Schengen visas and the process of obtaining them have undergone some changes in 2023 - the terms of consideration and issuance of visas have increased, and some countries refuse to issue visas to Russian citizens. During the year the specialists of the migration agency GARANT.IN have been monitoring the situation and promptly inform about any changes in this matter. The time of New Year holidays, winter excursions and traveling is approaching. What is the situation with Schengen issuance for the end of 2023?
What changes have occurred in the Schengen area in 2023
From 2023, non-EU citizens will have to apply online for prior authorization to travel. This refers to those individuals who do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen area. For this purpose, the ETIAS system has been gradually developed and implemented since 2016.
The abbreviation ETIAS can be deciphered as - European Travel Information and Authorization System. The system will read and analyze information about persons visiting EU countries with any type of visa. Special attention is paid to security issues. A fee will be charged for the opportunity to visit EU countries.
After the application is reviewed and approved, the applicant will be able to enter the EU countries unlimitedly and freely for the next three years. After this period, the vetting procedure must be gone through again.
Which countries have stopped issuing Schengen visas
Last year more than 10 countries decided to stop issuing Schengen visas to Russians. Among them are Latvia, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Belgium, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The other Schengen countries continue to accept documents, but due to the aroused excitement and lengthening of the terms of consideration in visa centers and consulates queues are often formed.
Where you can apply for a visa
Consulate of the country. The applicant independently fills out the documents and forms, pays the fee, and receives a visa. Since it is in this instance that approval and issuance take place, the process is as short as possible, the procedure is cheaper. Provided that the applicant is approved.
Visa Center. This is an intermediary organization that is engaged in receiving and processing applications, as well as transferring applications to the embassy or consulate. The formalization of documentation is handled by specialists. The applicant fills out a questionnaire and waits for the verdict. In addition to the standard consular fee, it is necessary to pay for the services of the visa center.
Travel agency. Works similarly to the visa center. The applicant fills out the documents, and travel agency specialists transfer the documents to the consulate. They charge an additional fee for their services.
Another way to minimize the risk of rejection is to contact the specialists of the migration agency GARANT.IN. We work both online and offline. We will help you collect documents, fill in forms, and submit them for consideration as soon as possible.
Having chosen a suitable organization, it is necessary to prepare and submit the documents for permit processing. The standard list is given below, sometimes additional certificates may be requested from the applicant:
- Resident's passport and its copy.
- Resident's native passport and a copy thereof.
- Tickets for entry/exit from the country - both ways at once.
- Invitation from the host country or hotel/hostel/apartment reservation.
- Two photos for documents 3,5*4,5 cm.
- Confirmation of consular fee payment.
- Application form from the client.
- Completed visa application form.
- Document confirming the solvency of the applicant.
In addition to the collected and submitted package of documents, foreign residents must submit fingerprints and take digital photos every 5 years. Apply to the embassy no earlier than 90 days before leaving the country. Questionnaires and applications are considered within 15 to 45 days, after the abolition of the simplified visa entry regime for citizens of the Russian Federation. When calculating the time of submission of documents, it is worth taking into account weekends and holidays not only in the Russian Federation but also in the country that will issue the permit.
The processing time is affected not only by the choice of country but also by availability. Obtain a visa, and count approximately 30 days. If the visa center has a shortage of qualified staff, a long queue of applicants, and inconsistencies in the acceptance and issuance of documents - the timeframe may be increased several times.
Experts say that the peak demand is in early fall and during the New Year holidays. As soon as an appointment window appears, it is immediately occupied.
Issuance of Schengen visa - what do they pay attention to?
When submitting documents, employees of the organization study and analyze the following documents: the application, the presence of a passport and its validity period, the relevance of photos (photos should be taken no later than a month ago), the issued health insurance policy, a copy of the internal passport. The applicant's airline ticket dates and availability of accommodation/invitation bookings are checked. All dates and periods must match each other.
To maximize the chances of obtaining a Schengen visa, in addition to a return ticket, the applicant must have money savings in a bank account - so he can confirm that he has funds for accommodation and food in a foreign country. While previously the optimal balance was calculated on the scheme - 50 €/day per person, from 2022 it is necessary to show a bank balance of 250,000 ₽ or more. Unfortunately, even this amount - does not equal a 100% guarantee of obtaining a Schengen visa. At the Italian Embassy, you need to show between 300,000 - 400,000 ₽ for the application to be approved.
For how long you can get a Schengen visa for
As of 2022, the validity of the visa has been reduced to 12 months (previously it was possible to obtain a permit for up to 5 years).
Currently, many countries can only issue a Schengen for a specific period of travel, even if the applicant has previously had a good visa history with no violations and has traveled to Europe multiple times. Italy and France allow entry for about 6 months for tourist purposes.
Why a Schengen visa may be refused
In case of any violations of the visa regime earlier (for example, the applicant stayed in the Schengen zone for more than 90 days out of the allowed 180), the applicant will be refused.
Also, the reasons for refusal can be:
- Your passport is about to expire or has expired. When applying, please note that the passport must expire no sooner than three months after leaving the country of visit. The applicant must have at least 2 free pages left in the passport to make entries.
- Paradoxically, the applicant can also be refused because of an unused Schengen. For example, the applicant has previously issued a Schengen visa and for some reason did not use it to enter another country. In this case, the new permit may not be approved.
- The applicant has previously violated the rules of stay and local laws of European countries. He may have been detained by the police even for petty hooliganism.
- Insufficient funds in the account may also be a reason for the denial of the permit.
Where you can quickly issue a Schengen visa nowadays
Over the past year, the number of Schengen visa refusals has almost doubled. Russian citizens are most often refused at the embassies/consulates of Greece, France, Italy, and Spain. If you have time to join the queue and submit a correctly formed package of documents from the first time, minimizing all possible risks on other requirements, you can expect to receive a visa from these countries within 7 to 14 days.
One of the fastest ways is to make an appointment at the visa center in Hungary. It is important to specify the terms of the trip and attach the tickets bought in both directions. In this case, you can get to the submission of documents the very next day.
Schengen visas: what health insurance policy is required for registration
Insurance is a mandatory item on the list of documents for visa application. Medical insurance policy in 2023 must meet the following requirements:
- Coverage of 30,000 € or more.
- Insurance policy without deductible.
- The coverage area extends to all Schengen countries.
- The validity period is equal to the duration of the trip + 15 days extra.
How to travel freely in Schengen countries
To arrive/leave the Schengen area at any time, you need a reliable basis or a new status. By obtaining a residence permit, permanent residence permit, or passport of a Schengen country, the resident automatically receives the rights of local citizens and can move freely around Schengen. It should be noted that the presence of real estate in this case will not play a determining role in obtaining a new status. In other words: the presence of real estate is not equal to an automatic residence permit, but it will be a significant plus for the applicant when considering his application. The most popular type of residence permit is the Visitor's visa in France or the residence permit for FNP in Italy.
If you need assistance in applying for a Schengen visa, residence permit, or residence permit from another country, the specialists of GARANT.IN migration agency is waiting for your consultation. We will help you to collect, properly execute, and submit the necessary documents and forms, select real estate, buy tickets, and book a hotel. We will provide all kinds of assistance for short-term travel or long-term relocation. For us, there are no insignificant tasks. Every client's request is important!
