To do business successfully, you need to negotiate, actively meet with partners, conclude deals, participate in conferences, symposia, business meetings not only in your country, but also in other countries. Business does not recognize borders, and this fact is taken into account by migration legislation around the world. A business visa is the document that provides entrepreneurs and businessmen with maximum mobility and simplifies border crossing.
What is a business visa
A business or business visa is a permit to enter and stay in the country for foreign citizens - business representatives or persons who are in one way or another connected with the conclusion of contracts, holding industrial and trade exhibitions, conducting business negotiations, meetings with partners.
In most states, a business visa is a sticker (holographic insert, stamp), which is glued into the passport during registration.
Outwardly, a permit for a business visit practically does not differ from ordinary visas - tourist, guest - which are issued by the consular offices of a particular country. The business visa is the same size but is identified by country. So, in the PRC, the distinguishing feature of such a visa is the letter M, which denotes the category "Business".
Business visas of the Schengen countries are marked with the letter C. This category of short-term visas, in addition to businessmen, is also issued for visiting relatives, friends, and tourist purposes. One of the distinguishing features of a European business visa is the presence of the MULTI category (the ability to enter and exit the Schengen area many times).
US business visas, like Schengen visas, give the right to make to the country not only business visits (Visitor for Business), but also guest and tourist trips (Visitor for Pleasure) and are designated B1 / B2.
In the Russian Federation, business (commercial) visas are indicated in the column for the purpose of the trip - "Business" and the mark "OD" - "Ordinary business" is put on the visa.
Depending on the number of permitted crossings of the state border, business visas are:
- single entry - it is allowed to enter the territory of the country only once (mark in the visa "01");
- double - entry into the country is allowed twice (mark in the visa "02");
- multi- or multiple - it is allowed to enter the territory of the country several times (mark in the visa "multi").
What activities are allowed for a business visa holder
A business visa allows you to carry out the following activities:
- establishing business contacts, visiting government and commercial structures;
- conducting commercial negotiations;
- selection of new employees;
- conclusion and extension of contracts for the supply of goods and services;
- carrying out activities to research the potential of the market;
- participation in business conferences, congresses, negotiations with partners, meetings, auctions;
- actions for the installation and maintenance of equipment;
- change of crews in transport;
- transportation of goods and passengers by professional drivers;
- accompanying a family member on a business trip.
A business or business visa does not give permission for contract work and employment. Sightseeing and touring outside of conferences and meetings is not prohibited.
The procedure for obtaining a business visa
Obtaining a permit to enter the country for business is practically no different from obtaining tourist or guest visas. With a few exceptions: for registration, you must provide an invitation (telex or original) from business partners or other official document that could confirm the purpose of the visit.
Traditionally, business visa processing is carried out by:
- consulates or consular departments at embassies;
- accredited visa centers;
- travel agencies, specialized agencies.
The procedure for obtaining a business visa largely depends on which country the visit is planned to. Despite attempts to unify the process of issuing entry permits for business and a number of common points, the consulates of some countries may put forward their own migration requirements for paperwork and the provision of additional documents.
A business trip to the PRC can be arranged only at the consulates of this country and in those visa centers that are accredited with them. The standard time for obtaining a visa is 7 calendar days. For urgent processing (within 3 days) and express (per day) an additional fee is charged. Reception schedules and information on the need for an appointment can be found on the official websites of Chinese consulates and embassies.
Russian business visas are issued at the consulates of the Russian Federation in the countries of residence of the applicants within 7 calendar days (by telex invitations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation - from 1 to 2 days) from the date of submission of documents.
Registration of a business visa to the countries of the Schengen area is the same for all member states of the Agreement. You can get it at the representative office of any of them. When submitting an application, the personal presence of the applicant is required to submit the biometric data. If you have already submitted your fingerprints for a Schengen visa after 14.09. 2021, then the documents can be submitted by a trustee. The waiting time for a visa is from 5 to 10 days.
To apply for a business visa to the United States, you must make an appointment for an interview at the embassy. This can be done on the website of the US Embassy, after completing the online form DS-160 and paying the state fee.
The usual waiting time is about 14 days. When visiting, you must bring the entire package of documents with you. The decision is made directly at the interview. Fingerprints are also taken here (not required for persons under the age of 14 and over 80). If the answer is yes, the visa will be issued within three working days after the interview.
List of required documents for a business visa
To apply for a business visa, you will need to provide a standard package of documents:
- invitation (to obtain a business visa for the Russian Federation and the United States, invitations can be of three types: on the letterhead of the migration authority, by letter and telex). This document is the determining one when opening a visa. It must contain information about the route, date of invitation and duration of stay, name and address of the inviting organization;
- visa application;
- a passport valid for the entire travel period or more (for example, in the USA, Russia - for 6 months, in Poland - for 3 months, in Hungary - 105 days);
- color photo 3.5 x 4.5 cm, white background
- civil internal passport;
- confirmation of payment of the state duty;
- confirmation of the validity of the trip (passport details of the inviting individual, registration number, address - for a legal entity);
- insurance policy;
- hotel reservation, etc.
Consulates may require additional documents. So, to obtain a US visa, you must provide at the interview, in addition to the listed papers, a printed page of the DS-160 questionnaire, a copy of the confirmation of the appointment of the interview, and an email address.
To obtain a business permit in China, you will need a Form V. 2021.
You will also need a certificate from the place of work indicating the salary for the last six months, on the company's letterhead with a seal.
When issuing a permit to enter the Schengen states, a questionnaire will be required.
Business visa: duration and cost
The Schengen states issue entry permits for business purposes in four categories. The first makes it possible to stay in the Schengen countries for 30 days, the second - up to six months, the third - a year, the fourth - up to a year (the visa is valid for five years).
A business visa to Russia for foreigners can be issued for 30 days, for 90 days (single and double), as well as multiple entries for 90, 180 and 365 days: entry-exit is not limited, only the total number of days spent in Russia is limited - not more than 90 in half a year.
A business visa to the United States can be opened for 10 years with a multi-entry, but each time you visit the country, an employee of the US Department of Border Control will determine the length of stay at the entrance.
The PRC provides single-entry business visas for up to 30 or 90 days of stay (with a corridor of entry 3 months), double-entry visas with 30, 60 or 90 days of stay (with a corridor of entry 3 and 6 months) and annual multiple-entry visas - up to 90 days of stay (with a corridor entry at 12 months).
An interesting fact: in September 2021, the United States halved the number of nonimmigrant visas issued to Russian citizens - 7110 (in August - 14939).
The cost of business visas for some countries
| State | Category | Name | Consular fee | Additional expenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | V | Business and tourist visas | USD 160 | |
| Schengen countries | WITH | Business and tourist visas | 35 euros (simplified program), 70 euros for other countries | For urgency, the amount doubles, upon receipt at visa centers - service fee from 20 to 30 euros |
| PRC | M | Business visa | From 30 to 90 US dollars depending on the frequency and length of stay | |
| RF | OD | Business (commercial visa) | 35 euros for citizens of the European Union, for citizens of the PRC - 50, 100, 150 US dollars (one-, two-, multiple), citizens of other countries - on an individual basis | For urgency, the amount doubles, upon receipt at visa centers - service fee from 21 to 27 euros |
Summing up
Business (business) visa - allows entrepreneurs and businessmen to freely cross state borders and develop their business, make investments in the economy, recruit personnel, and conclude contracts. All parties are interested in this, which explains the attempts to unify and simplify the procedure for obtaining a business visa as much as possible.
