The demand for business visas in 2023 amounted to only 22% of the volume of visas issued in 2019

Experts from Aeroclub, the market leader in business travel and a leading provider of IT solutions for the industry, analyzed the demand for foreign visas and invitations to Russia in 2023 and found out which countries are most in demand among business representatives.

The demand for foreign visas from business representatives from Russia in 2023 remained at the level of the previous year and amounted to only 22% of the volume of visas issued in 2019. At the same time, due to currency fluctuations, companies’ expenses for visa support for their employees decreased by 22% compared to last year (-80% compared to 2019) and amounted to more than 13 million rubles in seven months of 2023. The experts noted that if tourist visas in 2022 and 2019 accounted for 18% and 20% respectively, then this year their share has decreased to 6%, and the vast majority of business tourists apply for business visas.

According to the study, most often in 2023, business travelers from Russia apply for visas to China. Moreover, the share of visas issued to the country amounted to 38% and turned out to be higher than the number of visas to all Schengen countries combined.

On the second line – France, which occupied the first place last year. The number of visas to this country decreased by a third compared to 2022, and the share of the total volume of issued visas was 14% (21% in 2022).

India, as well as a year earlier, ranked third, while the demand for visa support to this country decreased by 17%, and the share was 7%.

Since the beginning of the year, business travelers have obtained 5% more visas to Italy than in 2022, and Italy has moved from sixth to fourth place.

Spain entered the top five, but the number of visas to this country decreased by 9% compared to last year.