Multivisa Schengen for 1 year
Obtaining a one-year Schengen visa will allow you to freely visit 26 European countries during its validity period. Basic the price of a Schengen multiple entry visa for 1 year is 35 euros, but usually the cost of paperwork is slightly higher.
Rules of validity of the annual Schengen multivisa
A Schengen visa for a year allows you to visit any country that is part of the Schengen agreement. There is a very important First entry rule... It is imperative that you first enter the country at the embassy of which the visa was issued. Here you should not try to cheat in some way, because later they may simply not be given a visa.
After the initial arrival in Schengen, you can continue to visit the countries of the agreement completely freely, in any order. There is also a provision that an annual Schengen visa must be issued at the embassy of the state you intend to visit most often, but this is not a strict rule.
Although the visa is open for a year, in fact, you can stay in the Schengen countries for only 180 days, of which 90 - for six months. A shorter period can be set - 60 or 45 days for six months. This is determined by the authority that issues you an annual Schengen visa.Six months start to count from your first visit to Schengen. If you went with some delay, then the first half of the year overlaps the second. Then you will have all 90 days from the second half of the year for the remaining months.
Grounds for obtaining a multiple entry visa for a year
If you contact the embassy for the first time, the likelihood of immediately getting a Schengen multivisa for a year is very low... In such cases, one-time or short-term permits are usually issued. It is easier to become the holder of a one-year visa if you have visited the Schengen states on several occasions.
There are other factors that can make it easier to get your entry permit for a year. It will be easier to get an annual Schengen visa if you:
- Regularly carry out business trips to Europe;
- You have relatives living in the Schengen area;
- You have real estate in one of the states of the agreement;
- You are going to get an education abroad;
- You have business contacts with businesses located in the EU;
- You can confirm your own financial solvency.
Even the presence of such grounds is not always a guarantee for obtaining permission, although it greatly facilitates the solution of the issue. There is also a number of categories of citizens for whom it is easier to obtain a Schengen multivisa for a year than others. These include:
- Journalists;
- Members of official delegations;
- Participants of cultural festivals, scientific conferences, symposia, educational events, sports competitions;
- International train conductors;
- Drivers carrying out regular international transport.
How to get a Schengen visa for 1 year
To obtain a visa, you must submit an application with documents to the embassy, ​​consulate or visa center of one of the states of the zone. The list of required documents may vary slightly in different countries, but there is a standard set required for all. To apply for a multivisa to Schengen for a year, the applicant must submit to the visa authority:
- International passport;
- Copies of their previous passports;
- A copy of the internal passport;
- Help from work;
- Two photos;
- Insurance;
- Bank statement and certificate;
- Additionally for pensioners, unemployed and other representatives of socially unprotected categories - sponsorship letters.
Please note that the certificate from work must contain a number of mandatory information: length of service, position, salary, company name, etc. A detailed certificate will help you when drawing up a questionnaire. You should also pay special attention to health insurance. It is advisable to issue it immediately for a year, with activation when crossing the border.
Even if you apply to the consulate with a clean passport without travel marks, an annual Schengen visa can still be obtained. In such a situation, you need to provide maximum confirmation of your intentions. This can be an invitation from business partners, a letter from the organizers of a conference or cultural event, etc.
If you failed to obtain a visa for the first time, then your chances will increase before the next trip. Please also note that a number of Schengen countries are traditionally more loyal to Russians than others when issuing a multivisa. These are Finland, Latvia, Poland, Greece, Spain, Slovakia.
How much does it cost to apply for an annual Schengen visa
The price of a Schengen multivisa for a year is standard and constant for all countries of the agreement - 35 euros... But do not expect that you will be able to get by with this amount. You will need to arrange insurance, make copies of documents, photographs. There is a double fee for getting a multiple entry visa expedited. When contacting the Visa Application Center, you will have to pay a service fee.
There are also agencies that make it easier and faster to resolve the issue. Their services are paid separately.
What is the best way to apply for a visa: through an agency or on your own
For travel to Schengen, a visa for a year is very convenient, but in principle, you can get by with short-term permits. Therefore, if you do not need a visa "desperately", you can independently submit an application to the embassy. Even if you do not become the owner of the desired multivisa, you will at least gain a useful experience.
If the question of how to get a Schengen visa for a year causes difficulties, you should contact the appropriate agency. It is better to do the same if it is important for you to get an annual multivisa quickly and with a guarantee. In this case, the price turns out to be higher, but you will save time.
