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Russian tourists continue to travel through Europe despite sanctions
Despite the sanctions, many Russians continue to travel to Europe, which leads to mixed reactions. The article illuminates the challenges and accessibility of visas for Russian tourists.
Russian tourists continue to travel through Europe despite sanctions
The Russian influencer Egor Melo has traveled through Europe since the beginning of 2022. Last year he visited Zurich to see the Eras Tour concert by Taylor Swift, celebrated New Year's Eve in Paris and explored the historical sights of Nuremberg in Germany.
Visa problem for Russians after the Ukraine conflict
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the direct flights between Russia and the EU were discontinued. In September of the same year, the EU suspended its Agreement with Russia, which means that Russian citizens have to expect a longer and more expensive visa application process to enter the EU.
increase in processing fees and access restrictions
The processing fees for Schengen-Visa, which allow non-EU citizens to travel within the 29-country Schengen area, have risen. Some EU countries, many of them on the border with Russia, offer less consular appointments for Russians. In addition, the EU has warned the Member States to check Russian applications.
The new rules do not fundamentally restrict Russian tourists, their trips to Europe are not legally prohibited, but the process becomes much more difficult and more expensive.
travel recommendations and practical tips
There are countries like Latvia Rel = "NOFOLLOW" TARGET = "_ blank" https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/norway-further-restricts-access-tourists-2024-05-23/ "Target =" _ blank "> Norway, poland, Finland , estland, lithuania and The Czech Republic , the far-reaching bans have imposed on almost all tourist visa for Russian citizens.
on his Instagram-Account to show that travel in Europe is accessible to all, claims that Melo claims that he "has been to two of these countries with a tourist visa in the past two years and had no problems." His advice is: get a visa from another Schengenland. "For example, fly to Italy and travel from there to these countries."
Current travel situation and trends
Despite the difficulties, not all trips are excluded. The Interior Minister of Latvia recently stated at an EU meeting that 565,069 Schengen-Visa were spent on Russians in 2024, of which 90 % were for tourist purposes. This is a significant decline compared to the four million visas awarded before pandemic in 2019, but an increase of 25 % compared to 2023. href = "
" Target = "_ blank"> Visa deportation rate for Russians varies greatly between the Member States.famous travel bloggers from Russia report on their view of the current situation. A blogger who wants to remain anonymous because he fears future visa applications said that the application for a visa now requires additional documents that were not necessary in the past, such as already purchased flight tickets or hotel bookings.
alternative travel routes and challenges
Some travelers have nevertheless found alternative ways to get to Europe. "The main transit countries for people from western Russia are now Türkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Serbia," said a travel blogger. For those who live in the Russian Far East, for example in Vladiwostok, it could be easier to fly over China.
experiences when entering Europe
Many report different experiences when it comes to getting to Visakehros, even to countries that refuse many visas for Russians. "In summer there are long queues on the Narva-Vangorod border because flying to Talinn is cheap," explains a blogger. Russian travel companies continue to offer tours to countries that have blocked visa allocation to Russian tourists, for example a 15-day tour of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Latvia.
legal situation and ethical considerations
A spokeswoman for the European Commission said that the organization has accepted clear guidelines to support the Member States to prioritize visas for Russians and to focus on safety and border control. However, Sarah Ganty, a lawyer, argues that such bans are not lawful and violate EU law. She emphasizes that the conversation with Russian citizens, especially with those who want to escape the regime, is of the greatest importance.
There is growing frustration over the current visa restrictions and some require a tightening of the regulations. "I think it is important to take this threat seriously," says Latvia's Minister of Internal Affairs.