In this lesson we are going to see what is a VISA, if you need a VISA for your trip and
which type of VISA you may need.
When organizing a mobility abroad one of the first things to know is that you may need
a VISA to enter the Host Country.
VISA is the authorization initially granted, in accordance with the country immigration
law, to enter the country for a given purpose.
The possession of a VISA is not a guarantee of entry which is subject to the approval
given by the immigration official at the borders.
Generally, VISA is issued by Embassies or Consulates.
It may consist in a document but more commonly it is a sticker attached in your passport.
Getting a VISA is not always mandatory.
Countries indeed may have VISA waiver agreements for some kind of trips.
Regarding the type, each country typically has a variable number of VISAs with various names.
Bearing in mind this complexity, the 3 actors who can guide you to the correct VISA are:
1. your Home Institution
2. your Host Institution
3. the competent Embassy or Consulate.
If you feel like you don't fit in any of the following situations, take care of asking
for more information to these actors.
There are 4 main variables you should consider when asking for a VISA:
1. Your DESTINATION, in relation with your NATIONALITY
2. The DURATION of your trip
3. Its PURPOSE
4. The need of MOVEMENTS FROM/TO THE COUNTRY during the mobility.
Let's start with the first variable, which is the Destination of your trip.
There are 5 common scenarios.
1.
First scenario: you are a EU national and you are going to an EU country or to a non-EU
country that is a member of the Schengen Area.
2.
Second scenario: you are a non-EU national, you hold a valid residence permit issued by
a European Member State and you are going to a Schengen country.
3.
Third scenario: you are a non-EU national, you hold a valid residence permit issued by
a European Member State and you are going to a European country that is not a member
of the Schengen area.
4.
Fourth scenario: you are a non-EU national, you do not hold a valid residence permit issued
by a European Member State and you are going to a European Country.
5.
Fifth scenario: whether you are a EU or a non-EU national and you are going to an extra-
European destination.
In the first scenario you do not need a VISA.
You can freely move with no limits with your valid national ID or passport, regardless
the other variables.
In the second scenario you do not need a VISA as well.
You can freely move with your valid residence permit together with your passport.
In the third, fourth and fifth scenarios, unless a VISA waiver agreement exists for
your case, you need a VISA.
In these cases, get in contact with your Home and Host Institutions and the competent Embassy
or Consulate to be guided.
And this is the end of the description of the first variable.
The second variable to be considered is the DURATION of your trip.
Countries usually distinguish between 2 types of VISA, in accordance with the trip's duration:
Short stay VISA, if your trip has a duration up to 90 days
Long stay VISA, if your trip is longer than 90 days.
Some countries, such as Russia and some Asian nations, envisage shorter durations for Short
Stay VISA, for instance only 30 or 60 days.
Short stays are usually connected to tourism or conferences or business trips.
VISA waiver agreements are commonly signed for short stay VISA.
If your Home Country has such an agreement with your Host Country you do not need a VISA.
Long stays are usually connected to study or work trips.
VISA waiver agreements for long stays are not so common but do exist.
For example, Italian students do not need a VISA to carry out a semester abroad in Argentina.
And that's almost all about the second variable.
The third variable is the PURPOSE of your trip.
The purpose is crucial for 2 reasons: combined with the duration, it defines the
type of VISA; it also defines the activities you are allowed
to carry out, and the ones you are not allowed to.
For example, a Study VISA or a Tourism VISA may not allow you to work.
The 4 most common purposes for academic trips are:
STUDY RESEARCH
SHORT CONFERENCES or VISITS SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS.
For study purposes usually you need a Long Stay VISA.
Commonly countries envisage STUDY VISA.
So if you are a student who will spend a semester abroad or will attend a university program
abroad, you will normally need a Study VISA, unless a VISA waiver agreement exists for your case.
Research purposes may lead to a Long Stay VISA as well.
Some countries envisage Research VISA; in others research fall under Work VISA;
Study VISA is applicable in other cases.
The scope of research is also relevant: bibliographical research or not-paid lab activities done by
students, likely fall under a Study VISA.
If you have a work contract, instead, you may need a Research VISA or a Work VISA, depending
on the country; research trips, either for long or short stays, may require ad hoc authorizations,
if they involve activities that are classified or may be perceived as being sensitive.
For conferences or project meetings, unless a VISA waiver agreement exists for your case,
usually you need Short Stay VISAs such as a Tourism VISA or a BUSINESS VISA or a Conference VISA.
For example, an Italian professor attending a conference in South Africa enjoys a VISA
waiver policy and does not need a VISA; the same professor will need instead a Business
VISA or a Tourism VISA if the conference is in Russia.
For CULTURAL OR SCIENTIFIC MISSIONs, for instance archeological sites, either for long
or short stays, you need a specific VISA connected to the mission itself.
This VISA is usually linked to a pre-existing approval of the mission by the national authorities.
These are the main purposes to be considered for academic trips.
Now we can move to the next variable.
The fourth variable is the need of MOVEMENTS FROM and TO THE COUNTRY during the mobility.
VISA may allow: SINGLE ENTRY in the country
or MULTIPLE ENTRY.
With a SINGLE ENTRY VISA you can enter the Country only once.
The moment you exit the country your VISA will be automatically cancelled.
With a MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA you are allowed to enter and exit more than once within the
validity of the VISA and up to its maximum duration.
So, if you plan to move through the borders, it's better if you apply for a MULTIPLE
ENTRY VISA.
Let's recap!
When asking for a VISA you should consider 4 variables:
1.
Your DESTINATION, in relation with your NATIONALITY, which basically defines whether you need a
VISA or not, according to the existing laws and agreements between your Home Country and
your Host Country; 2.
The DURATION of your trip that defines if your VISA is a "Short Stay" or a "Long
Stay" one; 3.
Its PURPOSE, which defines whether you need a VISA for Study, Research, Work, Conference,
Business or Tourism reasons, or you need an ad hoc authorizations;
4.
The need of MOVEMENTS FROM and TO THE COUNTRY during the mobility, which brings you to apply
for a SINGLE ENTRY or a MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA.
Please remember that you are never alone in the process: your Home and Host Institutions
and the Embassy or Consulate in charge, can guide you to the most suitable VISA for your
case.
Don't be afraid to ask!
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