This information sheet, which is aimed at providing only basic general information about the rights and conditions related to a uniform Schengen visa, mainly addresses Russian citizens. Different terms may apply to the nationals of other countries. For further information on all issues mentioned in this information sheet, please check the websites of the Schengen Member States to which you can travel on the basis of a uniform Schengen visa:
AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, HUNGARY, ICELAND, ITALY, LATVIA, LIECHTENSTEIN, LITHUANIA, LUXEMBOURG, MALTA, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, POLAND, PORTUGAL, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND.
It is an authorization issued by one of the Member States of the Schengen Area with a view to an intended stay in or transit through the territory of the Member States of a duration of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period from the date of entry in the Schengen Area.
Russian nationals and third-country nationals who are legally present in Russia.
In order to determine which Member State is competent for examining and deciding on an application for a uniform Schengen visa, the following rules apply:
- The Member State which is the only destination of the visit(s).
- If the visit(s) include(s) more than one destination, the Member State which is the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length or purpose of stay.
- If no main destination can be determined, the Member State whose external border the applicant intends to cross in order to enter the Schengen area.
Please ensure that you apply at the competent consulate or you may risk a visa refusal or refusal at the border to enter the Schengen Area.
Applications can be lodged at an external service provider agreed by the relevant consulate; in the case of the Embassy of Portugal - at BLS
Visa Application Centre or directly at the consulate of the destination country (in the case of Portugal: at the Embassy of Portugal in Moscow, subject to prior online application and appointment booking).
The visa fee is waived for applicants belonging to one of the following categories:
- Close relatives – spouses, children (including adopted), parents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchildren – of citizens of the EU and Russian Federation legally residing in the territory of the Portugal;
- Members of official delegations who, following an official invitation, participate in meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange programs as well as in events held in one of the Member States by intergovernmental organizations;
- Members of national and regional Governments and Parliaments, Constitutional Courts and Supreme Courts;
- Pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training;
- Disabled persons and the person accompanying them, if necessary;
- Persons who have presented documents proving the necessity of their travel on humanitarian grounds, including to receive urgent medical treatment, and the person accompanying such person, or to attend a funeral of a close relative, or to visit a seriously ill close relative;
- Participants in youth international sports events and persons accompanying them;
- Persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic activities including university and other exchange programs;
- Participants in official exchange programs organized by twin cities;
- Children under 12 yo who are citizens of Russian Federation and of those countries who pay as Russians; children under 6 yo who are third countries citizens. Besides children who are citizens of third countries from 6 to 12 pay 35 euro and from 12 yo pay 60 euro;
- Researchers from third countries travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research1;
- Representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations.
In case of an application within three days before the intended travel, the fee waiver shall only apply to categories b), e) and f).
Please note that some Member States grant additional visa fee waivers for specific categories of applicants.
1 as defined in Recommendation No 2005/761/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005 to facilitate the issue by the Member States of uniform short-stay visas for researchers from third countries travelling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research.
An additional service fee will be charged by an external service provider (i.e. Visa Application Centre agreed by the relevant consulate).
The additional service fee will be charged by the External Service Provider agreed by the Embassy of Portugal (BLS) to each application lodged at the Visa Application Centre.
Above charges are inclusive of VAT.
Applications shall be lodged no more than six months before the start of the intended visit.
It is advisable to lodge an application at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit.
However, it is also recommended that you lodge your visa application taking into account national holidays of the country of destination and Russia. Please note that during holidays the operation of certain consular services may be reduced.
Applications for Schengen visas can be submitted at the Visa Application Centre in Moscow by appointment only. An appointment may be booked online.
Also, an applicant who wishes to submit a visa application directly at the Embassy of Portugal in Moscow is required to make a prior appointment at the Embassy.
Please check the harmonized list of supporting documents to be submitted by applicants as per the Visa type.
Please note that during the examination of an application the Embassy may request additional documents.
Please note that during the examination of an application the Embassy may call the applicant for an interview.
Applications shall be decided on within 15 calendar days (or up to 3 days, in justified urgent cases) of the date of the lodging of an application which is admissible. That period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.
Dear applicants, please note that this processing time does not include courier services to other locations other than the Visa Centre in Moscow.
Time-frame of the Process (delivery to the embassy max 1 week + deadline(s) for decision making max 15 days or less if VFA) as per the EU Visa code.
Applicants, whose visa has been refused, are informed by an official refusal letter and they may have the right to appeal in accordance with the national law of the concerned Member State. Appeals should be addressed to the Member State that has taken the final decision on the application and in accordance with the national law of that Member State.
Each Member State shall indicate the references to the national law and the procedure relating to the right of appeal, including the competent authority with which an appeal may be lodged, as well as the time limit for lodging such an appeal. You will find this information in the form for notifying and motivating refusal that you will be given for such purpose.
The applicant may also decide to launch a new application, particularly if the reasons for the original refusal do not exist anymore. National legislation or procedures may limit this right while an appeal against the original refusal is pending.
The applicant can apply a new application after 90 days from the date of refusal.
The possession of a Schengen visa does not mean that the holder has an automatic right to enter the Schengen Area as the holder will be subject to checks by border guards at the external border.
At the external border, the visa holder may be requested to produce documents justifying the purpose and conditions of the intended stay and that he/she has sufficient means of subsistence, both for the period of the intended stay and for the return to their country of origin or transit to a third state into which they are certain to be admitted, or that he/she is in a position to acquire such means lawfully.
If you are a family member of an EU/EEA or Swiss national you may qualify for an accelerated free visa procedure as long as you meet the following criteria:
- You are a family member (this includes a spouse, registered partner, child who is under 21 or a depending family member) of an EU/EEA or Swiss national (or of his/her spouse/registered partner);
AND
- That EU/EEA national or Swiss national is residing in another Member State than that of which he/she is a national or travelling there to take up residence;
AND
- You are accompanying the EU/EEA national or planning to join him/her.
The visa should be applied for at the Embassy of the country of future residence of the EU/EEA national or Swiss national, not at the Embassy of his/her country of origin.
If you think you qualify for visa facilitation you will need to show proof that you meet these criteria when you submit your visa application.
Third-country nationals resident in Russia can apply for a Schengen visa in Russia.
Third-country nationals legally present but not residing in Russia can apply for a Schengen visa in Russia if they provide justification for lodging the application in Russia.
Nationals of Ukraine, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Albania and the Republic of Moldova shall pay a visa fee of EUR 35. In the case of Norway, this only applies to citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Albania and the Republic of Moldova. In the case of Switzerland, this only applies to citizens of Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Republic of Moldova. All other third-country nationals shall pay a visa fee of EUR 60.
The visa fee waiver mentioned for categories d) to h) above only applies to nationals of countries which have a visa facilitation agreement with Member States, Norway and Switzerland.
Applications by third-country nationals shall be decided on after 5 working days of the date of the lodging of an application which is admissible. That period may be extended up to a maximum of 30 calendar days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed, and exceptionally, when additional documentation is needed in specific cases, up to a maximum of 60 calendar days.
Third-country nationals are eligible to apply for a visa to the urgency of not less than 3 business days along with paid airline tickets and hotel booking confirmation / invitation from relatives.
Third-country nationals are eligible to apply with paid air tickets only regardless of the urgency of the visa.
Where can I lodge my application?
