The number of Schengen visas issued to Russian citizens last year increased by 10% over the past year – to over 620,000. At the same time, the share of multiple-entry visas issued to Russian passport holders decreased, reports UNN with reference to DW.
Details
An internal European Commission document on Schengen issues has come into the possession of the DW editorial office. It shows that the number of visas issued to Russian citizens indeed increased by 10% last year – to over 620,000. The number of applications also rose – by 8.42% to 674,000. Meanwhile, the share of multiple-entry visas issued to Russian passport holders decreased. Following the tightening of entry rules by the EU, their share dropped from 57% to 12% in just two months.
In terms of the number of "Schengen" visas received, Russia ranked fourth in 2025 – it was surpassed by China (about 2 million visas), India, and Turkey (approximately 1.2 million each). The number of Schengen visa applications worldwide increased by 4.2%, and the number of positive decisions on them increased by 3%.
EU increased issuance of tourist visas to Russians over the year - media06.05.26, 08:50
The publication notes that Russians were issued 478,000 tourist visas, 70,500 visas for visiting relatives, and 35,000 business visas. The number of visas for sports trips also increased – from 2,162 in 2024 to 5,182 in 2025. 68% of travel documents were issued to citizens of the Russian Federation by France, Italy, and Spain. Notably, the former issued 173,000 of them per year - significantly more than the previous year. The lowest figures are in Denmark, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Sweden, Poland, and the Baltic states.
The number of valid visas in Russian passports also decreased. By the end of 2025, there were about 300,000, which is 21% less than the previous year.
EU tightens visa rules for Russians, revoking multiple-entry Schengen visas07.11.25, 13:23