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Russia → Germany

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Russia
To
Germany
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
26,720
Change since 2018
+46.9%
Share of all arrivals in Germany, 2023
1.57%
Inflow 202326,720OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<DERUSSIA<GERMANY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
RU9<DE3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Migration from Russia to Germany

Inflows of nationals of Russia recorded by Germany; stock of nationals of Russia living there; and acquisitions of Germany's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

18k36k200020032006200920122015201820212023
18k36k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200032,727
200135,930
200236,479
200331,776
200428,464
200523,078
200616,425
200714,960
200815,052
200915,652
201016,063
201117,487
201218,812
201331,367
201420,629
201521,633
201623,085
201718,137
201818,187
201918,750
202011,558
202113,718
202232,646
202326,720
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—308,015—
202326,720290,6151,995
202232,646268,6201,755
202113,718263,3001,895
202011,558260,3951,950
201918,750254,3252,125
201818,187249,2051,930
201718,137245,3802,123
201623,085230,9942,375
201521,633221,4132,329
201420,629216,2912,743
201331,367202,0902,784
201218,812195,3103,167
201117,487191,2702,965
201016,063189,3262,753
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Russia who live in Germany: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

569k1.14M19901995200020052010201520202024
569k1.14M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990230,622
1995273,531
2000423,106
2005683,182
2010857,409
2015954,413
20201,038,231
20241,137,448
Estimate, 2024
1,137,448
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
6.8%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
4
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Germany's consulates in Russia

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Germany's consulates located in Russia.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202421,82017,2021,1895.4%
202319,28615,1503,95820.5%
202248,89538,8099,29519.0%
202129,26524,7394,16314.2%
202069,91367,0932,7764.0%
2019337,191325,75411,3523.4%
2018302,254292,7629,3583.1%
2017300,303293,2786,8362.3%
2016263,126257,7355,2582.0%
2015298,449290,4707,8322.6%
2014427,880416,25311,4712.7%
2013474,399451,58020,4994.3%
2012406,924397,2719,6532.4%
2011383,631375,1038,5282.2%
2010360,339350,00210,3472.9%
2009336,216326,9949,2392.7%

Applications by year

237k474k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
237k474k200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009336,216
2010360,339
2011383,631
2012406,924
2013474,399
2014427,880
2015298,449
2016263,126
2017300,303
2018302,254
2019337,191
202069,913
202129,265
202248,895
202319,286
202421,820
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Germany

First residence permits issued by Germany to citizens of Russia (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family5,422
  2. Other reasons3,389
  3. Work2,146
  4. Education1,648
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202512,6052,94000
202413,1523,69015,21510,974
202323,8726,9044,96011,024
202219,7594,6954,71011,369
202113,3543,5125,04011,149
202010,4052,8033,71011,055
201912,4992,7005,0800
201813,2481,7704,9300
201710,1551,3094,7250
20169,2761,2744,8330
20159,0541,1674,5390
201410,1989604,8960
20139,7198543,9540
20129,1241734,2110
20116,26504,1970
20106,92204,1910
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card1,249
  2. Other paid activities485
  3. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)312
  4. Researchers100
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
217,959
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
17,432
Changed status into work, 2025
628
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
2
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Germany in Russia, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyMoscowgermania.diplo.de
Consulate-generalSaint Petersburgsankt-petersburg.diplo.de
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Residence status in Germany

Citizens of Russia living in Germany on 31 December, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

31 DecAllEU free movementPermanent residence titleEmploymentEducation and trainingFamily reasonsInternational law, humanitarian or political reasonsTolerated stay (Duldung)Permission to reside during the asylum procedure
2025284,2254,165131,50515,7306,81539,95023,76510,6859,645
2024302,3104,485141,86517,9407,50543,45023,2509,66511,540
2023308,0154,615147,75517,6107,53044,29522,11511,35511,295

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

154k308k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
154k308k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
2014221,413
2015230,994
2016245,380
2017249,205
2018254,325
2019260,395
2020263,300
2021268,620
2022290,615
2023308,015
2024302,315
2025284,225
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Germany, 2023; Russia ranks 11.

Inflows to Germany, 2023
  1. Ukraine283,631
  2. Romania202,039
  3. Syria128,742
  4. Türkiye115,937
  5. Poland97,945
  6. Bulgaria65,871
  7. Afghanistan58,482
  8. India54,123
  9. Italy38,460
  10. Hungary34,003
  11. Russia26,720
  12. Serbia24,155
Other destinations for people from Russia, 2023
  1. Israel33,116
  2. Türkiye28,314
  3. Spain21,617
  4. South Korea17,550
  5. United States12,910
  6. Netherlands5,160
  7. France5,035
  8. Portugal4,893
  9. Italy4,633
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more