Schengen Visa Surge for Russians in 2024: Tourism Revival or Security Concern?

In 2024, over 565,000 Schengen visas were issued to Russian citizens — a 25% increase compared to 2023. Despite ongoing EU sanctions and travel restrictions, this sharp rise signals a rebound in Russian tourism and possibly a softening stance by some Schengen countries.

Which countries are issuing the most visas?

According to SchengenVisaInfo, Italy topped the list, receiving 143,517 applications from Russian nationals — 28% of the total. It also issued the highest number of visas: 134,141, accounting for 30% of all approvals. France, Germany, Spain, and Finland followed closely behind.

90% of visas are for tourism

Latvia’s Interior Ministry reports that 90% of all visas granted to Russians in 2024 — about 508,562 — were for tourism. Despite geopolitical tension, tourism remains the dominant reason for travel.

Latvia’s protest: Visas as a security threat?

At a recent EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, Latvia strongly opposed the growing visa trend. Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis urged EU states to halt visa issuance to Russian citizens, citing national security concerns:

“We cannot continue business as usual. In Latvia, this affects the daily work of our security services both at the border and domestically. We must acknowledge the threat and act.”

Latvia, alongside Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Czechia, and Finland, has ceased issuing Schengen visas to Russians except for humanitarian cases.

Experts divided: Policy failure or public diplomacy?

Some experts argue that visa liberalization is a valuable diplomatic tool and should not be completely restricted. Others stress the importance of maintaining security and political consistency.

The rise in issued visas may be linked to increased demand from affluent Russian travelers, improved consular processing, or the return of business and medical travel.

Outlook for 2025

Analysts expect application numbers to continue rising in 2025, especially with the upcoming ETIAS system and easing of specific restrictions. However, further political developments and visa policy shifts may drastically impact the trend.