What types and categories of visas are there?

Valid term of a visa

Important! Please keep in mind that:

• Each case is unique and individual.
• A thorough study of the issue does not always guarantee a positive outcome. It depends on many factors.

To get the most detailed advice on your issue, you just need to choose any of the options offered:

• Use the online chat in the lower corner of the screen.
• Call: Federal number: +7 (800) 511-86-74

Very often, the validity period of a visa is confused with the time period during which a foreigner is allowed to stay in the territory of another state. In practice, this is the period when the permit holder has the right to enter the state that issued it. For example, the validity period is 1 year, and the duration of stay is 60 days for six months.

Work visa to Russia

Issue an invitation for a work visa to Russia with a guarantee of visa issuance

Issue an invitation

A visa for employment in the Russian Federation depends on the conditions of the upcoming work. For foreign citizens planning to work in Russia for employment, an ordinary work visa will be issued for a period of up to 90 days. Subsequently, you can apply for a multiple-entry visa valid for up to one year.

For certain categories of specialists there is a special procedure for issuing visas:

• employees of representative offices of foreign legal entities - visa up to 90 days, with the possibility of issuing a multiple document;
• teachers – visas for up to 90 days, and if the term of the employment contract with an educational institution exceeds this period – multiple-entry visas;
• correspondents and technical specialists of the media - visa up to 90 days.

Note! A work visa for media employees requires that they obtain accreditation from the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Types of visas

The Convention on the Application of the Schengen Agreement, adopted in 1985, establishes the rules for crossing the borders of participating countries by citizens of third countries. According to the document, three main categories of visitors are established and, as a result, three types of Schengen visas that allow them to stay in a single zone - Ch. 2 of the Convention.

Transit visa category "A"

Three types of transit visas have been developed to visit countries within the Schengen area, but one of them (“B”) is currently not used due to the suspension of processing.

An “A” visa is provided on an as-needed basis to travelers who need to travel by air with a transfer at an airport in a Schengen country. A person applying for this type of visa must be prepared to spend the entire period waiting to board another plane in the transit zone. It is not permissible to go beyond its limits. Therefore, even if a tourist has a few hours left, he will not be able to explore the city of arrival.

The issuance of such a visa for Russians is mandatory in the following circumstances:

1. The flight is carried out with two or more transfers. And all of them occur at airports in Schengen countries.
2. Even if there is only one transfer, but at Berlin airport. An exception is made only for tourists flying on board an Air Berlin aircraft.
3. When a transfer occurs at an airport in France, but a citizen of the Russian Federation is flying not from its territory, but, for example, from Egypt or Turkey.

You can afford not to apply for an “A” visa if there is only one transfer, the waiting time will not last more than a day, and the tourist does not intend to leave the transit zone during the entire stay at the airport.

Schengen visa category “C”

The most popular type of visa for tourists is “C”. There are several subtypes for foreigners:

1. C This visa allows you to stay within the territory of the Schengen countries for up to 30 days.
2. C 2 and C These visas allow a stay of up to 90 days. In the first case, for six months, and in the second, for a year.
3. C Issued to citizens with the expectation that they will stay in the Schengen zone for no more than 90 days in a period from one year to 5 years.

Whatever of the presented subspecies the tourist receives, they can all be divided into:

1. One-time use. According to the document, the traveler can visit the country only once.
2. Double. Double visits are allowed.
3. Multiple entry (multiple visas). The document provides the right to multiple entries into all countries of the zone, but with one condition - the initial entry is carried out through the Schengen state that issued the visa.

National visa category "D"

This type of visa has many similar characteristics to the “C” visa. The distinctive features are the following:

• the owner is entitled to a longer stay, which exceeds 90 days in six months;
• the possibility of unlimited movement throughout all countries included in the zone.

At its core, this type of visa is close in status to a residence permit.

How to apply for a visa to Russia

How to get a visa to Russia and what documents need to be submitted? Before going to the consular office with a visa application, you need to collect a package of documents, without which a positive decision on issuing a visa will be impossible. The documents include:

• invitation of citizens or organizations from Russia to the entry of foreign citizens;
• questionnaire in a form approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation;
• a valid passport of foreign citizens;
• photograph measuring 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
• medical insurance policy for the entire period of the trip;

Certain types of visas will require additional documents (for example, a transit visa is issued if you have travel documents for the territory of the Russian Federation).

Issuance of invitations is carried out by the migration services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation on the basis of a request from the receiving party - citizens or legal entities. The following documents must be attached to the application:

• passports of the host party and the foreign citizen;
• constituent documents of a legal entity;
• letters of guarantee to provide the foreigner with housing, as well as medical and material conditions for the entire period of the visit;
• information about the purposes, timing and duration of the trip.

Based on the results of checking the documentation, the migration service issues an invitation, which is the legal basis for applying for a visa.

Note! Documents for a Russian visa must be carefully checked before submitting them to the consular authorities. Particular attention must be paid to compliance with the stated goals and duration of stay in the Russian Federation.

Our company’s specialists will provide any assistance in obtaining visa documents. We will help you fill out an application, petition, and assist in issuing an invitation for any purpose of travel for foreign citizens.

Other types of visas

Permits are issued not only for trips to Schengen countries. Regardless of the destination, they can share the purposes of arrival and temporary restrictions on stay. There are many classifications.

Purpose of visiting the country

Most national visas are divided into categories depending on the purpose of the foreigner’s visit to the country:

1. Transit. From the name it is clear that permission is granted to citizens who need to cross the territory of the state without long delays. For example, getting from the arrival station to the departure port. Or make a transfer within one stop. The maximum period for such a visa is rarely more than 3 days.
2. Tourist. It is received by citizens who want to get acquainted with the area, life, cultural and historical heritage of the country. The period for which it is issued rarely exceeds 90 days.
3. Guest room. Its registration is allowed only after receiving an official invitation from a citizen of the host country. In it, he expresses his intention to provide housing and provide his guest with everything necessary for a period that, as a rule, does not exceed 1 year.
4. Labor. The greatest diversity is observed among work visa categories. This permit is necessary for everyone who intends to carry out labor activities on the territory of a foreign state. To receive it, the employer draws up an invitation and an employment contract. The visa is issued for the entire period of its validity. For example, in the UK there are 5 types of work visas, and in the United States there are 19.
5. Educational. Usually this type is obtained by students, less often by students of secondary educational institutions. If a citizen is admitted full-time, the first visa is usually issued for 1 year. Renewal depends on academic performance and absence of complaints from the university.
6. Business. Its issuance is due to the need for participation in business projects for the recipient. This can only be a citizen who holds a leadership position or is the owner of a business. For all others, a work visa is provided.

Note! The rules for issuing the types and categories of visas presented vary significantly in different countries. They should be clarified on an individual basis.

By duration

The property of any visa is that it is limited in time. The simplest classification of them is based precisely on this characteristic.

Study visa

A visa to travel to Russia for educational purposes can be issued for up to 90 days, or for the entire period of study. In the second case, the period will not exceed one year, but an extension is available to foreign citizens. When applying for a study visa, any areas of the educational process (graduate studies, internship, teaching, etc.) are taken into account.

Note! A study visa does not give citizens the right to work in Russia after completing the educational process. To do this, it will be necessary to obtain a visa to Russia for a specifically stated purpose - for hiring.

Features of a multiple visa

A multiple entry visa provides its holder with many advantages. This permit allows you to cross the borders of the issuing state an unlimited number of times. If it belongs to the types of Schengen visas, then it provides the opportunity to travel through the territory of any of the states in the Schengen zone.

But it also has a time limitation, although its period is usually somewhat longer than that of single and double entry. Obtaining such a permit costs more. It’s rare that someone manages to get a document if they haven’t previously issued simple visas.

Additional views

The migration legislation of different countries provides for special types of visa documents designed for a narrow circle of recipients.

Bride's visa

The desire to start a family can also arise between citizens of different states. In order to conclude a marriage and prepare documents allowing long-term residence in the country (residence permit, permanent residence, citizenship), a visa is requested for one of the parties, colloquially referred to as a fiancé visa.

Important! The procedure for obtaining it varies significantly in different states. In any case, each couple will have to provide evidence of the absence of fictitious intentions.

Diplomatic and official

Employees of government services associated with a diplomatic mission receive special service visas affixed to the diplomatic passport. The period for which they are provided is limited to the time of performance of official duties in the territory of another state. Registration takes place at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Such a document provides its bearer with diplomatic immunity.

Humanitarian visa

Many countries periodically experience disasters. In such situations, the need for help from volunteer organizations arises. Their members or invited specialists are issued visas through diplomatic missions at the request of the project organizers. More often they are short-term and are issued in a short time.

Journalist visa

A number of states, most of which are in the Middle East and Africa, process and issue a special type of visa intended for journalists coming here on official business. But such permission is provided for both entry into the Russian Federation and the USA. To receive it, the applicant will have to prove the fact of having international journalistic accreditation and submit an editorial assignment plus a petition from the management of the media source. The document is issued for a period limited to the period of the business trip.

Business visa to Russia

Issue an invitation for a business visa online from RUB 2,490.

Issue an invitation

Travel for business purposes can be carried out on an ongoing basis, which may depend on the nature of the businessman’s activities. Among the specific purposes for which you can apply for a visa to Russia are:

• commercial trip to sign contracts;
• travel of transport drivers, crew members, technical staff;
• Negotiation;
• undergoing treatment in Russian clinics;
• registration of adoption, as well as other types of business trips.

Note! To achieve these goals, it is possible to issue both single-entry documents for a period of up to 90 days and multiple-entry visas for a period of up to 12 months. Staying in the Russian Federation on this visa for more than 90 days within six months is not allowed.