“The French give good”: in which countries is it easier for Russians to get Schengen

Against the general background, Spain, Italy, France and Greece are favorable to the Russians.

For the second year already, obtaining a Schengen visa for Russians is a quest with vague and even contradictory rules. No European country has declared a 100% refusal of entry on the basis of Russian citizenship alone – as contrary to EU laws. But a cunning system of complications and restrictions divided the European space for compatriots into more and less accessible ones. Despite the fact that the price of a Schengen stamp for us has grown the same everywhere (from 80 euros and more, depending on the type of visa). At the same time, private visa intermediaries assure that it will become much easier for Russians to obtain a Eurovisa from autumn.

Despite the fact that something is constantly changing in the consular business, a Russian tourist is already aware by default that we have the most entry difficulties with visas from the three countries of the ex-Soviet Baltic states, and now the Schengen states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and from the former socialist camp – Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. At the same time, the last two visas are still given to Russians, albeit not with such ease as before. The Scandinavian countries, represented by Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden, do not officially speak out, but the procedure for issuing visas has been significantly complicated. Against their background, Spain, Italy, France and Greece are real Russophiles, these countries affixed the most Schengen stamps to our fellow citizens.

“Recently, all I hear is that such and such a country has officially complicated the visa regime, but in reality it does,” I address my surprise to 52-year-old Oleg, a Russian visa broker with 30 years of experience specializing in Spain.

“So it is,” he replies. – I will list the victories of the last week only. The Spaniards put the tourist Schengen after their own refusal. The tourist was refused, we filed an appeal, they thought for five weeks – and finally changed their minds. The tour man, of course, has already squandered, but for the sake of principle, with my help, he achieved justice. For his and my torment, they gave me an annual Schengen. Despite the fact that Russian tourists have not been given more than a month for the last two years.

– And which European country is now the kindest to the Russians? Usually people remember about Italy…

– You can’t calculate Italy: either they will give you for six months, then for a month. And the rules change every month. While waiting for a visa, everything has already changed. But in general, the Italians fit into five weeks of consideration, and if they already gave it, then a third of the stamps for six months or more. Not bad give the French: quickly and no less than six months. Including in clean passports – not only freshly issued ones are considered such, but also those where there is simply no Schengen. The French are good at giving visas to property owners and the “visitor” type if you are visiting relatives.

– And why is there an opinion that everything will become more fun with our tourism in the EU from autumn?

– Well, there are calls. Holland, for example, has returned the acceptance of documents from Russians for a visa at the invitation of relatives. Greece began to give very quickly: on Monday they filed, on Friday already a passport with a stamp on their hands. But only they now really check the reservation of housing. They call the hotel in Greece indicated by the applicant or a private apartment, and if they do not confirm it, they can even cancel the stamp already affixed. Also with the Hungarians. In general, it is better to submit everything paid for – round-trip tickets and housing. The Greeks will definitely not let you down, in the sense that your tickets will not be lost due to their red tape.

Meanwhile, the northern neighbors hold a severe defense. So, for example, this week, a family from St. Petersburg had their Finnish Schengen visas canceled after talking with police officers near the city of Trondheim. On August 15, Norwegian law enforcement officers, having stopped a car with Russian numbers on the E14 highway, began to ask questions about the route of the Russians’ trip. The head of the family, Alexander, honestly said that he was now going to meet relatives in Denmark and Germany, and last year he also went with his family to Germany from Finland by ferry. The police officers, who turned out to be border control officers from a nearby airport, compiled a report, filed a case and transferred it to the immigration service. Now the family is accused of violating the first paragraph of Article 34 of the Visa Code: when applying for a Finnish visa, he indicated tourism in Finland as the purpose of his trip, and instead went to Germany on his first visit in 2022, which does not correspond to the stated purpose. And then came the decision of the immigration service: the cancellation of the visas of the Russian and his family and the requirement to leave Norway. According to the document, information about this was also transferred to the Visa Information System (VIS) of the Schengen countries.

And Lithuania on Friday officially announced that it was preparing for a possible complete closure of the border with Russia, and before that with Belarus.