Wikidata:WikidataCon 2017/Attend/Visa
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Depending on your country of residence, you may need to get a visa to be able to travel to Germany.
Please note that the visa approval process can be long and time consuming. We recommend that you register and start with the visa application process as early as possible. Depending on your country of origin, you need to get an appointment at the German embassy or consulate. It is advisable to get one as soon as possible.
Wikimedia Deutschland can provide from help for visa applications. We can provide an invitation letters, some documents related to the event and Wikimedia Deutschland.
Please fill the registration form and check the related field, more informations will be asked.
General visa information edit
Please check the following website to find out whether you need a visa for travelling to Germany: http://wmde.org/visagermany. Check also this list of visa requirements.
We recommend you to apply for so-called ‘Uniform Schengen Visa -Type C ‘, which allows a maximum of stay of 90 days.
Depending on your country of origin, you will need to make an appointment with the nearest German embassy or consulate. We advise you to check the appointment availability now, as in some countries longer waiting times and scarcity of appointment options are likely, and to make an appointment straight away. Please also check the processing time for a visa. We recommend you to submit the visa application 6-8 weeks before the conference.
Please note that if you are transiting certain countries (e.g. USA, United Kingdom) en route to Berlin, you may also be required to apply for a transit visa.
We would also like to highlight that you need to have a passport that is at least valid for six months beyond the period of your stay.
WMDE can assist you with your visa application (please indicate the need within the WikidataCon registration form) and will provide the following documents:
- Letter of invitation
- Foreign travel health insurance
- Copy of registration of association of WMDE
The documents will be sent to you via email. Please print these documents and bring them along to your appointment at the embassy/consulate. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Berlin confirmed that it is generally not necessary to present the original documents at the embassy/consulate, which reduces the mailing expenses extremely. Prior to your appointment, we however advise you to double-check this with your contact person at the embassy/consulate. Should the original documents be required, please inform us accordingly and we will send them to you in the fastest manner.
Furthermore you will need the following:
- Travel plan
- Hotel room booking confirmation
- Visa application form
- Passport and photocopy of passport
- 1-2 Biometric photo(s), no older than 6 months
- Proof of roots/ties back home:
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Document confirming occupation situation:
- Employees: Certificate of employer (including original signature)
- Scholars/ Students: current proof of school/ university enrollment etc.
- Unemployed/ Retired: Proof of residence (utility bill/rental agreement/signed letter from property owner)
- if applicable: copies of old visas
Please note that this is just a compilation of the most common documents that need to be provided by visa applicants. The full set of required documents majorly depends on the country of origin. Please check this in advance on the website of the consulate/embassy.
Within the application form of the Schengen visa, the purpose of stay needs to be specified (business, family and tourist purpose). We advise to choose the business purpose as the proof of financial means can be provided by your chapter or WMDE and there is no need to present personal financial means.
In some countries a personal visit and interview at the embassy/consulate for visa processing is required. Below is a list with the most commonly asked questions in such an interview. We advise you to prepare for these questions in order to be able to give satisfactory answers.
- Where are you going?
- Have you been there before?
- What are you going to do there? What is the purpose of the trip?
- What kind of event is it that you will attend?
- How long will you stay?
- What is your organization? What does it do?
- What is Wikimedia? How are you involved with Wikipedia/Wikimedia?
- What is your relation to Wikimedia Deutschland?
- Who is paying for your trip?
- Why should you be permitted to go?
- What is the purpose of the conference?
- How were you selected to attend the conference?
- What is your profession?
- What do your family members do?
Visa fees edit
The fee per visa amounts to approximately 60,- €. Scholarship recipients may get the visa fee refunded.
Checklist for participants from outside the Schengen Area edit
| To do | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Check here whether you need a Schengen visa |
| 2. | Check whether you need a transit visa |
| 3. | Check validity of your passport (must be valid at least six months beyond the period of your stay) |
| 4. | Register for WikidataCon as soon as possible and indicate visa need |
| 5. | Check whether you need to make an appointment with the nearest German embassy/consulate and make an appointment straight away in case it is necessary |
| 6. | Check the processing time for a visa |
| 7. | Check with your contact person at the embassy/consulate whether the original documents provided by WMDE are required or if copies are sufficient |
| 8. | Check which other documents are required (e.g. birth and marriage certificate, copy of your passport, biometric photo etc.) |
| 9. | Collect all the required documents and submit the visa application, the latest by 6-8 weeks before the conference |
| 10. | Prepare for the interview at the embassy/consulate in case that one is required |
Contact edit
If you have any question or trouble during the process, feel free to contact lea.lacroix
wikimedia.de