This document is valid in the countries that have signed the Schengen Agreement, which abolishes internal border controls. Today there are already 26 such countries. Having a Schengen visa, you can simply move from one European country to another.
The visa can be tourist, guest (requires a special invitation from the host) and business (involves an invitation from a business partner). If you are forced to travel to Europe often on business or just like to travel around European countries, it is better to get a business or tourist multivisa, for example, for a year. For example, for frequent trips to Paris, a multivisa for France is best. So you do not have to apply for a new visa before each short-term trip. A multivisa allows you to stay in Schengen countries no more than 90 days every six months.
So, what do you need to obtain this important document?
First, choose your destination country. You will take the documents for the visa to its embassy. This will be the country you plan to visit first. If your route includes several countries, choose the one where you will spend the most time. If this is unknown, apply for a visa of the country through whose border you will enter Europe.
Second, decide on the type of visa. Most often, type C visas are issued – under it you can stay in Schengen countries for up to 90 days within six months, for one trip or several trips.
Third, contact the consulate and find out what documents you need to submit and what the rules for submitting them are. They differ slightly at different consulates, but the basic principles are similar. You can submit documents yourself, go to an accredited agency, or entrust it to a travel agency. In any case, you can start applying for a visa no earlier than 90 days before your trip.
Now all that remains is to gather all the necessary documents, submit them to the embassy, and wait for your visa to be processed. If the visa is not urgent, it usually takes 5-8 days; if time is short, it can be processed in 1-3 days. Have a good trip!