How to get a Schengen visa to Estonia for foreigners in Ukraine?

The Schengen Agreement, which was signed by Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and Germany in 1985, became the basis for the creation of the Schengen area. Now it includes 26 European countries, including a popular country for work and leisure - Estonia. The abolition of border controls in the countries of the Schengen area contributed to the development of tourism and the recovery of the economy of the participating States. The main document that provides the ability to move around the countries of the European Commonwealth is a Schengen visa. Ukrainians who have biometric passports for traveling abroad do not need a visa. However, citizens of other states (non-residents) residing in Ukraine must obtain a Schengen visa to visit Estonia.

A sticker in your passport, called a Schengen visa, is required to go through border control when entering and leaving the Schengen area. There is no border control at the internal borders of the EU countries. The Schengen visa is issued by the representative office of the country that is the purpose of the trip. If you plan to travel to several countries, you need to take care of obtaining a visa from the country through which you enter the Schengen area.

Varieties of Schengen visas

There are several categories of Schengen visas. Before submitting documents, you must select the type that meets the purpose of the trip:

• Airport transit (A) for a transfer in a Schengen country. The visa only allows you to stay at the airport.
• Transit (B) for one-two-time crossing of the territory of one of the Schengen states on the way to a third country. Duration of stay no more than 5 days.
• Multivisa or single entry (C) with a stay of no more than 3 months in six months.
• National (D) non-Schengen for staying in the country for more than 3 months with the right to transit through other Schengen countries. The duration of the transit is not more than five days.
• Universal (C + D) for a long-term stay in the Schengen country with unimpeded movement around the countries of the zone.

In addition to the above, there are other classifications according to certain criteria: working, for family reunification, student, etc.

Schengen visa to Estonia

Estonia entered the Schengen area in 2007 along with eight other countries - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. To visit Estonia, you need to obtain a USV (Uniform Schengen Visa), which can be issued:

• for a period of up to 90 days (visa by invitation, transit, business, tourist);
• for a period of more than 90 days (for family reunification, student, work).

Schengen visas of category C are issued for the following purposes:

• doing business (C04).
• visiting friends or relatives (C02);
• tourist trains (C01);
• education, teaching and research activities (from 09/10/12/13);
• treatment and rehabilitation (C14);
• participation in sports, educational, cultural events (С 03/06).

If you have a multiple entry visa, you can enter Estonia many times. A single entry visa is valid for entry for a fixed period of time and does not give the right to a second visit.

Which of the non-residents can get a Schengen visa to Estonia

Foreigners from the post-Soviet countries living in Ukraine have the opportunity to apply for a Schengen visa to Estonia without loss of time and money, subject to contacting the VISA-SVIT visa center. Competent specialists of the center will explain how to get a Schengen visa to Estonia and will provide comprehensive assistance at all stages of registration, including the preparation and collection of documents.

A prerequisite is the presence in the foreign passport of a note that the non-resident has a residence permit in Ukraine, allowing you to live in the country permanently or temporarily.

Citizens of the countries of the Middle East, Asia and Africa can apply for a visa to Estonia at the consulate of the country located in Kyiv. Non-residents submit documents personally with the delivery of biometric data in the absence of a visa in the passport for 3 years. If there is a Schengen passport in the past three years, you can get a passport with a visa through the mail (personal presence is not required).

Terms of registration

Citizens of other countries who have a residence permit in Ukraine need 7-14 days to apply for a visa to Estonia. Subject to the correct preparation of documents, the Schengen will be issued in a shorter time. For example, an urgent visa can be ready in 3-5 days.

Features of obtaining a Schengen visa to Estonia for non-residents

The presence of a complete package of documents is a prerequisite for non-residents of Ukraine to obtain a Schengen visa to Estonia. In addition to the documents included in the standard list, it is desirable to include in the help package:

• from a bank (there must be at least 700 euros on the account);
• from the place of study or work (for the last 3 months - six months).

Foreign students can apply for a Schengen visa to Estonia only if they study in the 2nd year.

Reasons for refusal to obtain a Schengen visa and what to do

Among the reasons why it may not be possible to obtain a Schengen visa to Estonia is the applicant's low income. The income must correspond to the Estonian subsistence level.

You can solve the problem by providing the following documents:

• pension certificate;
• bank statements;
• tax return;
• papers confirming the existence of ownership in the form of real estate.

Another common reason for refusal is the lack of documents substantiating and confirming the purpose of the visit to Estonia. To justify the visit, you can use an invitation for a conference participant or speaker, an entrance ticket to an event, and any other official document.

The main reason for the refusal is the availability of the applicant's data in the SIS database of offenders. The presence of information about the applicant in the Schengen database of offenders excludes the possibility of obtaining a visa in any country of the European Community.