Schengen Visa Issuance to Russian Citizens Surges in 2025
In 2025, the number of Schengen visas granted to Russian nationals rose sharply, triggering fresh tensions within the European Union. According to official figures, Russian citizens submitted over 670,000 visa applications—an 8% increase compared to 2024. Meanwhile, EU member states issued more than 620,000 visas, representing a 10.2% uptick. The vast majority—over 477,000—were tourist visas. This data comes amid ongoing debates over how the bloc should balance security concerns with diplomatic and economic interests regarding Russia.
Top Visa Issuers and the Political Divide
France, Italy, and Spain led the way in issuing Schengen visas, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all applications from Russians. France alone recorded the highest growth rate, with a 23% increase in visa issuances compared to the previous year. However, this surge has deepened divisions within the EU. Poland, the Baltic states, and several Nordic countries continue to advocate for a complete ban on travel for Russians while the war in Ukraine persists.
It is also worth noting that in 2025, the EU eliminated multiple-entry visas for Russian citizens. Now, each trip requires a separate application to undergo security screening. This policy shift came after the EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Moscow following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. By the end of 2024, the bloc had already prohibited the issuance of multiple-entry visas to Russians.
Data on Russian visa applications initially disappeared from updated editions of the Schengen Barometer but were later reinstated as a separate technical document. France and other nations had expressed dissatisfaction with the publication of these figures. In 2022, the European Commission recommended that member states deprioritize visa applications from Russian nationals. Additionally, the EU adopted a new five-year strategy on migration and visa policy, explicitly categorizing Russia and Belarus as hostile states.
The rising number of Schengen visas issued to Russians reflects the complex and strained dynamics between Russia and EU countries, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Despite the overall increase in visa issuance, countries most affected by Russian aggression maintain a hardline stance on restricting travel for Russian citizens. This underscores the ongoing regional tensions and highlights the EU's approach to security threats emanating from Russia.