Over Half a Million Schengen Visas Granted by EU Countries to Russians
In 2024, a significant increase was observed in the number of Schengen visas issued to Russian nationals by European Union (EU) countries, marking a rebound in Russian tourism to Europe despite ongoing tensions and sanctions related to the Ukraine war.
A total of over 552,000 visas were granted, representing a 9% increase from the previous year. The top destinations for Russian travelers were Italy (152,000+ visas issued), France (124,000), and Spain (111,000). Greece and Hungary also issued substantial numbers of visas to Russians.
Notably, Italy and France saw a 19% increase in overnight stays by Russian tourists, highlighting that these destinations remain popular holiday spots for Russians returning to Europe.
Russians require a Schengen visa to enter any of the Schengen Area countries, which includes 25 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Due to Western sanctions, direct flights between Russia and the EU remain largely suspended, so most travelers fly via third countries such as Turkey or the UAE. This adds significant cost and complexity—return flights from Moscow to Paris or Rome often cost around €1,000, making travel to the EU an expensive option mostly accessible to wealthier Russians.
The outlined situation implies that travelers must apply for visas individually via the consulates of these countries (Italy, France, Spain, etc.) in Russia. Once issued, the Schengen visa allows free movement within the Schengen zone, including for transit purposes.
It's important to note that due to security concerns, Russian citizens now require a transit visa in France when flying from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey, or Egypt.
Additionally, Spain abolished visa-free transit for Russian citizens in its airports from July 12, 2024, and Turkey simplified the payment process for Russian tourists using QR codes through Russian bank mobile apps.
However, this increase in visa issuance and hotel bookings is still far below pre-pandemic levels (2019 saw over 4 million visas issued), and raises concerns among some EU and Ukrainian officials about security implications.
[1] European Travel Commission, "Russian Tourism to Europe Rebounds in 2024," European Travel Commission, 2024. [2] The Moscow Times, "High Costs and Complexity: Russian Tourists Face Challenges in Traveling to EU," The Moscow Times, 2024. [3] DK.RU, "Turkey Simplifies Payment Process for Russian Tourists," DK.RU, 2024. [4] Reuters, "EU Countries Issue Record Number of Schengen Visas to Russians in 2024," Reuters, 2024.
Despite the ongoing tensions and sanctions related to the Ukraine war, there was a 9% increase in Schengen visas issued to Russian nationals in 2024, suggesting a resurgence in Russian lifestyle travel to Europe. Notably, popular European destinations like Italy and France saw a 19% increase in overnight stays by Russian tourists, indicating these destinations remain favored holiday spots in the lifestyle travel market.
