[quote="Dawie"]Firstly, for Schengen visa purposes there is no difference between a vist and a tourist visa. They are one and the same thing.
There is a difference between a visit and tourist visa:
Having family myself in the EU I have had a visitors visa quite a few times, it is like a tourist visa but it requires more information from your family or friends in the EU and you can get a longer stay on the visitors visa than on a tourist visa providing your family can proof that they will be looking after you. It also clearly states on the Schengen visa itself in French/German depending which country you go to, "for visiting Family"/Friends".
You
can't get a visitors visa when travelling in the EU for tourist purposes only when you have family or friends inviting you to come and stay with them can you obtain a visitors visa so yes there is a difference.
Countries on the schengen visa waiver program for example can also use the visitors visa to stay in the Schengen countries for longer than 3 months. At the moment visa waiver countries are only allowed to stay 3 months in a 6 months period. If they apply for a visitors visa they can stay for up to 6 months with their family/friends without having to leave the EU after 3 months. So the visitors visa has more advantages.
From the
German embassy website:
http://www.london.diplo.de/Vertretung/l ... seite.html
Visitors visa (family / friends)
A formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) from your host in Germany. The formal obligation can be obtained by your host at his local town authorities in Germany ("Ausländerbehörde")
Evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay, e.g. recent bank statement or traveller´s cheques. Please note that cash is no acceptable proof.
Business visa
A formal invitation by fax from your business partner in Germany stating the kind of business, duration of the business trip(s) and a confirmation of guarantee for the costs of the stay.
A letter from your employer, stating how long you are employed with the company, the kind of business and duration of the business trip(s) and a guarantee for the costs including the travel health insurance (see above).
Tourist visa
Confirmed hotel booking covering all your stay in the Schengen countries.
Evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay, e.g. recent bank statement or traveller´s cheques. Please note that cash is no acceptable proof.
Proof of travel health insurance (see above) to cover the whole period of the visa´s validity. This can be a travel health insurance available at any post office (nearest to the Embassy in Eccleston Street on the way to/from Victoria Station).
Evidence of occupation/student status: proof of your current occupation in the U.K. Either an origianl letter from your employer, solicitor, Company House or Chamber of Commerce or for students a recent original letter from your school/university.
