French Ambassador Confirms Longer Schengen Visa Processing Times and Increased Fees for Russian Applicants

Russian citizens applying for French visas will now face extended processing times and higher fees, as confirmed by the French ambassador to Russia, Pierre Lev.

When questioned about the French consulate's willingness to issue Schengen visas to Russian citizens, the ambassador indicated that the chances are diminishing.

"We continue to issue visas in accordance with European directives, which I believe is very important. Truth be told, the visa fee has increased and the issuance period has been extended consistent with the European regulations," stated French Ambassador to Russia Pierre Lev.

According to the Schengen Statistics Portal, Russians filed over 520,000 visa applications last year, making them the fifth largest source for visa requests, compared to being the second largest in 2022.

Despite facing sanctions, Russian travelers remain loyal to the EU, continuing to apply for visas. In response to the war in Ukraine and threats from Russia, the European Union introduced restrictions on Russian citizens in 2022, which included longer visa processing times and higher fees.

"Russia continues to violate international law with its illegal military actions, committing atrocities against Ukrainians and undermining European and global security and stability. These actions breach the fundamental principles on which the Visa Facilitation Agreement was concluded and go against the interests of the EU and its Member States," said Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs.

However, these discouraging measures have not deterred Russians from applying for Schengen visas. Travel agents in Russia have noted a rising interest in visiting the Schengen zone, with Italy, France, and Spain being the top destinations.

In 2023, the rejection rate for Russian applicants reached 10.43%. Out of 520,000 visa applications from Russians, approximately 54,000 were rejected. Even with fewer applications, it is evident that more Russians were denied visas in 2023. Furthermore, the number of Multiple Entry Visas (MEVs) granted to Russians halved, dropping from 72.46 percent in 2022 to 49.22 percent in 2023.

Countries more likely to issue MEVs to Russians in 2023 included Luxembourg, Belgium, and Lithuania, while Poland, Iceland, and Slovakia were more likely to grant Schengen visas, despite low application rates for these countries. Malta, Estonia, and Sweden had the highest rejection rates for Schengen visa applications filed by Russians, whereas Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal were the least likely to grant Russians MEVs.

By fLEXI tEAM