A few years ago, the Czech Republic entered Schengen area agreement. For this reason, now to visit the Czech Republic, Russian citizens need to get a Schengen visa. However, a visa to the Czech Republic also means unhindered movement in the Schengen area between many European countries. In order to obtain a visa, you must contact the Czech Consulate in Moscow.
Tasks of the Consulate
The consular department is part of the Czech embassy. Its main task is to assist Russian citizens in obtaining short-term and long-term visas, as well as other issues of visiting or staying on the territory of the state.
In addition, the Czech Consulate General in Moscow provides translation services to and from Czech, notarial services for certification of documents and registration of acts of civil status.
Czech Embassy in Moscow
In addition to the consular function, the Czech embassy is engaged in the development of diplomatic relations with Russia, including economic and foreign policy cooperation, social and cultural partnership. The structure of the embassy includes an economic, political department; in addition, the embassy has a defense attache.
The Czech Embassy is located in a historic building in the center of Moscow at the Mayakovskaya metro station and is of interest in itself. It was built in the era of socialism with the mutual participation of two countries.
To apply for a visa, you can contact the service centers in the regions or the Czech consulate in Moscow. Address at which you can apply for a visa: Suschevsky Val, d.31, p.2.
Getting a visa
Visas to the Czech Republic can be done independently or contact the agency. There are many details and rules that you need to familiarize yourself with before collecting and submitting documents on the website, which represents the Czech Consulate in Moscow. A visa to the Czech Republic, or a Schengen visa, can be of three types, but differ mainly in the possible length of stay:
- A short-term visa is issued for a period of not more than 3 months. It is most in demand for tourist purposes, although it can also be used for business trips, participation in various events.
- Long-term is granted for a period of more than 3 months and is issued for work, study or in other cases when long-term residence in the country is required.
- Transit visa - does not imply being in a country, but is issued only for a transfer on the route to another country. Issued for no more than 5 days.
Also, Schengen visas can be single, double or multiple. This means how many times you can enter the Schengen zone: respectively, once, twice or several times during the visa.
What documents are needed to get a short-term visa?
In the case of an independent visa, you need to carefully study the list of documents and collect the most complete package. In addition to papers, you must also pay a visa fee, which is not refundable in case of refusal. Therefore, in order to avoid possible troubles and overpayments, it is better to study the nuances in advance.
Submit documents to the Czech consulate in Moscow in advance. The review period is usually a week, but in special cases the process may take a month. On the other hand, a visa application can be submitted no earlier than three months before the planned trip.
Also, to apply for a visa, you must register in advance on the website of the Czech Consulate in Moscow or call the call center.
The standard package of documents includes:
- Foreign passport and its copy. It is important to verify that the validity of the passport is 3 months longer than the required visa.
- A copy of the passport of a Russian citizen with a registration page.
- Color photo of the size as for the passport
- Health insurance for the entire stay.
- Application form, which can be filled in place or downloaded on the site.
- Documents confirming the purpose of the trip, namely:
- reservation from a hotel, invitation or contract with a travel agency;
- booking tickets.
- Confirmation of financial viability, for example, a statement from a bank account or a certificate of salary from the place of work.
- The visa fee, which is 35 euros or for express consideration, is 70 euros.
It is also worth considering that for children you need to collect a separate package of documents, which may differ from the standard.
Employees of the Czech consulate in Moscow warn that you should not plan a trip before obtaining a visa. However, do not despair. In practice, the package of documents is not so large, and the process is not complicated. You can simplify the task if you turn to specialists or a travel company, whose employees themselves draw up all the papers.
