Single‑entry only: how Russian visa rules have changed

The European Commission sharply cut back on multiple‑entry Schengen visas for Russians since November 2025, and the share of such visas has plummeted from over 80% in 2019 to less than 20% last year (in 2023 that figure was about 49%; in 2024 — 41%). Now, most travellers get only single‑entry visas that match their exact trip dates, says Mikhail Abasov, a travel industry expert.  

In 2025, Russians filed about 620,000–670,000 visa applications, and roughly 540,000–570,000 were approved.  France, Italy, and Spain remain the top issuers, handling about 60–65% of all Schengen visas for Russians. But waiting times are long: processing takes 2–4 weeks, and booking an appointment can take another 4–8 weeks. For Spain, tourists need to plan at least six months ahead; for France and Italy, about three months.