Russians have the opportunity to travel abroad to any country that is open for entry. They are especially interested in trips to the states united by the Schengen agreement, in order to travel through which it is enough to obtain a visa to any of these countries. The total number of these countries today is 26, which is practically the whole of Western Europe.
A passport, a completed application form, a photo and insurance - these are the documents that must be drawn up to travel abroad to the Schengen countries. A Russian general civil passport is an internal document, therefore, to travel outside the country, first of all, you need to issue a passport at the OVIR at the place of registration. Please note that it must be valid for at least three months after the end of the requested visa. It should contain blank pages for affixing stamps and entry and exit marks.
On the official websites of visa centers, a questionnaire is available for download, which must be filled out to obtain a Schengen visa. You can fill it out directly on the website and then print it out on a black and white printer, or simply download a blank form, print it out and fill it in by hand. The printed form must contain a barcode.
Before you apply for a visa, you need to purchase travel insurance. It is needed by everyone who goes on a trip with you. Its duration must cover the entire period of your stay abroad. You can purchase health insurance from any of the insurance companies. The insurance company must be accredited, lists of such companies can be found on the websites of the embassies. Please note that a handwritten policy will not be accepted for a visa.
In addition to a full-face color photograph of 36x47 mm format, those who travel abroad on their own may also need additional documents. In the event that the purpose of your trip is tourism, attach documents confirming the reservation of accommodation. If you are going on a visit - an invitation from relatives or friends. Confirm a trip with a business purpose with a travel order or other document that indicates its purpose.
When you go abroad to visit close relatives, then when submitting documents, this should be indicated in order not to pay the consular fee, which is 35 euros. In this case, you will need documents confirming the fact of relationship: birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. You will have to present not only copies of these documents, but also their originals.
