Schengen Type C Visa (up to 90 days in any 180-day period)for 🇷🇺 Russian citizens travelling to 🇪🇺 Schengen Area
Russian citizens are required to obtain a Schengen Type C Visa (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) before travelling to Schengen Area. You must submit a formal application at the Schengen Area embassy, consulate, or a designated visa application centre in your country. Apply well in advance of your planned travel date.
Apply Now — Official Portal ↗ℹ️Travel advisory for Russian citizens
Russian nationals can still apply for Schengen visas, but since the EU suspended its visa-facilitation agreement with Russia in September 2022 the process is slower, costlier and far more scrutinised — and several member states restrict or refuse tourist visas.
The EU fully suspended the EU–Russia Visa Facilitation Agreement (Council decision of 9 September 2022, in force 12 September 2022). The ordinary Visa Code now applies to Russian applicants: the application fee rose from €35 to €80, more supporting documents are required, processing takes longer, and multiple-entry visas are issued restrictively. From November 2025 an EU-wide rule effectively limits Russian nationals to single-entry Schengen visas save for narrow exceptions. Each member state keeps wide discretion and can refuse applications; some (notably Poland and the Baltic states) operate near-total tourist-visa bans, while the EU remains open to essential-purpose categories such as family members of EU citizens, journalists and dissidents. Schengen visas are therefore still issued — this is not a blanket ban — but treat any Russia→Schengen plan as difficult and check the specific consulate first. These measures are volatile and escalating; re-verify before applying.
Source: European Commission — EU visa measures for Russian nationals · Verified June 2026
📋Required Documents12
- ✓Valid passport (minimum 3 months validity beyond your planned departure from Schengen; issued within the last 10 years; at least 2 blank pages)
- ✓Completed Schengen visa application form (signed and dated)
- ✓2 recent passport-size photographs (35×45 mm, white background, taken within last 6 months)
- ✓Detailed travel itinerary (confirmed flight bookings showing entry/exit dates)
- ✓Proof of accommodation for all nights (hotel bookings, host invitation letter, or rental agreement)
- ✓Travel insurance policy (minimum €30,000 medical coverage, valid for all Schengen member states)
- ✓Bank statements for the last 3 months showing sufficient funds (approx. €50–100 per day of stay)
- ✓Proof of financial means (savings account passbook, fixed deposits, or sponsor bank guarantee)
- ✓Employment or self-employment letter (stating job title, salary, and approved leave dates)
- ✓Last 3 months' payslips or proof of income
- ✓Proof of ties to home country (property documents, family records, or business registration)
- ✓Cover letter stating trip purpose, itinerary overview, and intention to return home
ℹ️What to Expect
To apply for a Schengen Type C Visa (up to 90 days in any 180-day period), book an appointment at the nearest Schengen Area embassy or visa application centre in your country. Submit the required documents in person or via a designated courier service. Processing takes approximately 15 days. The government fee is EUR 135.00. Plan well ahead of your intended travel date to allow time for processing and any additional document requests from the consulate. Always verify current requirements at the official government portal before booking travel.
🌐Why Russian passport holders need a visa for Schengen Area
Russian citizens require a visa to enter Schengen Area based on the current immigration requirements set by Schengen Area's government. Russian passport holders must apply through the Schengen Area embassy, consulate, or a designated visa application centre before travelling. Requirements are subject to change, so always verify at the official government portal.
⚠️Common Reasons Schengen Type C Visa (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) Applications Are Refused6
- !The purpose and conditions of the intended stay could not be justified — an unclear, inconsistent or unconvincing itinerary, booking or invitation (Visa Code Art. 32).
- !Insufficient proof of means of subsistence for the duration of the stay and for the return journey.
- !Doubt about your intention to leave the Schengen area before the visa expires — typically weak economic, family or employment ties to your home country.
- !Travel medical insurance is missing or does not cover the whole Schengen area for the full stay (minimum €30,000).
- !A passport that is damaged, valid for less than three months beyond the intended departure, or with fewer than two blank pages.
- !False, counterfeit or inconsistent supporting documents — or the 90-days-in-any-180 short-stay allowance is already used up.
Refusal grounds are at the discretion of the deciding officer and can change. This list is informational — always verify current requirements at the official government portal.
Schengen Area Visa
A Schengen C visa issued here is also valid for travel to all 29 member states.
Requirements last reviewed: June 2026 · Source: official government portal