What kind of passport is needed to travel abroad?

Basic list of supporting documents for obtaining a Schengen visa

1) Application for a visa (questionnaire) , completed and signed by the applicant.

2) A foreign passport valid for at least three months after the intended date of (last) departure from the Schengen area, with at least two blank pages and issued within the last ten years.

3) Photos in accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

4) Visa fees

5) Traveler's medical insurance for the entire period of the intended trip, valid in all Schengen countries and covering any expenses that may arise in connection with returning home for medical reasons, the need for emergency medical care, urgent hospital treatment or death during the trip. The minimum sum insured is €30,000.

Medical travel insurance for Schengen Service for comparing prices for medical insurance from leading insurance companies in Russia. Specify the country and travel dates, then select the appropriate option and issue a policy.

6) Copy of internal passport : pages with biographical data of the applicant, with notes about the foreign passport/passports issued to him/her, his/her marital status and registration in Russia.

7) For minor citizens:

• A copy of the birth certificate.
• The consent of a parent or legal guardian is required only if the minor is traveling alone or accompanied by a parent. Exceptions are made only in cases where the parent with whom the minor is traveling has full parental rights (i.e. in cases where the other parent has died or has been deprived of parental rights, it is necessary, for example, to present a death certificate of the second parent or a court decision transferring the right of parental custody is exclusively to the parent who signs the application).
• A copy of the valid Schengen visa of the parent(s) traveling with a minor for whom a visa was not applied for at the same time as the parent(s).

If the applicant has citizenship of a third country, proof of legal residence in the Russian Federation in accordance with federal law (for example, a residence permit, long-term visa or FMS registration), valid for at least three months after the planned return from the Schengen area, or a document confirming the fact that the applicant has submitted documents to renew confirmation of legal residence. If the applicant is not a resident, it is necessary to provide proof of legal presence in the Russian Federation and justify the reason for applying for a visa in the Russian Federation and not in the country of residence.

In addition to the basic requirements listed above, depending on the purpose of obtaining a visa and its type, other documents are needed, which will be discussed below.

Mandatory additional Schengen visa documents

Depending on the purpose of your trip to a Schengen country, in addition to the main documents, you must provide an additional package of documents:

Tourist visa

The list of documents for a tourist Schengen visa is completed by:

1. Confirmation of residence in the relevant location. This could include round-trip tickets and hotel or hotel reservations.
2. Route confirmation. If travel is planned, you must provide a travel plan indicating the period of stay at each point, as well as the route.

• How to make a route sheet for a Schengen visa

Family reunification

When the purpose of the trip is family reunification, specific documents are required for a Schengen visa to visit relatives:

1. a letter of invitation from the receiving party indicating the place of intended residence of the visitors;
2. evidence of relationship;
3. justification of the legal status of relatives in another country;
4. confirmation of the host party's solvency, if the traveler relies on them.

Work, business visa

In case of leaving the Russian Federation to do business or get a job, the following must be attached to the main documents:

• a copy of the official invitation,
• agreement from the employer,
• letter or written request from the receiving organization.

Individual entrepreneurs do not always know what is needed for a Schengen business and work visa, although they usually always have company and taxpayer registration certificates with them. These should be provided to the visa officer.

Study visa

For the purpose of obtaining education, visas are issued, the duration of which directly depends on the period of study specified in the letter of invitation from the educational institution. The student adds additional documents to obtain a Schengen study visa:

• confirmation of the availability of funds to pay for training for its entire duration (or the consent of the sponsor);
• diplomas that allow you to move on to education with an academic degree or report card from your current place of study;
• guarantees of payment for housing and possible student locations.

Not all students are allowed to work part-time in a foreign country. Therefore, before appealing to this source of income, you need to check its legality.

Transit visa

If a temporary stop is planned in a Schengen Union country on the way to a third state, then tickets and permits to enter the state are included.

List of documents for obtaining a tourist Schengen visa

Tourists and other persons engaged in private travel

• Proof of accommodation (for example, an invitation/confirmation of sponsorship from the inviting person if the guest intends to stay with him; a document from the institution providing accommodation, or any other relevant document indicating that accommodation is provided, in accordance with the legislation of the Schengen member country); if not applicable, an appropriate written description of the planned travel.
• Itinerary confirmation (for example, an organized travel booking confirmation or any other relevant document describing the intended travel plans, such as a reserved return ticket); if not applicable, an appropriate written description of the planned travel.
• Confirmation of employment (with salary information); if not applicable, other proof of financial means and intent to return (for example, a bank account/credit card statement for at least the previous three months, proof of real estate in Russia, or proof of sponsorship).

Owners of real estate in the Schengen area and their close relatives

• Relevant national document (for example, a recent extract from the real estate register, a copy of the contract/purchase transaction, etc.) confirming the applicant's ownership of the specified property.
• In the case of close relatives, confirmation of relationship.
• Confirmation of employment (with salary information); if not applicable, other evidence of financial means and intent to return (for example, a bank account/credit card statement for at least the previous three months, proof of ownership of real estate in Russia, or proof of sponsorship).

Financial guarantees

As financial guarantees, the applicant for a Schengen visa must provide a bank account statement indicating the amount of funds, a photocopy of a credit card with a bank statement or a photocopy of a passbook (if available).

For persons who do not have their own sources of income (non-working pensioners, children, students, housewives), a sponsorship order will be required, handwritten by the sponsor on a separate sheet with the following approximate text: “I, full name, sponsor the trip ... (indicate family or other relationship to tourist and full name of the tourist) ... to the Schengen countries, including ... (indicate the country of travel to the consulate of which the package of documents will be submitted) ... from ... to ... (indicate the dates of the trip)" The order is certified by the personal signature of the sponsor and dated; The order must be accompanied by confirmation of the sponsor's income - an extract from his bank account or similar documents. Read more here.

Pensioners must additionally provide a copy of their pension certificate, students - a copy of their student ID and/or a certificate from the dean's office (in accordance with the requirements of the specific consulate), schoolchildren - a certificate from the school. You will also need a document confirming the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person - a photocopy of a birth or marriage certificate, or similar documents.

If a tourist goes on an independent trip, he must also attach confirmation of booking accommodation and a transport ticket to the main package of documents.

List of documents for obtaining a Schengen visa for work and business purposes

Workers going on business trips

• A written request from the host company or organization, office or branch, state or local authority of the Russian Federation and a member country or organizing committees of trade and industry exhibitions, conferences and symposiums to participate in meetings, conferences or events related to trade, industry or work; if such a request in writing cannot be received, other confirmation of the purpose of the trip (for example, information about participation in a conference, entrance ticket to a trade fair, business correspondence, business trip itinerary).
• If this has not been adequately demonstrated in the written request, proof of availability of work.

Persons engaged in self-employed and entrepreneurial activities

• A written request from the host company or organization, office or branch, state or local authority of the Russian Federation and a member country or organizing committees of trade and industrial exhibitions, conferences and symposia for participation in meetings, conferences or events related to trade, industry or work; if such a request in writing cannot be received, other confirmation of the purpose of the trip (for example, information about participation in a conference, entrance ticket to a trade fair, business correspondence, business trip itinerary).
• Confirmation of economic activity (for example, form 2NDFL or ZNDFL, an extract from the trade/tax register or a certificate of individual entrepreneurship) or the balance of the account(s) for at least the previous three months.

Schengen visa cost

The cost of a Shengang visa is 35 euros if you apply on your own. If you receive a visa through a visa center, then a service fee of 18-30 euros will be added to this cost, depending on the country.

Payment of the service fee at the Visa Application Center is exempt

• Children under six years of age;
• Disabled people (of any group) and one accompanying disabled person of the first group (only citizens of the Russian Federation);
• Family members of EU citizens (spouses, children and children of the spouse, parents and parents of the spouse, grandchildren) upon presentation of original documents confirming relationship;
• Close relatives of Russian citizens who have a residence permit in the EU;

Check with the consulate or visa center of the country for which you plan to obtain a visa for more details.

List of documents for obtaining a Schengen visa for transit purposes

If applicable, documents relevant to onward travel to the final destination (visa or other authorization to enter a third country of destination; tickets for upcoming travel).

Confirmation of employment (with salary information); if not applicable, other proof of financial means and intent to return (for example, a bank account/credit card statement for at least the previous three months, proof of real estate in Russia, or proof of sponsorship).

What is the difference between an old-style passport and a new one?

The first external difference that catches the first glance is the designation on the title page of the identity card of the presence of biometric data in it, which is recorded on a special electronic chip. This designation is internationally recognized and is applied to all documents with electronic media in most civilized countries of the world.

There are differences in the execution of documents, be it:

• The presence of various degrees of protection (in a biometric document they are more advanced, up to a holographic image of the owner, which can be seen from a certain viewing angle).
• More pages in the new passport.
• In the new document, the page with the personal data of the document holder is made of thick plastic (while in the old document it is simply laminated).

The most important thing that distinguishes a modern passport from an old-style ID is the presence of biometric data in it, which is recorded on an electronic chip embedded in the page with the owner’s identification data. The following information is entered into it:

• Fingerprints (dactyloscopy).
• Photograph in electronic form (the same as in printed version).
• The owner's signature recorded using special electronic equipment.

At the same time, not all holders of biometric passports have fingerprints on their identity cards, because Since 2009, a large number of passports have been issued by migration authorities that do not have the technical capabilities to take fingerprints from applicants (this procedure is now mandatory).

In addition, an important difference between the new passports is their validity period. If old-style documents are issued for 5 years, then biometric ones can be used for 10 years. The size of the state duty for the provision of government services for issuing a passport also varies, which is justified by the high cost of producing a document with an electronic medium.

Schengen visa yourself step by step instructions

To summarize the large section on applying for a Schengen visa on your own, we will highlight the main points in step-by-step instructions so that any traveler can use it and receive the coveted document.

1. Decide on travel dates and country.
2. Book tickets and hotels.
3. Take out insurance for the dates of your trip (or annually).
4. Prepare a complete set of documents for a visa.
5. Make an appointment at the embassy or visa center to submit documents.
6. Arrive at the appointed time and hand in the documents.
7. Receive a passport with a visa within the specified period. Don’t forget to check it to ensure it matches your personal details and travel dates.

Now you know how to get a Schengen visa yourself in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Ufa and other cities. My step-by-step instructions are valid for all cities of Russia, no matter where you are. And there are visa centers for Schengen countries not only in Moscow, so obtaining the coveted document will not be so difficult. You can get a Schengen visa without a tour, the main thing is to book your tickets and hotel. If you still have questions about applying for a Schengen visa, ask them in the comments.

Have a nice trip!

About the author: Ekaterina

On the pages of my blog you will find information about the places I have been, secrets and life hacks of independent travel.

Related Posts
• Schengen visa: what is it and what is it for?
• Sponsorship letter for a Schengen visa: sample in Russian and English
• Medical insurance for a Schengen visa: where to get it online and how much it costs

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Visa costs, other expenses

For citizens of the Russian Federation, there are two minimum amounts that must be spent when applying for a visa. 35 euros for standard review of documents, 70 euros for urgent review. Additionally, money can be spent on:

• Fees from visa centers - 20-30 euros ;
• Courier services, duplicate documents, photographs, powers of attorney, funds for travel to a nearby city or capital for submitting biometric data.

All funds spent on registration will not be returned in case of refusal. No one can guarantee that an entry permit will be issued.

How to avoid problems when obtaining a visa on your own, what it is and features when applying to the consulates of different states. List of loyal countries issuing documents, procedure. All this in the video below.

Which countries require Schengen?

When planning a tour, inexperienced travelers ask themselves whether permits are needed to visit a particular country. The European territory is characterized by several blocks and associations of countries, among them the European Union, the Schengen zone, and the European Economic Area.

This article is about obtaining a Schengen visa, which means we will list 26 countries for a visit to which citizens of the Russian Federation receive the appropriate document.

The issuance of entry permits to a number of countries has already been discussed on our website. Among them are the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain.

The UK and Ireland require internal visas, which are obtained separately. A visa is not required to enter other countries. On a second visit, you can visit each of the countries on the list, if the validity period of the Schengen visa and the category of the document allow.