Schengen suddenly “became kinder” to Russians: getting a visa has become easier

It has become easier for Russians to obtain a visa to the EU – this joy is shared in thematic chats by tourists who applied for Schengen in the new year. The record for today is the coveted stamp from Spain in just three days.

After listening to the lucky ones, we asked the experts whether this was just luck or a stable trend.

– I’m shocked! – shares the lucky guy, rejoicing at the speed with which the Spanish consulate in Moscow issued him a visa. – I signed up on the 9th, submitted documents on the 10th, and received a passport with a visa on the 15th – and this without any “helpers”.

From the chats dedicated to the treasured stamp, it is clear that this lucky person is not alone. “The Spaniards processed it for me in 4 days, and gave me a multiple visa for 2 years,” reports another Moscow resident. From the very beginning of sanctions against the Russian Federation by the EU, the Spanish consulate was one of the most loyal to Russian visa applicants: only a few were refused; the majority were given multiple-entry visas for up to six months for their travel dates without any problems. But still, the processing time took from a week to two, and in most cases exactly 14 working days. What is the cause of “warming”?

“After the New Year holidays, there are not many applicants, this is one of the reasons,” says Alexey, a visa intermediary in the Schengen area. – Slots (windows for in-person submission of documents. – Author’s note) are still available, if you submit right now, you will receive them quickly. Visa centers have also opened in the regions, which has made the work of the central visa service easier.

Before the Christmas holidays, the Spanish visa center really began to actively restore the work of its regional branches. The Samara branch opened its doors before the New Year, and quite quickly “stunned” many of those who wanted it – this is happily reported by Russians who managed to take their children on vacation. Today, residents of Kazan, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod and Novosibirsk residents are expecting the opening of BLS International branches (EU visa services – author).

“This will further reduce the load on visa centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg,” believe those same “helpers” whose help many have already done without this year.

And they add that “Russians quickly get used to good things” and are already asking for help not just with a visa for a trip, but with two-year multivisas. And judging by the results, this is becoming a reality – and not only with Spain.

“I received a three-year visa from Italy,” rejoices Muscovite Svetlana. – I contacted an intermediary, waited two weeks, but still didn’t count on such luck!

Greece (in less than a week) and France (not quickly, but issues even to “newcomers” who have not previously had EU visas) also presented surprises in the speed of processing and validity of Schengen this year. And Italy “broke the record” in terms of duration, issuing more two- and three-year multivisas to Russians in less than a month in January 2024 than all other countries in the Schengen area.

“It’s more difficult to apply for France,” summarizes visa intermediary Alexey, “there are difficulties with registration.” But in the new year, France is giving visas even to recruits without Schengen in their passports. Spain, France and Italy did not yet have a single Russian refusenik in 2024.

A survey of other visa holders shows that, in general, Schengen has really warmed up to Russians: Greece, Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Portugal, and Switzerland issue us visas without any problems. Each has its own specifics, but in January, everyone who wanted to get an entry stamp from these countries in their passports succeeded.

“There is warming,” the Russian representative office in Brussels shares on condition of anonymity. – So far at the level of ordinary citizens both in Europe and in Russia, and this has already affected the state of tourism. It’s certainly not as easy for a Russian to go to Europe as before the pandemic, but it’s not as difficult as it was a year ago.

A note to those interested from visa experts: as of January, Spain and Greece process applications the fastest – within a week. The Greek consulate in St. Petersburg, according to observations, issues longer visas than the Moscow one.

Hungary issues annual multiple visas to Russians, but it takes 2-3 weeks to review the documents and can check the hotel reservation provided by the applicant.

France is now considering about 2 weeks, but just yesterday it issued a five-year Schengen visa to a Russian woman who previously had only two six-month ones.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 29197 dated January 18, 2024

Newspaper headline:
Schengen warming