The European Union does not apply a general ban on the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian nationals. Furthermore, the vast majority of European Union Member States have not closed their borders to Russian travellers and continue to issue visas, including for tourism purposes. In 2022, hundreds of thousands of Russian nationals could enter the EU and thus continued to enjoy the freedom of movement in Europe.

Visa application process

The fulfilment of entry conditions and purpose of stay is always checked during control at the EU external borders. Russian citizens need to be in possession of a valid visa to enter the Schengen Area.

First-time visa applicants have to appear in person at a consulate or an authorised visa application centre when applying for a short-stay Schengen visa to have their biometric data (10-digit fingerprints and digital photographs) collected. This data is stored in the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a means for Schengen countries to exchange data on visa applicants to facilitate the process and enhance security.

The procedure of collecting biometric data is simple and discreet, taking a few minutes. Frequent travellers to the Schengen Area do not have to have their fingerprints scanned for each visit, as the VIS stores scans for further visa applications over a 5-year period, irrespective of where the previous visa application was lodged.

This requirement is waived for children under the age of 12 and persons who cannot physically provide fingerprint scans.

Applications should be lodged at the consulate or visa application centre of the country of destination. Check the countries currently in the Schengen Area. For practical questions, applicants should first contact the Schengen consulate of their main country of destination or an official visa application centre in Russia.

Visa applicants are strongly advised to be vigilant when using the facilitation services of ‘visa agencies’ and other ‘visa intermediaries’ as they can be overcharged or issued forged supporting documents that will damage the visa history of the applicant.

For more details on:

• the Schengen visa procedures, please check the FAQ (in English and in Russian). 
• the categories allowed to travel to the EU during the COVID-19 restrictions check here.
• the COVID-19 testing and quarantine procedures in each EU Member State check here.

Visa Facilitation suspension

The EU-Russia Visa Facilitation agreement entered into force in June 2007. It eased the issuance of visas to citizens of the Union and the Russian Federation for intended stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. As of 1 September 2022, around 963.000 Russians held valid visas to the Schengen area.

Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU foreign affairs Ministers decided to suspend the EU's Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia with effect from 12 September 2022. They also agreed on a common EU approach for the non-recognition of Russian passports issued in occupied regions of Ukraine and Georgia. Nevertheless, visa applications will continue being processed on an individual basis, based on a case-by-case assessment.

The Visa Facilitation Agreement suspension ended the privileged Schengen visa treatment for Russian citizens - the general rules of the EU Visa Code will apply instead. As a result, the average Russian nationals will now be treated in the same way as the visa applicants from most countries around the world - a somewhat higher visa fee, a bit longer processing times, and not so frequent issuance of multiple-entry visas.

Nonetheless, the EU will continue issuing favourably Schengen visas to Russian travellers belonging to essential categories (family members of EU citizens, seafarers, truck drivers, pupils, students, and researchers) and to vulnerable categories (journalists, dissidents, human rights defenders and civil society representatives). Under the visa rules, Member States can for instance decide to reduce or waive the visa fee in certain cases.

More information

• Q&A
• Commission Communication providing guidelines on general visa issuance in relation to Russian applicants
• Council Decision on the suspension of the application of the EU-Russia Visa Facilitation Agreement
• Press release: Commission proposes full suspension of Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia, 6 September 2022

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme for education, training, youth and sport for the period 2021-2027, offering EU-funded opportunities for higher education students, staff and institutions. 

The key aim of Erasmus+ is the learning mobility of individuals, which includes the following opportunities:

• Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships: represent a prestigious, integrated, international study programme, jointly delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions. EMJMs award EU-funded scholarships to the best student candidates applying under annual selection rounds. Studies must take place in at least two of the Programme Countries. Part of the studies can also take place in Partner countries if there is a partner-country institution involved.

How to apply: consult the online catalogue of Erasmus Mundus Masters programmes to choose the field of study, countries and universities, where you would like to study, visit programmes' websites to verify the entry requirements and deadlines, gather the documents (CV, Motivation Letter, Recommendation Letter, etc.) and submit your application.

• Higher education mobility: Russian universities can send students, doctoral candidates, or staff for short-term mobility assignments (2-12 months) with institutions from Erasmus+ countries. Russian universities can also host similar short-term study periods. To take part in the programme, you must be registered in a higher education institution and enrolled in studies leading to a recognised degree or tertiary-level qualification. Your period of study abroad must be relevant for your degree-related learning and personal development needs, and be part of the study programme that you are following. Your home institution and the receiving institution must have an inter-institutional agreement between them for you to study there with Erasmus+.

How to apply: contact International relations office at your university, choose universities to which you would like to apply, find study programmes that correspond with your home university's curriculum, gather the documents (CV, Motivation Letter, Recommendation Letter, etc.) and submit your application.

• As regards non-formal education, Erasmus+ offers opportunities to young people, not just those involved in education or training. With Erasmus+, you can volunteer in Europe or outside of Europe or participate in a youth exchange abroad. Erasmus+ supports the professional development of youth workers through training or networking periods abroad. Periods abroad can consist of training courses, study visits, job shadowing or observation periods at relevant organisations, and more.

In addition, Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) fund worldwide and cross-sector mobility for all stages of a researcher’s career, support research training and career development focused on innovation skills and form part of the EU's Horizon Europe programme. MSCA fellows include PhD candidates and those carrying out more advanced research in any field of studies.

• MSCA Doctoral Networks help groups of researchers gain experience of different working environments while developing transferable skills. Candidates wishing to apply for PhD positions under Doctoral Networks should apply to funded Doctoral Network projects by consulting their open vacancies advertised internationally, including on the EURAXESS portal.
• MSCA European Postdoctoral Fellowships is for researchers from across the world. It is a great option if you are completing your PhD or you are already an experienced researcher. Interested researchers develop and submit a proposal to an open Postdoctoral Fellowships call jointly with your host organisation, which can be a university, research institution, business, SME or other organisation based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Open calls are published on the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal.

26 October 2022  “Study in the European Union” webinar  - Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ Study in the EU webinar