The problems that arose in relations between the Russian Federation and the EU countries (mutual sanctions, expulsion of diplomats, accusations of violation of international law), fortunately, did not affect the ability for most ordinary Russian citizens to visit Germany. This country continues to occupy one of the first places in the world where our citizens are striving to go - to visit relatives, undergo medical treatment, get an education, get a job or simply take part in Oktoberfest. In this regard, you should take a closer look at what a visa to Germany in 2021 is and what is needed for its registration.
Do citizens of the Russian Federation need a visa to Germany
As of today, Germany is not included in the list of states with visa-free entry for Russian citizens. Germany and Russia have not yet reached an agreement on visa-free travel, so the issue of obtaining an entry visa to Germany arises in every case when Russian citizens are going to visit this country.
You can clarify and check the need for an entry permit on the official website of the German Foreign Ministry.
Entry to Germany for Russian citizens is possible by:
- national German visa (D);
- Schengen visa. It is also possible to enter Germany on a Schengen visa of another country, if it was opened earlier. In this case, a special permit is not required to travel to Germany, but on condition that the period of an open visa covers the entire period of the planned stay in Germany.
It should also be borne in mind that obtaining a visa does not yet guarantee permission to enter Germany. The final decision will be made by the German border guards when crossing the border.
Travel to Germany: what type of visa is required
There are several types of visas in Germany. German immigration law regulates in detail what types of visas and in which case foreigners should be issued.
The choice of a particular visa depends primarily on the purpose of the trip. If you need a short stay in the country (up to three months), it is advisable to apply for the required type of Schengen visa:
- for a business (work) trip. A visa of this type is required for members of official delegations, drivers of buses and trucks for cargo transportation, participants in specialized exhibitions, as well as those who are going to come there for practice, for seasonal work (up to three months) or go on a business trip;
- in connection with personal goals. Such visas are opened for travel through a travel agency, trips to control their own real estate in Germany, visiting the burial places of relatives, buying real estate, visiting and participating in exhibitions;
- to receive medical services and treatment (this type of visa is also issued to persons accompanying the patient);
- to visit relatives and friends, as well as citizens of the Russian Federation who legitimately reside in Germany (you cannot do without an invitation here);
- to participate in events that are related to cultural life, science and art. Such a visa is issued for scientists and fellows (for stays of up to three months), for taking short-term language courses (up to three months), for students and postgraduates, young people who have come on exchange, members of delegations of sister cities, participants in international sports competitions and other creative and cultural events;
- for transit travel (when a flight is made from one non-Schengen country to any other non-Schengen country and a transfer is required at a German airport).
A German national visa D is required for those citizens of the Russian Federation who are going to live in Germany for a long time in the event of:
- marriage with a German citizen;
- study at a university, in courses of in-depth study of the German language, etc.;
- work, Aur pair, volunteer and business activities in Germany;
- long-term treatment and recovery from illness.
A national visa allows a long stay in the country (from 91 to 365 days) within a clearly defined time frame. Unlike Schengen visas, it gives you the right to apply for a temporary residence permit - Aufenthaltstitel.
Holders of a national visa also have the opportunity to stay up to 90 days in half a year in other Schengen countries for tourism and other purposes (except for work).
Those Russian citizens who decide to move to Germany permanently (along the lines of Jewish immigration, business immigration, late resettlement, for family reunification) also need a national visa to enter the country.
Medical insurance is one of the necessary documents for obtaining a national visa. Without knowing the German language or German laws, it is not so easy to draw up this document. Coracle helps you get public or private health insurance when you move to Germany, as well as get road risk insurance.
How to correctly apply for a visa to Germany
The procedure for obtaining a permit to enter Germany depends on which visa will be issued: Schengen or national. Let's consider both options.
The process of opening a Schengen visa to Germany includes five necessary stages:
- Selection of the required type of visa in accordance with the purpose of the trip.
- Preparation of documents.
- Submission of an application and a package of documents.
- Consideration of the application and processing of the submitted papers at the German representative office
- Obtaining a ready-made entry permit.
You can apply for a Schengen visa directly at the visa department of the German diplomatic mission or through one of the service and visa centers of the official partner - VFS Global. It should be remembered that the application should be submitted no earlier than three months before the planned date of travel.
In the first case, you must first make an appointment for an interview.
German diplomatic missions in the Russian Federation
| Location | Zone of jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Moscow (Embassy) | Moscow 13 republics: Adygea, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Mari El, Mordovia, North Ossetia-Alania, Tatarstan, Chechnya, Chuvashia, Udmurtia 2 regions: Krasnodar and Stavropol 26 regions: Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Voronezh, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Kirov, Kostroma, Kursk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol, Penza, Rostov, Ryazan, Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Tambov, Tver , Ulyanovskaya, Yaroslavskaya |
| Consulates General | |
| Ekaterinburg | 1 republic - Bashkortostan 2 autonomous districts: Khanty-Mansi, Yamalo-Nenets 5 regions: Kurgan, Orenburg, Sverdlovsk, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk |
| Novosibirsk | 5 republics: Altai, Buryatia, Sakha (Yakutia), Tyva, Khakassia) 1 Autonomous Region - Jewish 1 Autonomous District - Chukotka 6 territories: Altai, Zabaikalsky, Kamchatsky, Krasnoyarsk, Primorsky, Khabarovsk 8 regions: Amur, Irkutsk, Kemerovo, Magadan, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Sakhalin, Tomsk |
| St. Petersburg | St. Petersburg 2 republics: Karelia, Komi 1 Autonomous Okrug - Nenets 6 regions: Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov) |
| Kaliningrad | Kaliningrad region |
Citizens who live on the territory of Crimea and South Ossetia should apply to the Embassies of Germany in Ukraine and Georgia, respectively, for obtaining a permit to enter Germany.
When traveling with the whole family, please note that a separate entry is required for each family member. This method of submitting documents, in addition to the need for a personal presence for each applicant, usually requires a longer waiting time for the visit due to the heavy workload of the visa departments.
You can submit documents at one of the 19 VFS GLOBAL service centers that are officially operating in Russia.
You can select the required service center here. This requires:
- determine to which zone of jurisdiction the settlement of residence belongs, select the appropriate consulate general and left-click;
- on the page that opens, find the "Germany Visa Application Center", open the menu and select the nearest settlement to the applicant's place of residence;
- by clicking on the link, you can go to the page with the address of the center, directions, reception schedules and contact numbers.
At the visa center, you must submit a package of documents drawn up in a certain order, fill out an online application. Documents can be submitted by an authorized representative of the applicant, but it should be borne in mind that a personal visit in the absence of biometric data will be mandatory.
The fingerprints and photos taken are not indefinite and remain valid for 5 years, after which they will have to be returned.
The issuance of a national German visa involves only a personal appeal directly to the German diplomatic mission in Russia (section K-II).
Through visa centers, it is only possible to make a preliminary appointment at the Consulate General or the German Embassy. During the visit, you must not only submit a package of necessary papers, but also pay consular fees, register the biometric data of all applicants over 12 years old (children under 12 years old must also be present when submitting an application), answer questions from an authorized person of the department about the reasons for applying for a national visa ...
What documents are required for visa processing
To obtain permission to enter Germany, you need to prepare and submit a package of papers to the German diplomatic mission. The list of documents depends on the type of visa being opened and the purpose of the trip.
At the same time, there are several documents that will be needed in any case when applying for different types of entry permits:
- application form completed in Russian or German and signed by the applicant; You can find out how to fill out the application form correctly and get detailed instructions from the article "Visa Application Form".
- consent to the processing of personal data;
- original and copy of a valid passport, which must be valid for at least three months after returning from the Schengen area and have at least two blank pages;
- receipt of payment of the visa fee;
- original medical insurance (must cover the entire period of stay or the first trip, have a minimum coverage of 30 thousand euros);
- biometric photo - 2 copies.
Additional documents will be required, which must be provided to obtain a permit to enter the country, depending on the purpose of the trip and stay in Germany
| Purpose of visit to Germany | Additional documents |
|---|---|
| Work / business trip | |
| Members of delegations | Letter of confirmation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, a copy of the invitation |
| Business trip | Original / copy of the invitation from the German business partner or other confirmation (business trip program, correspondence) |
| Businessmen | Business partner invitation Confirmation of entrepreneurial activity: 2-NDFL certificates, an extract from the tax register, an extract for three months from a bank account) |
| Truck drivers | Business partner invitation Copy of employer's license Copies of driver's license (C), employment contract |
| Bus drivers | Request from ASMAP, RAS Business partner invitation Copy of employer's license Copy of the license of the operator of bus passenger transportation Copy of the employment contract Copies of driver's license (D), copy of Rosminavtotrans license |
| Railway train crews | Request from Russian Railways, employment details |
| Journalists | Journalist ID Letter from the employer (for independent persons - certificates 2-NDFL, 3-NDFL, bank statements) |
| Scientists | Invitation / agreement with a university in Germany Grant nomination or scholarship Business trip from a Russian university |
| Tourism / private visits | |
| Tourism | Hotel reservation or other confirmation of the availability of a place to stay Return tickets with confirmation of payment Evidence of sufficient financial security (bank statement for three months, certificate of employment with salary, copy of pension certificate, sponsorship letter) Obligation to return home (confirmation of ownership of real estate in the Russian Federation, vehicle passport, certificate of the recent birth of a child in the Russian Federation, etc.) |
| Private visits | An invitation with an obligation to provide accommodation or a hotel reservation When visiting foreign nationals who live in Germany: |
| Visiting your own real estate in Germany | Proof of ownership of real estate (extract from the register, purchase and sale agreement, etc.). When traveling with relatives - confirmation of kinship, proof of financial well-being, confirmation of readiness to return home (ownership of real estate in the Russian Federation, family) |
Visiting cemeteries and burial sites | A document confirming the existence of a burial and confirmation of family ties with the deceased, confirmation of financial well-being and an obligation to return home (confirmation of ownership of real estate in the Russian Federation, etc.) |
| Visiting family members and close relatives (guest) | |
| - | An invitation from the receiving party (certified by a notary), address of residence, proof of relationship, confirmation of the legality of residence in Germany of the receiving party In the absence of housing - confirmation of financial solvency Confirmation of intentions to return to the Russian Federation (property ownership, employment contract) |
| Transit visa | |
| - | Tickets or travel documents, confirmation of financial well-being and intention to return (work, real estate in the Russian Federation) |
| Activities related to science, culture, sports | |
| Culture, science, creativity | Invitation from the host with confirmation of payment of expenses, sponsorship letter In the case of a group visit - the tour program and a list of all participants by role Obligation to return to the RF |
| German courses | Confirmation of enrollment in the school, indicating the duration and cost of training, place of residence in Germany, certificate of financial solvency or sponsorship letter Obligation to return to the RF. |
| Participants of joint programs on cooperation of sister cities | An invitation from the city administration, information about participants, proof of financial well-being |
| Schoolchildren, students and graduate students | Certificate of admission or invitation from the host Proof of financial viability (letter from sponsor, confirmation of grant or scholarship, etc.) For group travel - list of participants |
| Participants in sports events | Invitation (NOC of Germany, sports federations, etc.) List of participants Proof of financial well-being |
| Treatment | |
| Patients | Original invitation from a medical institution with a doctor's signature (or an email from the clinic's address) Hotel reservation or consent to check-in at the clinic Confirmation of payment for clinic services Bank statement (the amount must be at least the cost of placement in the clinic) Sponsorship letter (if necessary). Only a close relative can be a sponsor Copy of sponsor's passport Evidence of intention to return to the Russian Federation |
| Accompanying persons | Clinic invitation Confirmation of the place of residence (hotel reservation, clinic consent) Confirmation of financial availability and desire to return home Copies of the patient's passport and visa (with separate submission of documents) |
In the absence of at least one of the requested documents, the application for a permit to enter Germany is not subject to consideration.
Applying for a German national visa D requires additional documents:
- two copies of the application for a national visa (fill in only in German);
- application form for contact details;
- two signed clarifications (according to the German Residence Act, §§ 53 and 54);
- three biometric photos;
- civil passport and copies of pages with personal data and registration.
In addition, on the website of the German embassy there is a list of additional documents that must be provided for obtaining a national visa D, depending on the purpose of the trip.
| Purpose of the trip | Documents (must be submitted in original and two copies) |
|---|---|
| Re-entry to Germany on an open visa | |
| - | Proof of long-term stay in Germany (registration certificate, student card, insurance, salary certificate) |
| Family reunification | |
| Reunion with a spouse | Proof of knowledge of the German language (one of the language certificates: Start Deutsch 1 des Goethe - Instituts e.V, Start Deutsch 1 der Telc GmbH, Grundstufe Deutsch 1 des Österreichischen Sprachdiploms (ÖSD), TestDaF des TestDaF - Instituts e.V.) Copies of pages of a civil passport with a stamp on marital status Marriage certificate Spouse's passport, if there is a residence permit - its copy Rental agreement for housing or property (if you live together in Germany) Spouse invitation and obligations to maintain it in Germany |
| Marriage | Copies of pages of a civil passport with a stamp on marital status at the time of applying for a visa Certificate from the registry office about filing an application Other documents (birth certificates, marriage legal capacity, divorce, death of the former spouse, etc.) Statement of the bride / groom from the German side that the spouses intend to live in Germany and that they have undertaken obligations for the expenses of the stay Passport and certificate of registration of the groom / bride-resident of Germany Proof of knowledge of the German language (one of the Goethe language certificates - Instituts, Telc-GmbH, ÖSD, TestDaF) |
| Reunification with a child who is a German citizen | Copies of pages of a civil passport with a stamp on marital status at the time of applying for a visa Invitation of the other parent (in free form), copy of his passport Proof of residence in Germany (lease agreement, title deed, etc.) Child's birth certificate In the absence of a record about the father in the certificate: |
| Reunification with an unborn child who is a German citizen | Pregnancy certificate indicating its duration Proof of German citizenship by the future parent of the child Marriage certificate In case of extramarital conception: |
| Family reunification of a minor child | Birth certificate Copies of pages of a civil passport with a stamp on marital status at the time of applying for a visa Identity documents of the parents with whom the child is reunited An invitation from the parent, copies of his passport, residence permit (if any) and certificate of registration in Germany Court decision on deprivation of parental rights (with sole parental right) Consent from the parent (if he stays in the Russian Federation), a copy of his passport |
| Reuniting with other family members according to § 36 of the Residence Act | Copies of pages of a civil passport with a stamp on marital status at the time of applying for a visa Invitation with a commitment to cover the costs Letter of justification for a particularly difficult situation and the need to move to Germany Confirmation of family ties (documents on civil status - marriage certificates, birth certificates, changes in surname or first name, adoption, etc.) Passports of German relatives Confirmations from social security authorities, patronage services, medical |
| Labor activity | |
Dependent labor activity | An employment contract specifying information about the employer, type and period of employment, the amount of salary without deducting taxes, a list of duties Confirmation of professional qualifications (diplomas with inserts on completed higher and vocational education) Confirmation of knowledge of foreign languages Employment history Biography Other documents (letters of recommendation) |
| Self-employed business and liberal professions | Constituent document (Gründungsurkunde) certified by a notary List of shareholders or members of the firm Extract from the Handelsregisterauszug (commercial register); Description of a business idea (in German) Funding plan Confirmation of professional qualifications (diplomas, certificates, etc.) Confirmation of knowledge of a foreign language Employment history Biography (professional career) Confirmation for businessmen over 45 of the availability of security in old age (pension, property, bank account, etc.) Statement of plans for the future (for the liberal professions) |
| Medical work activity | Employment contract specifying information about the employer, annual salary without withholding taxes Graduation diploma (must be recognized in Germany) Permit for professional activities Proof of knowledge of the German language (at least B2 level) Biography Employment history |
| Job search in Germany | Confirmation of the availability of funds (720 euros per month) for the entire duration of the visa (surety from the Office for Foreigners in Germany, bank account, statement from parents on consent to sponsor, etc.) Blocked account in one of the banks in Germany (for 6 months - 4320 euros), with the right to withdraw 1/6 of the part monthly Education documents with inserts Proof of knowledge of the German language Residence guarantee (hotel reservation, invitation of a friend of a resident of Germany) Motivation letter (about length of stay, area of interest, etc.) Biography Employment history |
| Working as an Au Pair (between the ages of 18 and 27) | A contract with a family that accepts Certificate of registration of parents in a host family Motivation letter about the desire to work in Germany as a nanny or housekeeper Biography (with contact details) Proof of knowledge of the German language (A1) (can be replaced with an interview when submitting an application) Confirmation of education (certificate from the place of study, certificate, diplomas) Employment book (if any) |
| EU Blue Card | Employment contract (indicating the type of activity, the size of the annual salary - at least 52 thousand euros per year (for doctors, IT, mathematicians, etc. - 40 560 euros) Diploma with an insert on the completion of the university (must be recognized in Germany) Proof of knowledge of the German language Employment history Biography Other documents (letters of recommendation, certificates) |
Voluntary or volunteer work | Contract or agreement on voluntary service (with confirmation of sources for life support and accommodation) Motivation letter Biography Confirmation of sufficient knowledge of the German language Confirmation of qualifications (school certificate, certificate from the place of study, diplomas) |
| Artists and artists | Employment contract or engagement (specifying information about the employer, type of activity, remuneration and period of employment) Confirmation of qualifications Employment history Biography with contact details |
| Internship | Internship agreement in Germany with information about the employer, the period of passage, the field of activity (Praktikumsvertrag) Practice plan Confirmation of qualifications (diploma of education) Biography Employment history |
Entry as a scientist, researcher, researcher | An employment contract specifying information about the employer in Germany, the type of scientific activity, the amount of monthly remuneration or scholarship, the period of employment Education information German language proficiency certificate Biography Employment history |
| Education | |
| Education at the university, applicants | Admission to study (Zulassung), confirmation of enrollment (Bewerberbestätigung) or grant of a study place (Studienplatzvormerkun) For students - proof of final admission to study (Zulassung) For doctoral students - an invitation from the supervisor Confirmation of the availability of the amount of 8,640 euros for the first academic year (blocked bank account, surety, confirmation of receipt of a scholarship (at least 720 euros per month), bank statement, parental sponsorship) Proof of education (certificate, bachelor's, master's degree) For students of the Russian Federation - a certificate of study at the university Motivation letter in German or English Biography German language proficiency certificate (B1) |
| Professional training | Training agreement (indicating the data of vocational school, contact person, profession, remuneration, terms of completion) Funding confirmation (statement of acceptance of surety, bank statement, parental assistance) Proof of education (certificate, diplomas) Motivation letter Biography Proof of knowledge of the German language (A2) |
| Passage of language courses | An invitation from a language school (indicating the duration, number of hours of classes, confirmation of payment for the entire course of study) Confirmation of funding during the course (800 euros) - blocked bank account, account statement, parental sponsorship Proof of education Motivation letter Biography |
| Medical treatment and support | |
| - | Medical report indicating the diagnosis, justification of the urgency of treatment in Germany and the need for an accompanying person Letter from a German medical institution (description of treatment, cost, duration of stay, contact details) Confirmation of prepayment / payment for treatment Proof of financing for a period of residence in Germany Proof of residence Certificate from work for an accompanying person (occupation, length of service, salary, leave for the period of stay in Germany, etc.) |
| Immigration to Germany (late settlers, Jewish immigration) | |
| Late settlers | Departure sheet BVA Acceptance Notice Certificate of no criminal record (not earlier than 6 months at the time of application) Other confirmations (consent to the departure of the child, etc.) |
| Jewish immigration | Departure sheet BAMF Acceptance Notice Birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc. Certificate from the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation (for pensioners) Certificate of the presence or absence of real estate in the Russian Federation Other confirmations (consent to the departure of the child, etc.) |
It should be borne in mind that this list of documents may not be complete and additional papers may be requested at the discretion of the Embassy.
All originals of documents that were issued by the registry office of the Russian Federation must have an apostille. All Russian-language papers, except for passports and insurance, must be accompanied by a German translation certified by the translator's signature.
There are some rules to follow when applying for visas for underage applicants.
The German travel permit for children requires the following features:
- consent to the processing of the child's personal data, a visa application is signed by one of the parents;
- children under 12 years of age are exempt from biometric data (fingerprinting);
- a special power of attorney is required when a child submits documents for a third party to enter Germany
- when leaving with one of the parents / curator, a statement of consent to the departure of the child, certified by a notary from the second parent / parents, is required;
- when opening a visa to Germany for a child, copies of the parent's / accompanying person's visas are required, as well as proof of a joint trip (hotel reservation and / or tickets);
- parents usually sponsor the expenses of their underage children.
Where to get a ready-made visa to Germany
The decision to issue an entry permit will be made only at the German Embassy. After reviewing the documents and making a decision to open a Schengen visa, an SMS message will be sent to the applicant (this service can be ordered when submitting an application).
After that, within 45 days, you can pick up the finished passport at the service center in which the application was submitted, receive it by mail or through a courier (when ordering directly by the applicant). You can order this service even after submitting an application via the Internet at fox-express.ru.
To obtain a passport, you must provide an agreement with the center, your civil passport and a copy of the first page of your passport.
Obtaining passports at service centers is possible from Monday to Friday:
- from 8.00 to 16.00 - in Kaliningrad (st. 1812 Goda, 126);
- from 8.30 to 16.00 - in Novosibirsk (Chelyuskintsev st., 15) and Yekaterinburg (Kuibysheva st., 44);
- from 9.00 to 16.00:
- in Saratov (Vavilova st., 38/114),
- Samara (st.Michurina, 78),
- Rostov-on-Don (st.Trolleybusnaya, 24 / 2V),
- Kazan (street Paris Commune, 8),
- Krasnodar (st.Academika Pavlova, 64),
- Nizhny Novgorod (Shcherbakova st., 15),
- Perm (st.Chernyshevsky, 28),
- Ufa (st.Chernyshevsky, 82),
- Irkutsk (Sverdlova st., 10),
- Vladivostok (Okeansky Ave., 17),
- Omsk (st.Frunze, 1/4,),
- Krasnoyarsk (st.Maerchak, 16),
- Khabarovsk (st.Istomin, 22A),
- St. Petersburg (st.Bolshaya Raznochinnaya 16/7),
- Arkhangelsk (Lomonosov Ave., 81),
- Vologda (Prechistenskaya nab., 34A);
In the service center in Moscow, ready-made passports can be obtained from Monday to Thursday from 8.30 to 16.00 and on Fridays from 8.30 to 14.00.
If the documents were submitted directly to the Consulate General or the Embassy, then the passport can be collected only in person or through an authorized representative, with a pass to receive the document. Upon receipt of the document, it is necessary to check the correctness of all the entries made.
All addresses and contact details of the Embassy, Consulates General and Visa Application Centers in the Russian Federation can be found on the official website of the German Embassy in Moscow.
| Visa Section of the German Embassy | Moscow, Leninsky prospect, 95a (entrance from the side of Academician Pilyugin street) |
|---|---|
| Consulate General | |
| Ekaterinburg | st. Kuibysheva, 44 |
| Kaliningrad | st. Telman, 14 |
| Novosibirsk | Red prospect, 28 |
| St. Petersburg | st. Furshtatskaya, 39 |
On the website of the German Embassy, the list of processed applications is regularly updated, which indicates the numbers of ready-made permits and a list of documents that must be presented to the applicant.
To obtain a national visa, the applicant must, with a passport, an issued pass and other documents, come up from 8.00 to 9.00 am on any day of the week (except Saturday and Sunday) for approval at the visa department of the Embassy. You can pick up a certified passport on the same day from 14.30 to 15.30 (on Friday - from 13.30 to 14.00).
Terms and cost of processing Schengen and national visas
The processing time for a visa to Germany depends on many factors:
- type of visa;
- the presence or absence of a complete package of documents;
- the need for additional data verification;
- requesting new documents;
- peak or decline of the tourist season.
The average waiting time for a visa to the Schengen countries (according to the signed agreement with the Russian Federation) is up to 10 days from the moment the documents are received at the embassy.
It is possible to speed up the process of obtaining such a visa (up to 3 days) for an additional fee - the price for registration in this case will double. At the same time, employees of the visa department of the Embassy can increase the period to 30 and 60 days for additional study of materials.
The issuance of a national visa to Germany can take from several days to several months, therefore, embassy officials do not recommend purchasing travel tickets until the moment when the visa issue is finally resolved.
The costs of obtaining a visa also depend on many factors: the type of document, the age of the applicant, urgency.
| Type of entry permit | Consular fee (euro) | Service fee (euro) without biometrics / with biometrics |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen | 35 | 18.85/20.35 |
| Schengen (members of official delegations, students and schoolchildren who go to study, participants in youth sports events, disabled persons and their accompanying persons, persons who travel on humanitarian grounds) | - | - |
| Schengen (express) | 70 | 18.85/20.35 |
| Schengen (express) members of official delegations, disabled persons and their accompanying persons, persons who travel on humanitarian grounds | - | - |
| Schengen (children under 6 years old, applicants with disabilities) | - | - |
| National visa (D) | 75 | - |
| National visa (D) (applicants under 18) | 37.50 | - |
| National visa (D) (applicants - spouse, same-sex registered partner, minor child of a German citizen) | - | - |
| National visa (D) (the applicant is a parent of a minor child who is a German citizen) | - | - |
| National visa (D) (the applicant receives a scholarship in Germany from public funds or EU funds, as well as his spouse, same-sex partner, minor children) | - | - |
| National visa (D) (the applicant travels as a volunteer) | - | - |
Consular and service fees are paid in Russian rubles at the official rate:
- in Kaliningrad - in cash or by credit card (MasterCard, Visa);
- in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk - only in cash.
For an additional fee, additional services are available in service centers when applying for Schengen visas:
- express production of a visa - 70 euros;
- courier mail (according to Fox-Express tariffs);
- service of filling out an application form, photography services - 300 rubles each;
- personal assistant - 40 euros;
- SMS notification - 100 rubles. for one notification.
In case of refusal to apply for a visa, fees are not refundable.
For how long is a visa issued
The validity of the visa depends on:
- its type (Schengen / national, transit, multivisa);
- the purposes of the trip (wishes are indicated by the applicant);
- a positive visa history of the applicant (especially if you have previous Schengen visas);
- social, family, professional status of the applicant;
- completeness and reliability of the information provided.
Each Schengen visa contains the validity period (corridor) and the number of days of maximum stay. In cases where the validity period is not specified, the visa will be considered legitimate within 90 days in six months.
The national visa has a clearly defined period of validity: from 91 to 180 days.
In the event that the planned stay in Germany does not exceed a year (for example, when studying for an exchange), an entry and residence permit can be opened for a year.
Holders of national visas are entitled to obtain a long-term residence permit in accordance with the purpose of their arrival at the Aliens Office.
How to track the readiness of a visa to Germany
When applying for a Schengen visa, there are several ways to control the process of its registration:
- on the service center website. Here you can find out the date of sending the submitted papers to the embassy and the estimated date of obtaining visas;
- by making a call by contact numbers;
- by issuing an SMS notification when applying for a visa.
The opening of a national visa is accompanied by a more thorough check, and during the first 8-12 weeks the embassy will not be able to answer questions. Therefore, it remains only to wait for the decision to be made, which will be communicated to the applicant.
On the official website of the embassy, you can view the lists of processed applications. In case of refusal, written notification will be sent to the applicant or his legal representative.
Refusal to open a visa: possible reasons
Unfortunately, things do not always go smoothly, and refusals of permission to enter and stay in Germany are common. The main reasons for refusing a visa, both Schengen and national, are concluded in:
- providing false information or forged documents;
- inconsistency of the trip with the stated purpose;
- the presence of a record in the information system of the Schengen area about previous refusals of entry;
- submission of an incomplete package of documents;
- lack of proof of family ties (with a guest visa);
- inconsistency of the vacation period with the time of entry to Germany;
- cancellation of hotel reservations or air tickets;
- not confirming intentions to return home;
- non-confirmation of a financial guarantee for the period of stay in Germany.
After receiving an official refusal to issue a visa, the applicant has the right to appeal (within a month for a Schengen visa and a year for a national visa), which will take quite a long time: from several weeks to several months. Therefore, it will often be more rational to take into account the mistakes and re-submit the documents.
Visa to Germany: what Russians most often ask about
There are usually a lot of questions related to the registration of permits to enter Germany. In each specific case, a variety of nuances may arise that can confuse even punctual and meticulous German officials. We will try to consider several such questions.
Is the personal presence of the applicant required to open a visa?
The personal presence of the applicant will be mandatory if it is necessary to submit biometric data for a Schengen visa. If they are available, a legally authorized person will be able to submit an application and receive a ready-made passport without the presence of the applicant. To do this, you must prepare a power of attorney in advance.
To apply for a national visa, the presence of all applicants (including children) when submitting documents is mandatory even if biometrics are available. After successful registration of the permit, the authorized person will be able to endorse the passport.
When do I not need a transit visa when transferring at German airports?
In 2021, Russian citizens may not need a transit visa in Germany only when:
- the next flight after the transfer is made to a country that is not part of the Schengen zone;
- registration and receipt of boarding pass for the flight in Germany is not required;
- there is no need to collect and drop off your baggage;
- Passport control is not required when checking into a hotel or moving to another terminal.
In Germany, such conditions have been created at several airports.
You will not need a transit visa at any time of the day when connecting in Frankfurt am Main and Munich. Another German airport that provides 24-hour visa-free transit is Tegel in Berlin (but only for Air Berlin customers).
Visa-free transit in the daytime (from 4.00 to 23.00) is possible at the airports of Hamburg, Cologne / Bonn, Dusseldorf. In all other cases, a transit visa is required.
What kind of visa should I apply for to study German?
For studying in short-term intensive courses or for students and schoolchildren to stay in language camps during the summer holidays, you can easily apply for a Schengen visa (up to 90 days). To complete longer training in specialized courses for preparing for the exams for a language certificate, you will already need a national visa to study German (from 91 days to a year).
What is an Express Visa?
Express visa does not mean a specific type of visa, but the time during which a permit to enter and stay in Germany will be issued. Emergency production of a Schengen visa is possible only at the service and visa department of Moscow. Its production time is three days, and the cost will be 70 euros.
When an urgent trip is required for members of a government or other official delegation, as well as in connection with the necessary urgent treatment or leaving for study, an express visa is provided without paying a consular fee.
Conclusion
Applying for a visa to Germany for Russian citizens requires prior preparation and a serious attitude. The algorithm of actions is quite simple. First of all, you need to carefully read all the requirements of the diplomatic missions of Germany and understand the type of visa that would correspond to the purpose of the visit to the country. Then you need to prepare the necessary package of documents, make an appointment and submit an application.
You should be prepared for the fact that you will have to invest a lot of time and effort in this process, additional documents may be required.
