Supporting documents

Supporting documents

I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The following shall be submitted by all applicants for Schengen visa:

a) copy of the internal passport (for citizens of the Russian Federation (issued at the age of 14) and of other countries, issuing such documents): pages concerning the applicant's biodata, foreign passport(s) issued to him/her, his/her marital status and registration in Russia.

b) minors:

• copy of the birth certificate;
• consent of the parental authority or legal guardian should be required only if the minor travels alone or only with one parent. Exceptions should be made to this if the single parent with whom the minor is to travel holds the parental authority alone (i.e. in cases where the other parent has deceased or been deprived of custody, e.g. a death certificate of the other parent or a court degree vesting custody exclusively in the parent who is signing the application would be requested);
• copy of the valid visa of the parent(s) travelling with the minor for whom a visa is not applied at the same time with the parent(s).

c) travel medical insurance (not applicable for holders of diplomatic passports):

• applicants for Schengen visa for one or two entries shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on or transit through the territory of the Member States;
• applicants for a multiple-entry visa shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit;
• the insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Member States, the minimum coverage shall be EUR 30 000.

d) non-Russian nationals – proof of legal residence in the Russian Federation in line with federal legislation (e.g. residence permit, long-term visa or Federal Migration Service’s registration), valid for at least 3 months after the planned return from the territory of the Member States or a document proving that the applicant has applied for a renewal of proof of legal residence.

If an application for Schengen visa is lodged by not resident of the Russian Federation, proof of his legal presence in the Russian Federation and justification for submitting visa application in the Russian Federation instead of the country of residence.

 

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II. APPLYING FOR SCHENGEN VISA

I. Travelling for the purpose of business or work

a) Members of official delegations:

• letter (e.g. verbal note) issued by a competent Russian authority (e.g., Ministry of Foreign Affairs) confirming that the applicant is a member of its delegation travelling to the Member State;
• copy of the official invitation.

b) Participants in official twin city programmes:

• written request from the head of administration/mayor of the city where the twinning activity is to take place;
• written request from the head of administration/mayor of the sending city with full details of the participant.

c) Employees travelling on business:

• written request from a hosting firm or organisation, an office or branch, state or local authority of the Russian Federation and the Member State or organising committees of trade and industrial exhibitions, conferences and symposia to attend meetings, conferences or events connected with trade, industry or work; if no such written request can be obtained, other proof of purpose of stay (e.g. information on participation in conference, entrance ticket to trade fair, business correspondence, programme of the business trip);
• in case not already sufficiently demonstrated in the written request, proof of employment.

d) Self-employed people:

• written request from a hosting firm or organisation, an office or branch, state or local authority of the Russian Federation and the Member State or organising committees of trade and industrial exhibitions, conferences and symposia to attend meetings, conferences or events connected with trade, industry or work; if no such written request can be obtained, other proof of purpose of stay (e.g. information on participation in conference, entrance ticket to trade fair, business correspondence, programme of the business trip);
• proof of economic activity (e.g. 2NDFL or 3NDFL form, extract from the trade/fiscal registry or certificate for individual business) or bank statement(s) covering at least 3 preceding months.

e) Drivers (international cargo and passengers):

• written request from the Russian national association of carriers (ASMAP or RAS) or the national association of carriers of the Member State stating the purpose, duration and frequency of trips.

f) Members of train, refrigerator and locomotive crews:

• written request from the competent Russian railway company (OAO-RZD with its branches and OAO "Refservice") or a competent railway company of the Member State stating the purpose, duration and frequency of trips.

g) Air crews (if under the visa requirement):

• letter from the operating body.

h) Journalists:

• a certificate or other document issued by a professional organisation proving that the person is a qualified journalist;
• letter from his/her employer stating that the purpose of the journey is to carry out journalistic work.

(Freelance journalists: proof of journalistic activity (e.g. a press card or work contract) and proof of economic activity/financial means (e.g. 2NDFL or 3NDFL form, excerpt from the trade/fiscal registry, certificate for individual business, bank statement(s) covering at least 3 preceding months).

i) Other short-term (90/180 days) labourers (if permissible with Schengen visa and relevant national law):

• letter from the employer, employment contract and/or other document in accordance with the legislation of the Member State concerned.

 

II. Travelling for the purpose of tourism/other private visit

a) Visitors of military and civil burial grounds:

• official document confirming the existence and preservation of the burial ground and relationship between the applicant and the buried;
• proof of employment (with salary information); if not available, other proof of financial means and will to return (e.g. bank/credit card statement(s) covering at least 3 preceding months, proof of real estate property in Russia or proof of sponsorship).

b) Owners of property in the territory of the Member States and their close relatives:

• relevant national document (e.g. recent extract from the real estate register, copy of the purchase contract/deed of sale, etc.) proving that the applicant possesses the property in question;
• in cases of close relatives, proof of the relationship;
• proof of employment (with salary information); if not available, other proof of financial means and will to return (e.g. bank/credit card statement(s) covering at least 3 preceding months, proof of real estate property in Russia or proof of sponsorship).

c) Tourists and other private visitors:

• proof of accommodation (e.g. an invitation/sponsorship form from the host if staying with one (for visits to distant relatives/friends (not residents of the country being visited) – proof of legal residence); document from the establishment providing accommodation or any other appropriate document indicating the accommodation envisaged in accordance with the legislation of the Member State concerned); if not available, adequate written description of the planned journey;
• proof of the itinerary (e.g. a confirmation of the booking of an organised trip or any other appropriate document indicating the envisaged travel plans such as a reserved return ticket). If the reserved accommodation/return ticket is not deemed sufficient, the applicant can be requested for a proof of payment thereof; if not available, adequate written description of the planned journey;
• proof of employment (with salary information); if not available, other proof of financial means and will to return (e.g. bank/credit card statement(s) covering at least 3 preceding months, proof of real estate property in Russia or proof of sponsorship).

 

III. Travelling for the purpose of visit to close relatives/family members

a) Close relatives visiting Russian citizens residing legally in a Member State:

• written request from the host person, whose authentic signature must be proved by the competent authority, in accordance with the legislation of the Member State concerned.
• proof of the legal residence of the inviting person and family tie in accordance with the legislation of the Member State of residence.
• proof of employment (with salary information); if not available, other proof of financial means and will to return (e.g. bank/credit card statement(s) covering at least 3 preceding months, proof of real estate property in Russia or proof of sponsorship).

b) Close relatives visiting EU (EEA and Swiss) citizens:

• written request from the host person, whose authentic signature must be proved by the competent authority, in accordance with the legislation of the Member State concerned;
• proof of the nationality of the inviting person and family tie in accordance with the legislation of the Member State concerned;
• proof of employment (with salary information); if not available, other proof of financial means and will to return (e.g. bank/credit card statement(s) covering at least three preceding months, proof of real estate property in Russia or proof of sponsorship).

c) Family members of EU (EEA) citizens having exercised their right of free movement under Directive 2004/38/EC:

• proof of the family tie according to the legislation of the Member State of residence and of the European Union.

 

IV. Travelling for the purpose of transit

a) If applicable, documents related to the onward journey to the final destination (visa or other entry permit for the third country of destination; tickets for onward journey).

b) Proof of employment (with salary information); if not available, other proof of financial means and will to return (e.g. bank/credit statement(s) covering at least 3 preceding months, proof of real estate property in Russia or proof of sponsorship).

 

V. Travelling for the purpose of study or training, events or activities

a) Participants in scientific, cultural and artistic activities:

• written request from the host organisation in the Member State on participation in such activities;
• in case not included in the written request, a separate statement on sponsorship either from the sending or receiving party (or other proof of financial means).

b) Pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers:

• written request or certificate of enrolment or student card by the host university, academy, institute, college or school or certificate of the courses to be attended;
• in case not included in the written request, a separate statement on sponsorship either from the sending or receiving party (or other proof of financial means).

c) Participants in international sports events and accompanying persons in their professional capacity:

• written request from the host organisation (competent authority, national sport federation or national Olympic committee), including information on the role of the persons;
• in case not included in the written request, a separate statement on sponsorship either from the sending or receiving party (or other proof of financial means).

A "written request" referred to above shall contain the items mentioned in Article 4(2) of the EU-Russia Visa Facilitation Agreement as well as of the corresponding Article of the Denmark-Russia, Iceland-Russia, Norway-Russia, Switzerland-Russia and Liechtenstein-Russia Visa Facilitation Agreements on the invited person and inviting person/organisation.

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IMPORTANT

The Embassy has the right to require additional documents to support the information provided by an applicant and/or employer, educational establishment or host entity, as well as the particulars specified in the visa application.

 

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