Do embassies give you your documents back?

Each embassy or consulate may have its own procedures for exactly what will and won't be returned, so we can't give you a firm answer without knowing where your documents are going. But in my experience (mostly with German and Russian authorities) "common sense" can be applied quite consistently:

Documents which can typically be reproduced easily (for example, a bank statement or a letter confirming employment) will not be returned.

Documents which are essentially "single-use" (for example, the tourist invitation letter required when visiting Russia) will not be returned.

If they want to see documents which are not single-use and are less trivial to have reproduced (birth certificates would probably fit here), either:

• these documents will be returned, or
• you will be asked to provide a copy (pay attention, they may need a notarised/apostilled copy) rather than the original.

It may depend on the embassy.

But usually, if they do not ask for original document explicitly, no they will not return documents to you. Check on visa documentation (for your specific country/embassy/type of visa), they should state if they return originals. In any case, assume also a "no": things are lost of it will take too much time, so never give embassy an important document you cannot easily get again. Especially if you need several visas (be sure you have a copy of all documents, you may find late that you need a transfer visa, etc).

Often a copy is enough, else a notarized copy should be enough.

Sometime you need original document, but often are just documents you get just for this visa (health insurance letter that tell you are covered during the travel, invitation letters, etc.).