marital status,
• a document confirming legal residence on the territory of the Russian Federation (for example, a residence permit, long-term visa or FMS registration), valid for at least 3 months from the date of intended return from the Schengen area, or a statement confirming that the applicant has applied for an extension of this document (for citizens of third countries),
• confirmation of legal stay on the territory of the Russian Federation and written justification for filing an application in the Russian Federation (for persons not permanently residing in the territory of the Russian Federation).

The applicant's passport must contain at least 2 blank pages

Additionally, citizens of the following countries are required to fill out a form to check compliance with security criteria (https://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/russia/moscow/pdf/KZB_Belehrung_RUS_100216.pdf) when submitting an application to the Russian Federation:

• Algeria,
• Afghanistan,
• Bahrain,
• Egypt,
• Jordan,
• Iraq,
• Iran,
• Yemen,
• Qatar,
• Kuwait,
• Lebanon,
• Libya,
• Mauritania,
• Mali,
• Morocco,
• Niger,
• Nigeria,
• Oman,
• Pakistan,
• Saudi Arabia,
• North Korea,
• Syria,
• Somalia,
• Sudan,
• Tunisia,
• Uzbekistan,
• Sri Lanka,
• South Sudan.

The application form is filled out in the VIDEX online system (https://videx.diplo.de/videx/?0). Instructions for working with the system are presented at the link https://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/russia/moscow/pdf/VIDEX_071015.pdf. While working with the system, you can select the language in which questions will be asked. After filling out the form, the questionnaire must be printed on clean white A4 sheets and signed.

Additional Documentation

Business or work trip

If the applicant is an employee of a Russian enterprise and goes on a business trip:

• original invitation from a business partner in Germany (Russian subsidiaries of German companies can independently issue an invitation through an authorized representative),
• other confirmation of the purpose of the trip (for example, information about participation in a conference, an entrance ticket to an exhibition, business correspondence, a business trip program, etc.), if an invitation cannot be provided,
• proof of employment, if information about the place of work in the invitation is not enough.

Persons who are traveling to Germany for the first time on a business trip are advised to attach a registration number from the Russian Trade Register to their application.

If the applicant is engaged in individual entrepreneurial activity and travels on business:

• original invitation from a business partner in Germany,
• proof of economic activity (for example, 2-NDFL or 3-NDFL certificates, an extract from the trade/tax register or a certificate of registration of an individual entrepreneur, bank account statements for at least the last three months).

Full information about the documents required for obtaining business visas is available at https://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/russia/moscow/Business_visit.html.

Private visit

For persons visiting Germany on a private visit (visiting friends and distant relatives):

• proof of place of residence (for example, an original invitation with information about residence or with a notarized signature or a copy of a passport, an official declaration of commitment by the inviting party “Verpflichtungserklärung” or confirmation of another place of residence in accordance with German law),
• proof of the legal residence of relatives or friends in Germany (for example, a residence permit),
• proof of the travel program (for example, round-trip tickets, and if not available, a detailed description of the planned trip, proof of payment for tickets),
• proof of employment (certificate from employer indicating salary).

If the applicant is unable to provide proof of employment, the following may be attached to the application:

• other proof of financial solvency (for example, an original bank statement for the last three months)
• proof of sponsorship by a third party (sponsorship letter + copy of the first page of the sponsor's passport + any financial document of the sponsor in the original), official commitment (“Verpflichtungserklärung”) and intentions to return to their homeland (for example, proof of ownership of real estate in Russia).

The sponsorship letter form can be downloaded from the link https://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/russia/moscow/pdf/letter.pdf.

For owners of real estate in Schengen countries and their close relatives:

• a relevant document (for example, an extract from the register of real estate, a copy of the purchase and sale agreement or bill of sale, etc.) confirming the applicant’s ownership of the property, no older than six months,
• for immediate relatives - proof of relationship (birth/marriage certificate),
• proof of employment (as in the previous case).

For applicants intending to visit military burial sites and civilian cemeteries:

• an official document confirming the existence and preservation of the cemetery, as well as the relationship between the applicant and the buried person,
• proof of employment.

To visit relatives or friends in Germany you need a Schengen visa

Visiting relatives and family members

For applicants planning to visit close relatives in Germany who are citizens of the Russian Federation, EU, EEA or Switzerland:

• an invitation from the host party, either an informal invitation with a certified signature (or with a copy of the inviting person’s passport), or an official statement of commitment (“Verpflichtungserklärung”) indicating the address,
• proof of the legal residence of the inviting person in Germany (copy of residence permit, passport of a citizen of the EU, Switzerland, EEA), as well as proof of relationship (for example, a copy of a birth or marriage certificate),
• proof of financial solvency, if a formal declaration of commitment (“Verpflichtungserklärung”) is not provided (for example, an employment contract with salary information, an original bank statement for the last three months or proof of sponsorship by a third party),
• proof of intention to return to your homeland (for example, an employment contract or proof of ownership of real estate in Russia).

Cultural, scientific, creative events

For participants of cultural, scientific, creative, sporting events:

• invitation to participate in events from the host organization in Germany,
• proof of sponsorship by the inviting party (separate “Verpflichtungserklärung”), a sponsorship letter from the sending organization or other proof of financial solvency, if the invitation does not contain confirmation of bearing the expenses of the stay,
• program of a guest performance or tour with the number of performances, indicating the date and location of events (for groups of performers),
• a list of all participants indicating roles (for groups of performers).

For applicants going on language courses:

• confirmation from the language school indicating the address, duration and cost of the course (the course must be at least 18 hours per week),
• proof of residence,
• proof of financial solvency.

For schoolchildren, students, graduate students and accompanying teachers:

• invitation or certificate of enrollment or student card of the host university, academy, institute, college or school or confirmation of planned courses,
• if the invitation does not contain confirmation of bearing the costs of the stay, then proof of sponsorship by the inviting party (a separate “Verpflichtungserklärung”) or a sponsorship letter from the sending organization, or other proof of financial solvency.

Full information is available at https://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/russia/moscow/Scientists.html.

Treatment

For applicants planning to undergo treatment and their accompanying persons in Germany:

• an invitation from the clinic signed by the attending physician,
• confirmation of accommodation (for example, hotel reservation or confirmation of accommodation from the clinic),
• confirmation of financing of treatment and accommodation (either in the form of an original bank statement for the last three months in the amount of the cost of treatment and accommodation, or in the form of confirmation from the clinic of prepayment for treatment with an original bank statement in the amount corresponding to the cost of accommodation) or sponsorship ( Only a close relative can act as a sponsor, upon confirmation of the relationship, you must provide the original sponsorship letter and account statement, a copy of the sponsor’s passport),
• confirmation of readiness to return to your country (certificate from employer, proof of ownership of real estate, proof of presence of minor children in the Russian Federation),
• a copy of the patient’s passport and visa, if the accompanying documents are submitted separately from the patient’s documents.

For applicants who plan to receive treatment in Germany and their accompanying persons, a Schengen visa is required

Transit

For applicants traveling to a third country via German territory:

• visa or other permission to enter the destination country (if necessary),
• tickets for a subsequent trip (except when traveling on your own means of transport, for example, a car),
• proof of employment or other evidence of financial solvency and intention to return to your home country.

Video: filling out a visa application form for Germany

Registration deadlines

10 days

Standard processing time for a Schengen visa to Germany.

The standard visa approval period is 10 calendar days. If you submit documents at regional visa centers, add a few days for sending documents to the consulate and back.

If the consulate has additional questions, the review period may be extended to 30 days.

Documents for a visa can be submitted at least 15 days before the trip, but not earlier than 6 months.

How to get a long-stay visa? If you travel frequently and have a good visa history, the consulate may issue a Schengen visa with a long validity period. For a business or visitor visa, the invitation can justify the reason for frequent trips to Germany. In the form you can indicate your wishes regarding the validity of the visa. For example, the validity period is 1 year, the number of days of stay is 90 days and the number of entries is “MULT” (multiple). The validity of the visa cannot be longer than the validity of the international passport. When applying for a multiple visa, insurance must cover only the first trip. For other trips you are obliged to purchase insurance separately. It can be checked upon entry into Germany.

According to statistics for 2021, the chance of getting a multiple visa is greatest at the visa department of the embassy in Moscow - 99.9%. But the German consulate in Novosibirsk issues multiple visas in only 40% of cases.

Even with a long-term Schengen visa, you can stay within the Schengen countries for up to 90 days in a six-month period. To understand how many more days are left until the limit, use an online calculator.

Information on terms and types of visas to Germany

A visa to Germany can be opened for any period: from a couple of days to several months:

1. Visitor visa . Issued by invitation, which is filled out according to the rules of German law. The person or organization sending the call must sign a statement - a commitment to provide for the invitees and willingness to pay their expenses. Or tourists will have to prove their worth by collecting a package of documents.
2. Tourist, sports, cultural. It is issued in a few days and gives the right to travel around the country, viewing the sights of Germany.
3. Business visa, study visa , Allows you to attend courses, exhibitions, seminars. The main help for issuing a visa is an official invitation from the company, paid courses, etc.

Urgent visa processing

An urgent visa can be issued within 3 days only by Russian citizens and only at the visa center in Moscow. It is necessary to document the urgency of the trip and attach tickets.

In the event of the death of close relatives in Germany, the consulate can issue a visa in 1 day, without an appointment. You need to send the relative’s death certificate in PDF format to the consulate’s email and collect a package of documents for the purpose of a private visit.

For an urgent visa, a double consular fee is charged - 70 € (6,424.7 rubles).

Visa to Germany for a child

Traveling for children is a real adventure, full of surprises and unforgettable experiences. A visa for a child to Germany is issued in the same way as for an adult. The only difference is the package of documents. Go to the “Documents” tab to view the list of required documents.

If a child travels to Germany with one parent, then a notarized permission to export the child from the second parent is issued. If a guardian is traveling with the child, both parents sign the permission.

Registration procedure

Step 1 Prepare your documents. Determine the purpose of the trip, fill out the form and collect supporting documents.

Step 2 Apply for your visa. To submit documents to the consulate, you need to make an appointment in advance, but at the visa center they accept applications without an appointment. When submitting your documents, you will be fingerprinted and photographed. If you have already submitted biometrics for a Schengen visa over the past 5 years, you can submit documents to the visa center through an authorized representative. You need a notarized power of attorney (without the right of substitution) or a signed VisaMetric power of attorney form. Children under 12 years of age do not need to submit fingerprints; their personal presence is not required if you are filling out documents at the visa center. VisaMetric power of attorney for submitting and receiving documents. Power of attorney to submit documents for children.

Step 3 Track your passport status on the visa center website.

Step 4 Get your completed passport. You can order courier delivery of your passport at the visa center. At the consulate, you can only pick up your passport in person or through an authorized representative. To obtain a passport with a visa, you must have an agreement with the visa center and a Russian passport. When receiving your passport, carefully check that all information on the visa is correct. Consent to the issuance of completed documents.

Transit through Germany

When transferring at German airports, be careful: in many German airports the transit area is closed at night. This means that you will need to leave the transit zone and have a valid visa to enter the city.

Where to apply for a visa?

The visa can be obtained directly from the German consulate or through official visa centers. Since February 2021, the visa center VisaMetric (previously VFS Global) has been processing documents for the German consulate. Visa centers operate in the same cities as before.

The Germany Visa Application Center accepts documents without an appointment, but charges an additional processing fee. The decision to issue a visa is made at the consulate.

If you live in one consular district and apply to another, your documents may not be accepted.

• Visa centers in Moscow, Kazan, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Saratov belong to the visa department of the embassy in Moscow.
• Visa centers in Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Vladivostok are affiliated with the consulate in Novosibirsk.
• Visa centers in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Vologda - to the consulate in St. Petersburg.
• Visa centers in Yekaterinburg, Perm, Ufa - to the consulate in Yekaterinburg.
• The visa center in Kaliningrad belongs to the consulate in Kaliningrad.

To submit documents through the consulate, each person must make a separate pre-registration through the website.

When registering, Russians must indicate the number of the Russian internal passport, 10 digits without spaces. For children without a foreign passport, you need to indicate the date of birth in the passport number field in the format ddmmyy and then add the birth certificate number there. Example: date of birth January 7, 2021, birth certificate III-LO No. 148341. We indicate 070120148341.

Citizens of other countries indicate their passport number without spaces in this field.

You will not be allowed into the visa department of the consulate if there is a mistake in the passport number or you have chosen to register for the wrong type of visa.

There are five German missions in Russia that issue visas: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Kaliningrad. The Honorary Consulate in Krasnodar and Vladivostok does not issue visas. Documents must be submitted to the consular district at your place of residence. Document processing for residents of Crimea is handled by the German Embassy in Kyiv, and for residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by the German Embassy in Tbilisi.

How to apply for a visa to travel to Germany in 2021

The German government issues only two types of visas to foreigners.
Short-term Schengen is valid throughout the European Union. Include:

1. tourist,
2. business,
3. guest entry permits.

When ordering such a document, the first country the foreigner will visit must be Germany.

The Schengen visa is valid for 180 days; a Russian citizen is not allowed to stay within the EU borders for more than 90 days.

Most of the time spent abroad must be lived on German territory. Short stay visas are classified as category C.

The advantages of their design include:

• Quick review of documentation within 3-10 business days.
• The ability to submit a package of papers through visa center specialists, which increases the chances of approval to 99%.
• Possibility of ordering an urgent visa in 1-3 working days, subject to payment of double the consular fee.
• The opportunity to travel to all 26 EU countries subject to the conditions specified at the beginning.

The second type of documents is national visas from category D. These include:

1. workers,
2. student entry permits,
3. entry documentation for restoring a family or creating a married couple.

Category D is valid for 365 days. Of the entire period, you can spend 180 days in Germany.

A national visa does not impose any special restrictions on travel to other European countries.

All three types of category D are issued on the basis of an invitation from a German resident.

Difficulties when ordering this document include:

• Consideration of the applicant's candidacy lasts from 2 to 6 weeks.
• If the receiving party is suspicious, some of the documents will be forwarded to the migration department in Berlin.
• An extended package of documents may be required not only from the applicant, but also from the receiving party. This usually happens if a German sponsors a trip or provides accommodation to a Russian.

You can apply for any type of visa to Germany with the help of legal experts at an accredited visa center. The specific cost of services, as well as the range of services, depend on the type of entry document, the characteristics of the applicant and other factors. All details by phone.

Applying for a visa to Germany

+7

• Consultations with a visa specialist are held Mon-Fri, from 9:00 to 19:00

Consultation

Refusal of a visa

According to statistics for 2021, Germany ranked second after France in the number of visas issued to Russians. The average percentage of refusals for Russians was 2.7%, with the least number of refusals at the consulate in St. Petersburg (0.9%).

Possible reasons for failures

Incomplete set of documents. You need to document the purpose of the trip, accommodation, finances, transportation, insurance. It is not necessary to pay for tickets and accommodation, but the reservation must be valid.

Not there. Germany should be the main country for the duration of stay. If there are several countries with the same number of days, apply in the first country of entry.

Not true. Don't hide the real purpose of your trip. Confirm the purpose of your trip with these documents. Do not submit fake reservations or certificates. If during the consideration of the application some reservation falls through, they may be refused. The application and documents must not contain conflicting information. Do not inflate your salary on your employment certificate - they may request an extract from the Pension Fund.

No coins. Confirm that you have money for the trip. One statement of the account balance is not enough for confirmation. You need to make an extract with the history of the movement of funds for the last 3 months. If personal funds are not enough, get a sponsorship letter from a relative.

I don't want to go home. Prove that you do not want to remain an illegal immigrant in Germany. This can be confirmed by a certificate from work, documents for real estate or a car in Russia, certificates of regular income from renting out real estate. The German consulate also looks at how much the personal life situation has changed since the receipt of the last Schengen visa.

Limit of days. A new visa cannot be issued if you have already exceeded the 90-day stay limit on a Schengen visa in the last six months.

Past violations. Previous visas must have been used for their intended purpose, without violation of deadlines, and the main country of residence did not change during the trip. If the database contains information about a refusal or ban on entry into the country, deportation, a new visa will not be given as long as this entry is available.

The reason for refusal will be indicated in the refusal notice.

I don't agree with the refusal

If the reason for the refusal was a lack of some documents, then it will be faster to correct the reason, re-pay the visa fees and submit a new set of documents.

Within one month after receiving the refusal, you can file an appeal. It will be reviewed for several weeks. You can send the original appeal by regular mail, or a scanned copy by email, to the visa department of the consulate. The appeal includes your passport details, processing number (the last 7 digits of the case number indicated in the refusal), your detailed contact information, a detailed description of the purpose of the trip, and why the refusal was issued unreasonably. If necessary, attach the missing documents to confirm your words. Re-review of documents after an appeal will take several months.

If, after an appeal, there is a second refusal with which you do not agree, you can file a complaint with the Administrative Court of Berlin (Kirchstraße 7, 10557 Berlin). If your complaint is denied, you pay all court costs.

Explanations of reasons for refusal. Explanations for filing an appeal.

When entering Germany, carry documents proving the purpose of your trip, financial guarantees, proof of accommodation and transport, and health insurance. They can be checked at the border.

National visa

General list of documents

When applying for a German national visa, applicants must prepare:

• 2 completed in German and personally signed application forms for a national visa (https://www.germania.diplo.de/contentblob/3650198/Daten/4777653/antragnationalesvisum.pdf),
• 2 self-signed statements in accordance with § 53, 54 of the Residence Act of the Federal Republic of Germany (https://www.germania.diplo.de/contentblob/3650192/Daten/6359056/belehrung55rechtsfolgen.pdf),
• 3 current passport size photographs no older than 6 months, on a white background, size 45x35 mm (two of them must be glued to the application form),
• international passport with 2 copies of the page with personal data (it must be signed and contain at least 2 blank pages),
• a copy of the old passport page with personal data and/or residence permit (if any),
• general passport with 2 copies of the page with personal data and 2 copies of the page with a stamp of registration at the place of residence,
• health insurance and 2 copies thereof, valid for at least the first weeks of the planned stay in Germany,
• other documents with 2 copies upon request of the embassy.

Samples of filling out questionnaires can be viewed at the following links:

• https://www.germania.diplo.de/contentblob/4192924/Daten/4921469/antragnationalmusterbefristet.pdf (for a visa limited in time of stay),
• https://www.germania.diplo.de/contentblob/4192930/Daten/4921470/antragnationalmusterunbefristet.pdf (for a visa with unlimited duration of stay).

The passport must contain the signature of the owner

Requirements for additional documents

The following requirements apply to additional documents:

1. All civil status documents must have an apostille (this does not apply to documents issued by German registry offices).
2. The apostille must be on the original document (and not on copies).
3. All documents in Russian must be submitted together with an official translation into German (except for foreign and general passports).
4. If there is an apostille, it must also be translated.
5. All translations must be submitted with 2 photocopies.

A complete list of additional documents required to obtain a national visa is presented at the link https://www.germania.diplo.de/Vertretung/russland/ru/02-mosk/1-visa/3-merkblaetter/nationale-visa/0- nationale-visa.html.

Family reunification

For applicants planning to get married in Germany and subsequently reside there permanently:

• a certificate from the registry office confirming that all the prerequisites for marriage are present or an application for marriage has been submitted to the registry office in Germany (+ 2 copies) indicating the specific date of marriage,
• a written statement from the bride/groom residing in Germany to cover expenses until the marriage is concluded in accordance with § 66–68 of the Residence Act of the Federal Republic of Germany (+ 2 copies),
• 2 copies of the passport of the fiancé/fiancee living in Germany, and for foreign citizens - 2 copies of the residence permit,
• confirmation of basic knowledge of the German language at level A1, for example, in the form of a language certificate from the Institute. Goethe, Austrian Cultural Forum, telc-GmbH courses or Test-DaF Institute with 2 copies.

Instead of a certificate from the registry office, you can submit the following documents:

• birth certificate (+ 2 copies),
• certificate of marital capacity (+ 2 copies),
• other certificates/certificates of civil status (for example, divorce certificates, certificates from the registry office archive of previous marriages, death certificates of previous spouses) and 2 copies of each document (if any).

You do not need to confirm your language knowledge:

• EU Blue Card holders,
• if you have a residence permit as a highly qualified specialist (§ 19 German Residence Act), researcher (§ 20 German Residence Act), founder of a company (§ 21 German Residence Act),
• if the applicant is eligible for political asylum,
• if the applicant is a recognized refugee (§ 25 paragraph 1 or paragraph 2 or § 26 paragraph 3 of the German Residence Act).

Labor activity

To carry out work activities in Germany, all applicants provide 2 copies and the original work book

For hired work:

• an employment contract from Germany or an invitation to work indicating the employer (name and address of the actual place of work), type of employment (full or part-time), monthly salary without tax deduction in euros, period of employment (fixed/unlimited), name and description of the activity,
• confirmation of professional qualifications (the educational diploma must be recognized in Germany, this can be viewed in the ANABIN system https://anabin.kmk.org/anabin.html),
• a resume with a description of your professional career and full addresses and contact details in the original with 2 copies.

If you plan to engage in independent work:

• notarized constituent documents of the enterprise,
• extract from the trade register,
• a structured and detailed description of the business idea, including a company profile, business plan, business concept, capital investment plan, marketing strategy, revenue forecast, additional data on the number of planned jobs and training places (if possible, information on the positive impact should be included of this project in the field of innovation and research),
• financing plan and, accordingly, confirmation of financing the project using equity capital or an approved loan,
• documents confirming the applicant’s professional qualifications,
• biography with information about professional career indicating full address and contact details in the form of the original and 2 copies,
• confirmation of adequate security in old age (for example, the presence of own property in any form, rights to receive a pension in Russia and/or abroad, enterprise property/investment amounts), if the applicant is over 45 years old.

To find a job in Germany:

• confirmation of the availability of life support with 2 copies for the entire stay in the amount of 399.00 euros per month,
• document of higher education with 2 copies (must be recognized or comparable with a German diploma, as in previous cases),
• confirmation of accommodation for the entire period of stay, for example, in a hotel booking form (in case of private accommodation with family/friends, it is enough to provide a simple, signed invitation with a copy of the inviter’s passport),
• motivation letter with information about the planned job search (industry, region, planned place of residence/location, etc.) and 1 copy of it,
• biography with information about professional career with full address and contact details and 1 copy.

The following are suitable documents confirming the availability of funds:

• declaration of commitment in accordance with § 66–68 of the German Residence Act (must be issued no earlier than 6 months ago, indicating the purpose of stay - job search),
• confirmation of the availability of the appropriate amount in an account in a Russian bank, a statement from the parent/parents about the readiness of financing for the period of job search with the corresponding translation, a salary certificate with 2 photocopies with the corresponding translation, 2 copies of the page with personal data of the foreign or general passport of the parent/parents,
• or a blocked account in a German bank (details at https://www.germania.diplo.de/Vertretung/russland/ru/01-konsular/1-visa/sperrkontoeroeffnung.html).

Education

For students (applicants) planning to study at a university, including student exchange programs:

• admission to study or confirmation of participation in the competition with 2 copies (for doctoral students - an invitation from the supervisor/research institution and a brief description of the project),
• confirmation of funding for stay for study purposes in the amount of 7,908 euros for at least the first academic year with 2 copies,
• confirmation of the last completed school or higher education (for example, matriculation certificate, bachelor's degree, diploma) with 2 copies,
• a self-written and signed motivation letter in German or English about the reasons why the applicant wishes to study in Germany, with 1 copy,
• biography indicating full address and contact details with a copy,
• if necessary, proof of language knowledge with 2 copies (for doctoral students it is possible to submit a letter from a German university confirming that language knowledge was tested there and assessed as sufficient).

A national visa is required to study at a university

One of the following documents is suitable as proof of financing:

• a blocked account for the corresponding amount in one of the German banks,
• guarantee in accordance with § 66–68 of the Act on stay in the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany ▪not older than 6 months, indicating the purpose of stay “study at a university (Studium)”,
• a certificate confirming the presence of the corresponding amount in the account of one of the Russian banks,
• scholarship guarantee of 659 euros per month.

For persons planning to attend language courses:

• invitation to language courses indicating the location, duration, cost of training with 2 copies,
• confirmation of professional qualifications (latest document on school or higher education) with 2 copies (for general courses),
• confirmation from the university of admission to classes (for example, limited admission, confirmation of the status of a candidate student, letter from the Uni-assist organization, etc.) and confirmation of the right to enter a higher education institution (for example, a certificate of secondary education, last academic degree) with 2 copies (for preparatory language courses),
• confirmation of financing of stay,
• work book with 2 copies,
• a self-written and signed motivation letter in German or English about the reasons why the applicant wishes to study in Germany, with 1 copy,
• biography indicating full address and contact details with a copy,
• if necessary, proof of language knowledge with 2 copies (for doctoral students it is possible to submit a letter from a German university confirming that language knowledge was tested there and assessed as sufficient).

For schoolchildren participating in exchange programs through specialized organizations:

• confirmation of the organization's participation in school exchange in Germany,
• invitation to a host family or boarding school with a guarantee of life support and accommodation with 2 copies.

For schoolchildren participating in exchange programs without the mediation of exchange organizations:

• certificate from a school in the Russian Federation with 2 copies,
• a certificate from the host school in Germany on participation in school exchange indicating the interstate agreement on German and Russian partner schools,
• invitation to a host family or boarding school with a guarantee of life support and accommodation with 2 copies.

For children planning to attend school:

• confirmation of admission to a school in Germany with information about the international focus of its activities or an agreement between schools,
• confirmation of admission to a boarding school with a guarantee of life support and accommodation with 2 copies,
• confirmation from the school that school expenses will be covered for the first year,
• a formal declaration of acceptance of expenses in accordance with § 68 of the Residence Act by the host school or another person residing in Germany.

Video: obtaining a national visa to Germany