From February 1, 2021, all VFS Global visa service centers switched to issuing ready-made passports and soon ceased their activities. New visa applications are no longer accepted or considered here. But a holy place is never empty, and today a visa to Germany is available through Visametric, another German visa operator. Whether this change has affected the Russians and how much, we will try to figure it out.
Visametric at a glance
The private VisaMetric Group has been operating in the market for servicing diplomatic missions for over 12 years and today operates 110 visa centers in 14 countries. In total, the company has processed over 3.5 million German visa applications in various countries, earning the recognition of several governments.
The company won a multi-stage tender for the provision of services and is now officially authorized to receive and process applications for a German visa at the Embassy and consulates of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Russian Federation.
In Russia, Vizametrik LLC operates in the same cities in which VFS Global offices were located, adheres to the requirements of German and Russian legislation and international standards for the registration and issuance of entry permits.
Required list of documents
The list of required documents for a Schengen tourist visa for adult citizens (over 18 years old) is as follows:
- Printed completed application form (original).
- Signed consent to the processing of personal data.
- Passport, valid for at least three months after the expiration of the requested visa, issued no more than 10 years ago and having two blank pages.
- Copies of the applicant's passport pages (all valid and canceled) with a previously issued Schengen visa and biometric data.
- Two biometric photos.
- Health insurance policy.
- A general civil passport and copies of all its pages containing entries and stamps.
- Proof of accommodation: hotel reservation with passport details, rental agreement, itinerary from the cruise company.
- Round trip tickets. A detailed description of the trip plan, documents for the car, international insurance policy, registration certificate and a copy of the driver's license, if you plan to travel with your own transport.
- Proof of solvency: bank statement for the last 3 months, passbook (original and copy), sponsorship letter, financial document and a copy of the sponsor's civil passport page.
- Information about employment: a certificate from the place of work, an extract from the trade or tax register, a 2-NDFL or 3-NDFL certificate, a certificate of registration of an individual entrepreneur (original and copy), a pension certificate (original and a copy) or a certificate from the Pension Fund about the appointment of a pension (original and copy). Students provide a certificate from the place of study with the stamp of the educational institution.
- Documents confirming the readiness to return to Russia: confirmation of ownership of real estate, a vehicle (vehicle passport), family ties (spouse, minor children).
In this regard, nothing has changed. Papers and confirmations did not decrease.
Schengen Application
The official VisaMetric website in Moscow now provides an electronic Videx questionnaire and a guide to filling it out. The online service is available for applicants who apply to the Visa Application Center with their documents in person.
Registration on the site is not required to fill out the questionnaire. The completed application form is not saved on the server of the center, therefore it must be saved (in pdf format), printed, signed and submitted along with the documents.
The ability to fill in by hand is still available, but this lengthens the process as the data will still be digitized at the center. Visametric branches offer an additional paid service for filling out, and advice on the rules for entering information is provided free of charge.
Now it costs less than 400 rubles, as it used to be. Below we will clarify why.
The online version is filled out in English or German, and the choice of individual items in the menu (for example, citizenship, profession) is offered from among those indicated in Russian.
Forms of documents
In the section "Forms" you can download the following forms (in pdf format):
- Application form - four standard pages (German and Russian).
- Consent to the processing of personal and biometric data.
- Power of attorney to submit and receive a passport and accompanying documentation.
- Power of attorney for filing and receiving a passport and accompanying documentation for a child.
- Application for cancellation of a valid visa.
- Sponsorship letter.
- Detailed travel plan.
- Receipt of the driver performing international cargo transportation.
- Application for the transfer of a visa.
- The applicant's consent to the issuance of ready-made documents.
Photo requirements
Requirements for photographs have not changed. Obtaining a passport with a visa in VisaMetric requires two color photos on a light background, taken in the last 6 months, measuring 35 × 45 mm and without corners.
The face should be located in the center and occupy 70-80% of the image area, but now they will take less than 360 rubles for the photos taken on the spot.
Medical insurance
A medical insurance policy for those traveling abroad, regardless of the purpose (tourism, business, treatment, transit), must be issued in accordance with the following requirements:
- obligatory indication of the name and surname of the insured person;
- the minimum insurance period must cover the entire duration of the planned trip;
- the minimum number of days insured must correspond to the number of days of stay according to the tickets provided;
- the insurance territory must cover all Schengen countries;
- the amount of insurance coverage is at least 30 thousand euros;
- in case of participation in sports events, coverage of the event is mandatory.
With the help of Coracle, you can take out health insurance online. The application for finding doctors, hospitals and document management allows you to compare different providers and choose the one that suits you best.
Submission of documents
There are also no fundamental changes in the procedure for submitting documents. You can submit documents no earlier than 90 days before the trip, - in the order of the general queue, or select the date and time, having previously submitted an application on the website. You can enter the center no earlier than 15 minutes before the appointed time.
Appointment
Group (from 10 people) registration for submission of documents to VisaMetric in order to reduce the total waiting time is required. Online this is done as follows:
- Open the site, select the "Submission of documents" section, the "Registration for submission" tab.
- Press the icon "Appointment of the date of delivery". In the new window, change the layout language to Russian (optional), indicate the direction of the trip and the "Next" button.
- Select the level of service: VIP or "Normal", indicate the city of residence, select the branch of the visa center, the type of application (personal, group / family), then one of the available dates and go further.
- Fill in and send personal data: name, surname, home and mobile phone numbers.
- Read the registration conditions, confirm your consent by checking the boxes and move on.
- In the calendar that appears, mark the start and end dates of the trip, as well as select the date of visiting the center.
- Select a list of required additional services.
- Receive confirmation of the appointment on the screen, and then in an email.
If desired, a printout is available: in the lower right corner of the page there will be a button "Download (PDF)". The confirmation looks like the following photo.
The application for a visa to Germany through Visametric in 2021 is submitted no earlier than 90 days before the start of the trip.If there is a valid entry, it is not possible to make a new one.
VIP-service does not imply acceleration of the visa processing time, but makes it possible to be served in an empty hall at a convenient time with increased comfort. The VIP entry allows you to choose the date and time of your visit outside of the normal working hours of the visa center. For example, come Friday night or Saturday morning.
An urgent visa can be issued only in Moscow. The application is submitted no earlier than 3 working days before the planned departure. You will need to confirm the need for urgency.
Offices and administrative districts
Visa services for Russians are provided by the Embassy, four German Consulates in Russia and 20 VisaMetric offices assigned to administrative districts.
Information about the zones of jurisdiction is available on the main page of the website of the visa center. By choosing one of the five tabs indicated there, you can get all the information of interest about each office.
- In particular, VisaMetric's opening hours in Moscow are from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 am to 4 pm, and on weekends, from 9 am to 6 pm. One-time submission of documents in groups is possible until 15.00.
You can contact the staff by phone + 7495-990-8979 (on weekdays from 08.30 to 18.00) or e-mail [email protected].
There is also a Google map with which you can easily understand how to get to the VisaMetric Visa Application Center in Moscow. On the website, applicants have access to a quick contact function in the "Write to us" tab.
Passports are issued from 09.00 to 18.00 every day, except Saturday and Sunday. The center is located on the street. Kievskaya, house 2, in the shopping center "Kievskiy".
- In Kazan, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Samara and Saratov, the operating modes are identical. Of course, before visiting, you need to clarify the address and phone number of VisaMetric in the city you are interested in.
- In Yekaterinburg, the center is located on the street. Voevodina, house 8, in the business center "Limerance". For communication, the following contacts are used: phone + 7343-384-5724; email ─ [email protected]. The office is open for documents acceptance from 08.30 to 16.00 from Monday to Friday. Results and passports are issued from 08.30 to 17.30.
- Centers in Ufa and Perm operate in the same way.
- In Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk and Vladivostok, offices accept documents from 9.00 to 16.30, and issue from 9.00 to 18.00 every day, except weekends.
- The German Visa Application Center in St. Petersburg is located at st. Kazanskaya, 1/25, shopping center "Atrium", 5th floor, office 504B. You can contact the staff by phone + 7812-309-8979 or email [email protected]. The center in St. Petersburg accepts documents from 9.00 to 16.30, and issues from 9.00 to 17.30 every day, except Saturday and Sunday. Serves residents of Karelia, Komi, Nenets Autonomous District, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk, Novgorod and Pskov regions.
- The center in Kaliningrad is located on the street. Teatralnaya, 35, in the business center "Morskoy". Open from 8.00 to 15.30 from Monday to Friday. Reception of documents ─ from 8.00 to 17.30. You can contact by phone. +7 4012-71-9521 and email [email protected].
Visa and service fees
The visa fee has remained the same: € 35 (RUB 2,570) for regular and € 70 (RUB 5,140) for urgent processing. It can be paid in cash or by card at the rate set by the embassy / consulate.
The service charge has increased slightly. If VFS Global took € 18.85 for an application without fingerprinting or € 20.35 with biometrics, now the cost of the service is not differentiated and is 20.4 euros or 1,500 rubles. Charged from each application and can be paid in cash rubles or by credit card. All fees are non-refundable.
The following are exempt from paying the visa fee:
- children under 6 years old;
- schoolchildren, students, postgraduates and accompanying teachers who travel for the purpose of training, advanced training, including within the framework of exchange programs;
- spouses of German citizens, parents of minor children who are German citizens.
The list of preferential categories is available on the embassy website.
Terms of consideration of the application
Accepted sets of documents are transferred to the authorized diplomatic mission. Shipping from the regional center and back takes up to two business days. After that, the review process usually takes 10 calendar days.
The German Embassy reserves the right to request additional documents, which may lead to an increase in the processing time of the application.
An increase in terms is also possible in the event of a high workload of centers on the eve of Russian and German holidays. The official holiday calendar is available on the center's website.
If a visa is issued urgently, it takes up to three days to process the application.
While waiting
Tracking the status of a German visa application through VisaMetric does not require much time or special knowledge. To do this, you should:
- Find a special tab in the "Obtaining a visa" section of the website.
- Enter passport numbers and barcode / record number (from the previously received application confirmation) and send a request by clicking on the corresponding icon.
The system will very quickly give an exhaustive answer, which, however, will not contain the exact date of the passport's readiness.
Then you can check the readiness of a visa to Germany on the Visametric website, as well as by email and SMS.
Issuance of a visa
Obtaining a ready-made visa is a long-awaited and joyful event. There are many types of entry permits, respectively, each has its own characteristics.
Features of receiving
In accordance with the rules, the Schengen is issued by the diplomatic mission of the country that is the country of the main stay within the framework of one trip. If you plan to visit several countries, you must apply for a visa at the representative office of the country where you plan to stay for more days. How to get through diplomatic obstacles is explained on the website.
The algorithm of the applicant's actions is as follows:
- Preparation of the necessary documents, you can pre-register for filing.
- Familiarization with the rules.
- Filling out an online questionnaire.
- Visiting the Visametric office at the place of actual residence, submitting documents and fingerprints. During the submission of documents, you can use additional services.
- Obtaining a finished passport at the office or by courier delivery, if such a service has been issued.
For a stay in Germany longer than 90 days, you must apply for a national visa. An application for a national visa is submitted exclusively to the representative office corresponding to the administrative district, and only by appointment.
You can get detailed information on the full list of required documents and fees on the website of the German diplomatic mission in Russia.
Extra services
Additional services of the visa center:
- VIP service ─ has dropped in price from 85 to 70 euros (5,140 rubles) per person;
- photography costs 310 rubles (€ 4.1) per set;
- health insurance;
- filling out a questionnaire ─ costs 310 rubles (€ 4.1);
- courier delivery of ready-made passports;
- copying and printing of documents became completely paid ─ a page costs 30 rubles. (€ 0.3);
- notification of the readiness of documents. By SMS ─ 160 rubles. (€ 2.1).
The purchase of services is optional and does not affect the order of consideration of the application. In principle, the list remained the same, but some free services became paid.
Important information
The website of the visa center has a section "Information", which describes in detail the procedural features, requirements, links to the websites of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the German Embassy, Consulates General and a calculator for calculating the permissible length of stay for a short-stay visa.
Rules for submitting documents and obtaining visas
Citizens of the Russian Federation and other countries living in Russia legally have the opportunity to apply. To draw up a contract, you must have an original Russian internal passport or a residence permit (for foreigners).
If biometric data was submitted earlier, submission is possible:
- by a certified power of attorney in the presence of the original and a copy of the power of attorney, copies of pages with photos of passports;
- in the form of a power of attorney issued by Visametric. It is necessary to provide a completed power of attorney form with a signature (original), copies of pages with photographs of the passports of the principal and the authorized person. The same filing format applies to spouses. In case of group filing, such a power of attorney must be issued from all persons included in the contract. One of the parents can apply for the children. In this case, he will need a birth certificate (original and copy).
When parents or guardians do not submit documents for minor children, a notarized power of attorney is required from one of the child's representatives (parent or guardian). Additionally, you must provide a copy of the passport of the parent who signed the power of attorney, a copy of the passport of the authorized person, the original and a copy of the birth certificate.
The issuance of ready-made passports is carried out in the center where the documents were submitted, by subscription. The person for whom the contract is drawn up can receive a passport personally.
Required documents:
- client agreement;
- the recipient's internal passport (the document for which the contract is drawn up);
- residence permit (for foreign citizens).
A third party (not the customer) can only receive a notarized power of attorney if there is a client agreement, an internal passport (original and copy).
Only the person specified in the contract as the customer with a list of documents identical to the one given above can pick up the group passports.
If one of the applicants under the contract is required to receive his passport in person, the customer must fill out an agreement for the issuance of ready-made documents and hand it over to the applicant along with the service agreement.
For underage applicants, only the parent indicated in the contract as the customer has the right to pick up the documents.
For minors
Regardless of the purpose of the trip, citizens under 18 years old must provide:
- original and copy of birth certificate. When changing the surname of a child or one of the parents, originals and copies of documents confirming this fact (certificate of marriage / divorce, change of name) are required;
- a signed statement by the parent / guardian;
- a copy of the first page of the parent's foreign passport and a copy of the page with the child's personal data, if the child is entered in the parent's foreign passport;
If the child leaves with two parents, you will need:
- confirmation of cohabitation during the trip;
- air tickets in both directions;
- copies of valid visas, if any;
- copies of the first pages of passports.
If the child leaves with one parent, you will additionally need a notarial consent to leave from the second (original and copy) and a copy of his passport. The original notarized consent for the child's departure is returned along with a ready-made passport.
If the child travels accompanied by a third person, it is necessary to provide notarized consent for the child to leave from both parents (original and copy) and copies of their passports.
If the child travels accompanied by a guardian, you will additionally need:
- documents confirming the official absence of parents / parental rights;
- a court decision on the appointment of a guardian;
- permission to leave from the guardianship and guardianship authorities.
If one or both parents are absent, you must provide:
- death certificate;
- court decision on deprivation of parental rights;
- a certificate from the regional registry office (form 25), if at birth the data about the father are included in the birth certificate from the mother's words;
- a police certificate if one of the parents is missing.
Biometrics and personal presence
To apply for a Schengen visa, all applicants are required to provide biometric data, which will be entered into the VIS system from 2021. Applicants must be present in person when they first apply.
Children under 12 years of age and disabled persons for whom the procedure is not feasible are exempt from biometrics.
Previously submitted fingerprints are valid for 59 months. If you have a Schengen visa with fingerprints issued after September 14, 2021, a third party can apply for a visa with a power of attorney in hand.
Peculiarities of obtaining a visa by citizens of the CIS
Visametric cents are available in the following post-Soviet countries:
- Ukraine: Kiev, Kharkov, Dnipro, Lvov, Odessa;
- Azerbaijan, Baku;
- Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Andijan, Bukhara;
- Tajikistan: Dushanbe, Khujand;
- Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek, Osh;
- Kazakhstan: Almaty, Atyrau, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Shymkent.
Citizens of Belarus need to apply to the German consulate in Minsk to obtain a visa. Citizens of Turkmenistan, while the visa center has not opened, will have to contact the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ashgabat.
For residents of Crimea, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a German visa is not yet available.
Visa Application Center Addresses
Office locations are available on the official Visametric website. To find out the location of the center, on the main page, you must specify the countries of residence and travel (except Germany, there is an opportunity to select other countries), and then enter the "Offices" tab.
Frequently asked questions
On the portal of the visa center there is an FAQ section, where you can find answers to any questions of interest to applicants. We will give answers to three questions that are not there.
- What does the status “Passport returned by the embassy to the VisaMetric office” mean?
This suggests that the visa will be refused or additional documents will have to be prepared.
- In which cities are VisaMetric Visa Application Centers available?
In the same 20 cities where the old operator worked.
- Why did you change the operator?
As noted in the German consulate, this is a common procedure. The changes are due to the rules according to which one operator cannot provide services for more than six years in a row.
Feedback from first customers
The Russians, who have visited the new German visa center in Moscow, VisaMetric, note the efficiency, teamwork of the staff, as well as the more beautiful design of the halls, a lot of greenery and light.
Nobody has complained about the queue yet. On the other hand, some point to the absence of the already familiar lockers, which the previous operator had free of charge.
By the way, the courier delivery operator has also changed. Instead of Fox Express, DHL is now doing this, which is seen as a positive change.
Conclusions
So, with the new visa operator Visametric, by and large, the procedure for obtaining a visa to Germany for Russians has not changed. In any case, the rules, procedure and deadlines for processing remained the same, the cost of services did not increase significantly, online application submission reduced queues, and it became easier to find out if a visa to Germany was ready.
