In 2022, Russians submitted 700,000 applications for Schengen visas
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In 2022, Russians submitted about 700,000 applications for Schengen visas. This is almost 200 thousand more than a year earlier. The leaders in terms of the number of issued documents became Spain, Italy and Finland, reports the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).
Last year, the Spanish and Italian consulates in Moscow and St. Petersburg issued a total of more than 150,000 visas. A little more than 5% of applicants received rejections. The visa departments of the Italian diplomatic mission in these two cities approved more than 103,000 applications with 14,000 rejections.
Finnish consulates issued more than 105,000 visas to Russians, the majority in St. Petersburg – 83,000. At the same time, Helsinki closed entry for Russian tourists last September.
The highest percentage of visa refusals, according to ATOR data, at the consulate of Sweden – more than 30% out of five thousand applications.
- In 2021, Russians submitted more than 500,000 Schengen visa applications. The share of refusals then amounted to more than 3%.
- In September 2022, due to Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the European Union suspended the simplified visa regime for Russians. The visa fee has increased from 35 to 80 euros, the package of documents required for submitting a visa application has increased.
- Against the background of visa restrictions, entry for Russian tourists was restricted to the Baltic countries, Poland, Finland and the Czech Republic. The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium and Slovakia have stopped issuing visas to Russians, ATOR reminds.
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