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Number of Schengen visas granted to Russians in 2024 up one quarter — association

In 2024, 565,069 Schengen visas were granted to Russians, the report said

MOSCOW, March 7. /TASS/. The number of Schengen visas issued to Russians last year rose by 25% compared with 2023 to 565,000, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reported citing research by the European Commission (EC).

"In 2024, 565,069 Schengen visas were granted to Russians, which is 25% higher than in 2023. This accounts for 5.7% of all visas granted by the Schengen zone countries last year. Ninety percent of Schengen visas issued to Russians were tourist visas," according to the report.

Travel agencies anticipate a revival of demand for Schengen visas and trips to Europe by the end of March or the beginning of April when tourists start planning their summer vacations. "Experts recommend those wishing to get a visa to hurry up: the closer the high season is, the more difficult it will be to apply for documents and get a Schengen visa within a reasonable time," the association said.

According to visa statistics, one in ten Russian applicants was refused a Schengen visa in 2023 (over 54,000 denials). The share of refusals (10.6%) remained similar to the level of 2022 (10.2%). In 2019, the share of Schengen visa denials among Russians was one of the lowest globally, at 1.5%, ATOR added.

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