It’s Easier for Russians to Obtain Schengen Visas Now, Russian Union of Travel Says

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The Russian Union of Travel Industry claims that it has now become easier to obtain a Schengen visa for Russian citizens.
• The Swiss visa is issued the fastest, within two weeks, whereas the Italian and Spanish consulates have the highest issuance rates.
• French visas are issued with the longest validity in Russia, but making an appointment for the same is quite difficult.

The application procedures for a Schengen Visa have become easier for Russian nationals, the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST) claims, based on data provided by tour operators.

The RST claims that, aside from some Schengen Area countries that have introduced restrictions on travellers from Russia, there are some other countries which issue visas to Russian nationals within shorter periods, and other which have a higher issuance rate, and are thus, a better shot for obtaining a visa.

You can get a Swiss visa the fastest, it is issued on average in two weeks. When submitting documents, you must keep in mind that the Swiss require proof of payment from the hotel.

Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST)

According to a report of the Russian Aeroclub business tourism agency, Switzerland is the seventh country with the highest number of visas admitted from Russian passport holders in 2023.

Italy & Spain Are “the Most Loyal” to Russian Tourists

When it comes to the countries that issue most visas to Russians, Italy and Spain top the list. The RST calls them “the most loyal” to Russian tourists.

In November 2023, the Consulate of Spain solved the problems with making appointments to apply for visas. Before this, bots grabbed all the windows, slots were given out in small portions, but now appointments open a month in advance and it has become easier to sign up. It is now possible to submit documents on a first-come, first-served basis.

Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST)

The waiting period for a decision on an application filed at this consulate in Russia is between four to six weeks, Interfax reports.

Schengen Visa Statistics show that one-fourth of visas obtained by Russian passport holders in 2022 have been issued by the Spanish authorities, or as many as 154,450 out of 603,955 Schengen visas issued.

The Italian consulate on the other hand, issues decisions within 30 to 45 days upon application. The validity of visas granted at this consulate varies between three to six months, and in some cases one-year visas are also issued.

According to the Russian Aeroclub business tourism agency the Italian visa was the third most sought after in Russia in 2023.

France Granting Visas With Longest Validity in Russia

The country which provides visas with the longest validity is France, according to Russian tour operators. In addition, it processes applications within only two and a half weeks.

The French willingly issue visas to Russians for six months, a year. And even, albeit not often, for five years.

Ivetta Verdiyan, from tour operator BSI Group

Yet, the problem with this consulate is making an appointment, which is extremely difficult. In spite of the hurdles, 11 per cent of all visa applications filed in Russia in 2023, were filed at the French consulates, which is listed second in terms of most visa applications received, just after China.

Another country that is well known amongst Russians for its “loyalty” is also Hungary. The Director of Development of the operator “Turtrans-Voyage” Irina Gusakova, has told Interfax that 70 per cent of the company’s tourists received multiple-entry visas from Hungary.

In general, in our destinations there are few refusals when issuing Schengen visas for an organized tour, no more than one per cent. If a tourist provides adequate documents, there is no need to be afraid of this.

Irina Gusakova from tour operator Turtrans-Voyage

Though it has a high issuance rate and a processing period of only two and a half weeks, Greece issues visas only for the required dates of the planned trip.

The Union of Travel claims that the country that takes the longest to issue a Schengen visa in Russia is Croatia, for which applicants need to wait for up to two months for a response. Yet, demand for visas from this country in Russia is still low, as the same became part of the Schengen zone only a year ago, on January 1, 2023.