Schengen states have issued a total of 541,839 visas to Russian nationals, who filed 606,594 applications for Schengen visas in 2024.
According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfoapproval rates for visa applicants from Russia were 89.32 per cent on average, but some countries were more likely to grant visas to Russians compared to others, Schengen.News reports.
Regardless, Russians filing over 600,000 visa applications in the recent year is surprising, as there are many sanctions that apply to this nationality group due to the war in Ukraine. Many Schengen countries have announced they would stop issuing visas to Russians, and some even refused to receive visa applications.
5 Countries That Issued the Most Visas to Russians Last Year
As the data reveal, the five countries that issued the highest number of visas to Russian applicants are also the top recipient countries for visa applications every year.
The five countries that issued the most visas to Russian nationals in 2024 are as follows:
- Italy (152,254 visas)
- France (123,890)
- Spain (111,187)
- Greece (59,703)
- Hungary (23,382)
Italy issued most visas to Russians in 2024 – about 94.3 per cent of 161,401 applications that Russians filed last year. That resulted in 152,254 approved visas and an approval rate of 94.3 per cent.
After Poland, which had an approval rate of 98.82 per cent for Russians – 251 approved visas out of 254 applications, Italy had the highest approval rate for Russian applicants in 2024. This is the second consecutive year that Italy has granted the highest number of visas to Russians.
France, the top recipient country for visa applicants historically and with 2024 making no exception, is the second country to issue the most visas for Russians. France granted 123,890 visas out of 134,885 applications that Russians filed for the year. This translates into an approval rate of 71.10 per cent.
Spain now represents the third country with the most visas issued to Russians, but in previous years, Spain was one of the countries that approved the most applications for Russian visa applicants.
Schengen Statistics reveal that Spain was the second-most popular destination for Russian applicants between 2020 and 2022, whereas Greece was the number one destination.
In 2024, Greece was the fourth destination for Russian applicants, who filed 69,690 applications – 59,703 were approved, while 8,688 applications received a negative response.
Hungary received 25,651 applications from Russians in 2024, out of which 23,382 or 37.60 per cent were approved, ranking Hungary as the fifth country to receive the most visas from this nationality group.