Germany is one of those EU countries that most often refuse to issue visas to citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries. To obtain permission to enter the country, you need to collect an impressive amount of documents and go through a rather troublesome registration procedure.
Germany is not very interested in migrants who need to be supported by the budget. It is for this reason that the procedure for obtaining a visa implies a strict check of the financial wealth of the visitor and his intentions to return to his homeland. For tourists who just want to see the country or visit friends and relatives, there is an easier procedure for obtaining a visitor visa to Germany.
Types of visas to Germany
There are two types of visas for visiting Germany on a guest visit that does not involve work, study or business matters in the country. They differ in terms of validity, the number of countries you can visit, and the need to return to your home country for renewals.
Types of visas to Germany:
- Schengen (C);
- National (D).
A type C visa allows you to visit any of the Schengen countries. As long as the permit is valid, its owner has the opportunity to visit Germany an unlimited number of times. When the visa expires, the tourist must leave the country. For a Schengen visa, the procedure for filling out the documents is more convenient and the time for studying the application is shorter.
Types of Category C visas:
- Guest visit;
- Business trip;
- Language classes;
- Excursion trips within the framework of student and school exchanges;
- Short term treatment;
- Visiting exhibitions, opening days and specialized events;
- Transit;
- Tourist trip.
A national visa of category D, like a Schengen visa, implies a stay in the country for no more than 3 months. Moreover, this type of permit can be extended in Germany. The presence of a national visa does not imply a free visit to other Schengen countries, unless it is a very short-term visit with a note from the customs service about entering Germany.
Compared to the Schengen visa, the procedure for obtaining a national visa is more stringent. At the same time, it gives more opportunities to those staying in the country (work, study, etc.). The process of obtaining a permit is quite lengthy, it is better to start it in advance.
There are the following types of national visa:
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- Working;
- Family rebuilding;
- Student;
- For long-term treatment;
- Bride's visa;
- Invitation to a German Au-pair family.
Visitor visa C
A visitor visa is issued on the basis of an invitation from a German citizen or a person legally residing in the country and having a residence permit. The invitation can come from relatives, friends or just acquaintances.
To obtain a guest permit, there is no need to provide a reservation from the hotel, since the invitation assumes that the guest will stay in the house of the host.
The validity period directly depends on the period specified in the invitation. The maximum permitted stay cannot exceed 90 days.
Business
A permit to enter on a business visit can be issued with or without an invitation letter. An invitation significantly increases the chances of a positive response from the consulate. The official invitation for a business visit to Germany is drawn up by the representative of the inviting organization addressed to the consul.
The invitation must include:
- Passport details of the invitees;
- Length of stay;
- Purposes of entry;
- Stay program;
- Financial guarantees;
- Data of the person responsible for the reception and accommodation of guests.
Rules for issuing an invitation for a guest visa
There is a formal and formal invitation for a visitor visa. It is preferable to receive an official invitation. This greatly simplifies the procedure for obtaining a visa.
A formal invitation is a free-form letter written to the consular staff by a German citizen, informing about the desire to receive a guest. The letter is drawn up in German, indicating the passport details of the inviting party. Consulate employees have the right to disregard such a request, since it has no official force.
Sample of a formal (informal) invitation
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By issuing an official invitation, a German citizen assumes the obligations of a surety. That is, he guarantees that all possible costs associated with the guest (food, treatment, accommodation) will not fall on the state, but will be paid by the inviter.
When issuing a guarantee, the receiving party must provide:
- Financial statement;
- Proof of legal stay in the country;
- Help on the composition of the family.
The number of invitees depends on the number of family members who are supported by the inviter. You will also need to attach a certificate to the package of documents that the applicant is not in the process of dismissal. The official letter is valid for 6 months from the date of writing.
Reference! If the income of a German citizen is not large enough to invite a guest, he can make up an invitation in a pair with a relative.
Sample of an official invitation
Documents for obtaining a Schengen visitor visa
All documents required for obtaining a guest permit, when visiting the embassy, must be collected in full and properly executed. Otherwise, the likelihood of a rejection is high. In addition, the consular staff in this case can put down a note in the applicant's profile "negligent attitude to the procedure." Such a record greatly complicates the process of applying for documents in the future and reduces the chances of obtaining a visa.
The package of documents includes:
- Invitation;
- Application form;
- International passport;
- National passport;
- Help from work;
- Insurance;
- 2 color photographs;
- Financial guarantees;
- Return guarantees to your country;
- Consular fee payment form;
- Reservation for return tickets.
The application form must be completed without errors and typos. A copy of the first page is attached to the passport. The document must be valid for at least 3 months. The invitation is submitted in original with a copy attached.
The certificate from work must indicate:
- Employer data;
- Position and length of service of the applicant;
- Terms of vacations and business trips.
The period of validity of the medical policy cannot expire during the stay in Germany. Minimum insurance amount 30 thousand euros.
Financial guarantees can be a bank statement for the last 3 months. Particular attention should be paid to return guarantees. Germany is not interested in the appearance of migrants from disadvantaged countries, to which they include the CIS countries. The lack of ties with the homeland almost always serves as a reason for refusal to obtain a visa.
The following are considered as guarantees:
- spouse and children remaining in their home country;
- the property;
- business located on the territory of their state.
In addition to the established list of documents, consular officers may require additional information that they find important for making a decision.
Ways of obtaining a visitor visa
Citizens of Russia can apply for a visitor visa to Germany through the visa center or directly at the Embassy. It is believed that contacting visa centers simplifies the procedure a little. Employees of such organizations advise applicants on the correctness of filling out and other important issues.In addition, the visa application process is faster.
Things to Consider When Preparing for an Interview
If an interview is scheduled, most likely the consular staff have doubts about the applicant's trustworthiness. When preparing for a meeting, you need to try to prove the transparency of your intentions.
First of all, you should give up bright and pretentious clothes during the interview. Modest business attire and lack of heels are more acceptable to Europeans and will make a better impression during a meeting.
It is better to refrain from perfumes and bulky fashionable bags. The phone must be switched off during the meeting.
Questions should be answered in a calm, restrained and slightly cold tone. Being emotional doesn't do a great job. The main thing during the interview is to convince the employee of the indispensable return home.
Biometrics for a visitor visa
Biometric data is a prerequisite for obtaining a visa. Fingerprinting - identification by fingerprints - can be done at the embassy or visa center.
Where to get ready documents
You can pick up the finished documents at the same institution where the request was submitted. At the same time, visa centers, unlike consulates, usually provide an additional service in the form of courier delivery.
Validity of visa by invitation to Germany
A visitor visa is issued for a period not exceeding 3 months. The length of stay is indicated in the official invitation, respectively, the visa is issued for the same period.
Cost of a Schengen visa to Germany in 2021
Consular fee in 2021 is 35 euros... If urgent registration is required, the cost increases by 2 times. Children under the age of 6 and citizens who visit their blood relatives may be exempted from paying the fee.
The visa fee is paid at the official rate in the national currency of the country in which the documents are drawn up.
Reviews
Katerina: “My mother received a visa refusal. Her incredible talkativeness helped her in this. She used, in her opinion, a friendly tone during the interview. When asked about the purpose of the trip, she told about how tired of Russian everyday life and wants to live in a European way. Apparently, the embassy officials suspected that she wanted to settle in Germany and were refused. By the way, there were such plans, but not in the near future. Now the path is closed. You should be careful in the interview. "
Sophia:“I was going to apply for a visitor visa to meet with a friend. He lives in Hanover, but has neither his own apartment, nor a regular income. They wanted to involve his father in the case, but he flatly refused. I had to issue a tourist visa, book a hotel room. It's a pity, of course, for the 10% lost on the armor, but on the whole everything went smoothly. "
Svetlana:“I applied for a visa for a trip to a friend's wedding. I thought they would refuse. I am not married, no property. But nothing like that. I collected the usual package of documents, received a visa and went. Beauty."
An invitation-only visitor visa is by far one of the best options to visit family and friends living in Germany. With a well-designed invitation, the registration process does not take much time and is quite easy. The main thing when submitting documents is to take into account the pedantry inherent in the Germans, and painstakingly, without violations, follow all the rules established by the consulate.
