Over Half a Million Schengen Visas Granted to Russian Nationals in 2024 Despite Sanctions

In 2024, Russian nationals were issued a total of 541,839 Schengen visas, out of 606,594 applications submitted across the bloc, resulting in an average approval rate of 89.32 per cent. The figures come at a time when numerous European countries have publicly restricted or suspended visa services for Russians in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine, making the volume and success rate of applications particularly striking.

Despite the political climate, five countries stood out as the most active in granting visas to Russian applicants. Italy led the list for the second consecutive year, granting 152,254 visas from a total of 161,401 applications—an approval rate of 94.3 per cent. Only Poland exceeded Italy in approval rate terms, greenlighting 251 out of 254 applications submitted by Russians, amounting to 98.82 per cent.

France, traditionally the top recipient of visa applications in the Schengen Area, came in second with 123,890 visas issued out of 134,885 applications. This figure represents an approval rate of 71.10 per cent, substantially lower than Italy’s, but still significant in absolute terms.

Spain followed closely, issuing 111,187 visas to Russian nationals. Though Spain was previously the second-most popular destination among Russian applicants from 2020 to 2022, it has now shifted to third place. In earlier years, Greece had led in the number of approvals, but in 2024, Greece granted 59,703 visas from 69,690 applications, placing it fourth on the list.

Hungary rounded out the top five, approving 23,382 visas from 25,651 applications. Although the total number of visas issued by Hungary was lower than the others, it remained a prominent destination for Russian applicants.

The sheer volume of applications—more than 600,000—has drawn attention, especially given the backdrop of geopolitical tension and the fact that several EU countries have openly pledged to stop issuing visas to Russian nationals. Some have even refused to accept visa applications entirely, citing security concerns and solidarity with Ukraine.

Yet, the data reveals that Russian citizens continue to seek travel access to Europe in large numbers, and a significant portion of those efforts remain successful, particularly in countries with historically strong travel and tourism ties to Russia.

The approval figures underline a complex landscape in which political decisions, administrative discretion, and bilateral relationships intersect, producing varying levels of openness across the Schengen Area. While some countries have adopted a hardline stance, others continue to process Russian visa applications at high rates—either due to long-standing ties, tourism interests, or existing visa policies.

The contrasting approaches among Schengen states may continue to prompt discussion around consistency, fairness, and the future of visa policy amid continuing regional instability.

By fLEXI tEAM