Polish embassy issues almost equal number of Schengen and national visas

The European Radio for Belarus has found out how many visas were issued to the Belarusians heading to the countries that in December 2007 formally joined the visa-free Schengen agreement. The new members are: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Malta.

Since December 21, the Polish embassy in Minsk has issued around 700 Schengen and almost 600 national visas. The Lithuanian embassy has issued 1132 Schengen and 246 national over the same period of time.

Embassy staffers note that the number of the issued visas is still low. Why? They have different comments. Monica Sadkowska, Polish embassy spokesperson says it is because of a long festive period. Lyuda Klaymyonava, a consular assistant at the Lithuanian embassy, links it with the programs which the embassy started to implement after the country joined the Schengen zone.

The embassies have also changed the list of papers required to support your visa application. While the Lithuanians have worked under a new procedure since last year, the Polish embassy has just introduced it. That apparently slows down the application processing.

Sadkowska: The people who apply for visas often don’t know which documents they are required to submit.

The European Radio for Belarus reported earlier about the detailed list of papers for all categories of citizens.

Medical insurance is mandatory. It costs an average of $20-40 for a multiple visa. The copies of the documents also need to be confirmed by a notary.

However, Lyuda Klyamonava says the Belarusians have not been scared off by the higher visa costs.

“Nothing has changed. People come to us and sign up for appointments. We have a preliminary list. Today we sign up people for two weeks ahead”, she said.

The embassy told the European Radio for Belarus that both the Schengen and national visas are issued within a similar time-span: 10 days.