Traveling with the humanitarian visa

Humanitarian visa – What is it?

For humanitarian travel (art, culture, religion, sport) to a country requiring a visa, a humanitarian visa serves as a pass at the border. For example, if you are planning to take part in a cultural, sports or student exchange abroad, this special visa is most likely the right one for you. It is also possible to obtain a permit for a humanitarian stay abroad for trips with a charitable purpose, for work in care homes and children's homes or for scientific and technical cooperation. The same applies if you are involved in a sporting event or art fair in the destination country. If you are flying or traveling abroad to receive medical assistance, your reason for travel is also of a humanitarian nature.

Who can apply for the visa?

Aid organizations, cultural associations, schools, church institutions as well as private individuals are permitted to apply for a humanitarian visa under certain conditions.

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What proof must be provided for humanitarian travel intentions?

As with many other types of visa, the central document for entry is an official invitation from a legal entity in the destination country. Such a letter is also known as an invitation letter or visa support letter. You will receive the invitation letter from an inviting company, an organization, authorities or ministries, depending on the planned activity abroad. Among other things, it must contain information on the period and purpose of the stay, the travel route and the frequency of entry. In addition, demographic data of the invited person as well as the contact address, function and tax and registration numbers of the host must be stated. In addition to the invitation letter, you will generally need the following documents for your visa application:

Passport

Passport photo

Application form

Health insurance

How long is the visa valid for?

The period of validity of the visa for humanitarian travel purposes varies from country to country and depends on the planned activity. There are variants that entitle you to a stay of several weeks, e.g. for participation in a sports tournament, up to one year or longer - for example, for a student exchange. As a rule, you will receive the visa for the period stated in the invitation. When submitting your application, you should specify whether you plan to enter and leave the country several times. In Russia, humanitarian trips are generally limited to a maximum of 90 days. However, this information refers to the pure length of stay in the country during a specific period. Among other things, it is possible to apply for a visa for five years. Within these five years, the traveler is permitted to stay in the Russian Federation for a maximum of 90 days in relation to a period of 180 days.

Special form of visa for humanitarian purposes

Some countries also offer people whose lives are demonstrably under threat the opportunity to apply for entry with a humanitarian visa. However, humanitarian visas should not be confused with official asylum applications from refugees.