Schengen Visa Crackdown Leaves Russian Travellers Stranded in Bureaucracy
Despite recent changes, tour operators in Russia continue to offer trips to Schengen countries. However, obtaining visas has become more challenging, with European consulates largely halting multiple-entry visa issuance to Russians. The new regulations, implemented on 20 March 2024 by the European Commission, have significantly impacted Russian travellers. Expedia, a major travel booking platform, reports that previously, multiple-entry visas allowed unlimited entries into the Schengen Area during their validity period. Now, these are scarce, and single-entry visas are more common, with processing times stretching from three weeks to two months. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia notes that many of these restrictions were already in effect in practice. Russia's travel industry has accepted these changes with resignation. European countries are further tightening travel rules, imposing longer processing times, application quotas, and stricter itinerary checks. Each country independently sets its own visa policy, with some issuing national visas that only permit entry to that specific nation. In 2024, around 542,000 Schengen visas were issued to Russians, not all for tourism purposes. Travellers typically receive visas tied to their exact travel dates or for just a month, effectively ruling out multiple entries. The new visa regulations have made travel to Schengen countries more complex for Russian citizens. Tour operators continue to sell trips, but travellers must navigate longer waits and stricter rules. The future of Russian tourism in the Schengen Area, particularly with regards to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policies, remains uncertain.
