Certificate of Employment for Visa Application

Why a certificate is needed

A certificate of employment for a visa will serve as proof that you are employed in your home country and have no intention of leaving abroad to stay there.

In addition, the certificate confirms your salary level. Why? To make sure you have enough money for hotels, travel, and other incidentals. The salary level is important: the higher it is, the greater your chances of getting a Schengen visa approved. On the Kupi.com Blog, we have already written about how to get a Schengen visa.

Requirements for obtaining a certificate of employment for a visa

A certificate of employment is issued by the accounting department. The main thing is to issue the document on company letterhead with the signature of the head and the seal of the organization. It's great if the certificate is also signed by someone else, for example, the chief accountant, director, or their deputy.

There are no unified rules for issuing a certificate of employment for a visa, but there is an approximate sample with a list of details that must be included in the document:

• official name, address, phone number of the organization;
• position of the person issuing the document;
• salary amount with bonuses and premiums (usually filled in for several months);
• period during which the employee plans to take leave;
• date of certificate issuance;
• date from which the employee has been working for the company.

Important: make sure that the company address and contacts indicated in the certificate match the current ones. Sometimes consulates check how accurate the information you provided is: they may call and clarify whether you actually work for the organization. Consulate employees may also ask a verification question to your contact person indicated in the certificate: for example, ask what the route from the metro to the office looks like.

— I am the CEO (or chief accountant) of my organization. What should I do?

You need to prove that you actually work in this position. In addition to the certificate of employment for the visa, signed by you, include a copy of the relevant order stating that you were appointed as the company's CEO or accountant in the document package.

— What if the address of the office where I work differs from the company's legal address?

Indicate this in the certificate so that embassy representatives can contact you or your management. In reality, this is rare, but to put your mind at ease, do it.

Validity period of the certificate for a visa

The maximum validity period of the certificate is three months. This means that if you are applying for a visa in April, it is best to obtain the document dated February or March.

Minimum salary

There are no rules stating that you must earn a certain amount of money to be granted a visa. Unofficially, it is believed that for successful visa processing, the salary should be at least 25,000 rubles. However, if you earn less, you can indicate additional sources of income (legal ones, of course, such as self-employment) or attach a sponsorship letter.

The consulate needs to understand that you are financially stable and do not intend to stay in a foreign country to earn money. The more reliable you are, the fewer questions they will have. To prove that you have sufficient funds, you can use any proof of solvency.

Documents often require a bank statement showing a significant amount and proof of funds movement. The minimum amount in the account depends on the country you plan to visit. For example, for a Schengen visa, the certificate must indicate the following minimums: in Spain — €108 per day, in France — €65 per day for those who have already booked accommodation, and €120 if there is no sleeping place.

If a citizen cannot prove solvency, the visa may be denied. Who might have problems:

• unemployed persons,
• students,
• freelancers,
• pensioners.

Therefore, instead of a certificate of employment for a Schengen visa, these categories will have to provide a sponsorship letter (from a person who will finance the trip). It is filled out in free form and does not require notarization. For students and schoolchildren, these are usually parents; for pensioners, children. However, any acquaintance can become a sponsor, or there can be several.

Of course, it's not that scary: these categories of citizens can also travel freely, and no one has the right to restrict them. The main thing is to be as honest as possible and provide all documents that confirm you can pay for a hotel and dine at a restaurant if you travel (even if it's not an official salary certificate, but a substantial bank statement). And you will surely find such documents, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this material.

What salary documents need to be provided by individual entrepreneurs

If you are an individual entrepreneur:

• copy of the certificate of entry into the USRLE;
• if you were registered in the register of individual entrepreneurs after January 1, 2017, then a record sheet from the USRLE.

If you are self-employed:

• certificate from the Federal Tax Service on income for the current and previous years, which can be obtained through the 'My Tax' application;
• copies of service agreements, if the client was an individual entrepreneur or legal entity.

If you are a freelancer, you need to provide copies of civil law contracts for services rendered and bank statements confirming that the services have been paid for.

Documents to be provided by officially unemployed persons

For pensioners:

• pension certificate;
• bank statement with an amount confirming solvency abroad;
• sponsorship letter in free form (if the pensioner cannot confirm solvency with a bank statement).

For students:

• copy of student ID;
• certificate from the university or college with the seal and signature of the faculty dean, valid for 30 days from the date of issue;
• certificate of employment from parents who will pay for the trip.

For schoolchildren:

• certificate from the place of study;
• certificate of employment from parents who will pay for the trip.

For other unemployed persons:

• sponsorship letter from a relative, friend, or acquaintance. To confirm the sponsor's solvency, financial documents proving their solvency (bank statements and employment certificates) are required.

If an unemployed person is married to a partner who supports them, the visa document package must include:

• 2-NDFL certificate from the spouse;
• copy of marriage certificate;
• sponsorship letter.

We wish you great travels without limitations!