The Russian Union of Travel Industry (PCT), in conjunction with leading tour operators, recommends that Russian citizens speed up the issuance of Schengen visas for trips planned for spring and summer. According to Interfax, the optimal time for submitting documents is no later than 1.5 months before the trip. This will avoid an increase in the review time associated with the traditional increase in applications before the month of May, as it accounts for a large number of holidays and the summer period.
According to the PAC Group, the consulates of Italy and Greece process documents in an average of 14-21 days. Ilya Itkin, the company’s CEO, noted that France and Spain have also reduced the delivery time, but they are expected to increase by the beginning of the high season. “After 2022, the EU has eliminated accelerated procedures for Russians: the minimum period for checking documents in the VIS system is 7 days, plus time for logistics between the consulate and the visa application center,” the expert explained.
The BSI Group confirmed the growing interest in European destinations. The director of the promotion Department, Yvette Verdiyan, clarified that in February there are “windows” for prompt registration at visa centers. “By April, free slots will become less frequent, and the registration deadlines will approach the upper limits set by the regulations,” she added.
The current rules, effective from September 2022, include an increased consular fee to euro 80, a limitation on the validity of multiple-entry visas, and mandatory review of applications through the VIS system. Information about the requirements is available on the websites of consulates and visa centers. The EU Council has extended the suspension of the simplified regime for the Russian Federation, which is reflected in the official documents of the European Commission.
In 2024, Italy, France and Spain entered the top destinations, and there is also an increase in demand for educational programs in the UK.
Tour operators emphasize that despite the stabilization of procedures, there is no prospect of a return to the practice of instant visa processing, as before the pandemic.