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Russia → Switzerland

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Russia
To
Switzerland
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
1,873
Change since 2018
+19.4%
Share of all arrivals in Switzerland, 2023
1.05%
Inflow 20231,873OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<CHRUSSIA<SWITZERLAND<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
RU9<CH5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Migration from Russia to Switzerland

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

Inflows by year

1,0732,145201020132016201920222023
1,0732,145201020132016201920222023
Data table
20101,926
20112,048
20122,057
20132,145
20141,914
20151,768
20161,634
20171,544
20181,569
20191,710
20201,558
20211,577
20221,887
20231,873
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—15,921—
20231,87315,610747
20221,88715,062617
20211,57714,719525
20201,55814,408485
20191,71013,970536
20181,56913,780514
20171,54413,730589
20161,63413,671614
20151,76813,443562
20141,91412,789397
20132,14511,858397
20122,05710,981—
20112,04810,981—
20101,926——
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

15k30k19901995200020052010201520202024
15k30k19902000201020202024
Data table
19904,986
19956,549
20008,663
200512,123
201016,085
201521,835
202026,126
202430,466
Estimate, 2024
30,466
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
19
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

Switzerland's consulates in Russia

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202410,2248,4994774.7%
20239,9808,2605825.8%
202210,9909,7281,12310.2%
20216,2716,195210.3%
20204,8884,7521002.0%
201919,80219,3693441.7%
201820,30320,0082431.2%
201723,30122,9652501.1%
201624,49424,1812230.9%
201529,17428,8103241.1%
201443,13042,8471750.4%
201357,91657,4833540.6%
201261,88161,6082730.4%
201164,28663,9103760.6%
201067,77865,9651,8132.7%
200965,51362,8792,6344.0%

Applications by year

34k68k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
34k68k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200965,513
201067,778
201164,286
201261,881
201357,916
201443,130
201529,174
201624,494
201723,301
201820,303
201919,802
20204,888
20216,271
202210,990
20239,980
202410,224
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Switzerland

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family391
  2. Education367
  3. Work290
  4. Other reasons60
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20251,108000
20241,26607541,048
20231,80007411,025
20222,38006131,003
20211,89705251,026
202000483979
201900555954
20181,7900529934
20171,7350618969
20161,8170665975
20151,94605681,011
20141,48103921,021
20132,4770396957
20122,25803690
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities290
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
15,331
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
60
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 Switzerland in Russia, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyMoscoweda.admin.ch
Consulate-generalSaint Petersburgeda.admin.ch
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Switzerland, 2023; Russia ranks 22.

Inflows to Switzerland, 2023
  1. Germany26,211
  2. France19,955
  3. Italy19,497
  4. Portugal12,750
  5. Spain8,964
  6. Poland7,576
  7. Romania7,520
  8. Hungary4,175
  9. Türkiye3,788
  10. China3,526
  11. India3,514
  12. Afghanistan3,466
Other destinations for people from Russia, 2023
  1. Israel33,116
  2. Türkiye28,314
  3. Germany26,720
  4. Spain21,617
  5. South Korea17,550
  6. United States12,910
  7. Netherlands5,160
  8. France5,035
  9. Portugal4,893
  10. 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