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Russia

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
189,397
Top destination, 2023
Israel
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
50,616
UK visas issued, 2025
48,406
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
7.4%
NationalityRUISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<RURUSSIA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
RU9<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Russia need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 14 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Russia move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 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
  11. Finland4,397
  12. Austria3,722
  13. Hungary2,438
  14. Japan2,205
  15. Switzerland1,873

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

136k271k200020032006200920122015201820212023
136k271k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200083,489
200199,334
2002107,733
200399,289
2004100,522
200594,039
200679,308
200772,372
200876,023
200971,819
201075,060
201175,818
201280,650
201395,736
201487,512
201588,189
2016103,454
2017103,493
2018115,001
2019130,419
202084,179
2021115,906
2022271,214
2023189,397
Share going to the top destination
17.5%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Russia who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Ukraine3,375,095
  2. Germany1,137,448
  3. Uzbekistan865,767
  4. Belarus664,610
  5. Kazakhstan552,258
  6. United States452,940
  7. Tajikistan235,636
  8. Türkiye193,302
  9. Spain128,600
  10. Israel126,688
  11. Estonia121,354
  12. Latvia107,529

Living abroad by year

6.21M12.4M19901995200020052010201520202024
6.21M12.4M19902000201020202024
Data table
199012,427,364
199510,281,407
20008,879,470
20058,675,250
20108,545,806
20158,528,582
20208,747,396
20249,134,094
Living abroad, 2024
9,134,094
Change since 2000
+2.9%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
37.0%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Russia by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B238,635
  2. C1/D3,581
  3. F11,972
  4. A2967
  5. J1823
  6. L2555
  7. L1488
  8. G2362
  9. G4359
  10. O1346

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

90k179k201720182019202020212022202320242025
90k179k20172019202120232025
Data table
2017123,384
2018141,566
2019179,460
202085,393
202115,748
202242,846
202368,000
202459,270
202550,616
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV2,152
  2. IR5968
  3. E1517
  4. IR1320
  5. IR2158
  6. E2136
  7. CR1128
  8. F377
Immigrant visas, FY2025
4,849
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
319
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Russia who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Russia with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

5,78512k2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
5,78512k201520172019202120232024
Data table
20158,800
20169,300
20178,920
20188,620
20199,820
20207,970
20215,530
20228,910
202311,570
202410,720
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens4,920
  2. Diversity visa lottery2,440
  3. Employment-based preferences2,150
  4. Refugees and asylees870
  5. Family-sponsored preferences310
  6. Other classes20
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Spouses and children3,550
  2. Intracompany transferees (L-1)2,520
  3. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)1,490
  4. Specialty occupations (H-1B)1,300
  5. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)970
  6. Other temporary workers110
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Russia)
10,720
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Russia)
7,020
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
101,550
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Russia (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Russia (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor45,259
  2. Work1,561
  3. Study1,038
  4. Family354
  5. Other194

Visas issued by year

114k227k201020122014201620182020202220242025
114k227k201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010142,586
2011175,414
2012189,575
2013227,469
2014196,821
2015122,262
2016116,983
2017154,485
2018143,898
2019159,166
202055,480
202130,573
202234,048
202338,783
202443,529
202548,406
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
2,340
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Russia, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20252201,9851,2651,105235
20242953,4501,4651,810455
20235003,1101,9901,770475
20222802,2451,3101,625255
20212251,4051,7552,000495
20201351,0151,0901,390605
20192101,2351,5952,265580
20181701,1051,4902,135645
20171701,2301,5202,285690
20161501,3601,5752,400305
20151559801,6102,120205
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Russia, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

1933862005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
1933862005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–06138
2006–07174
2007–08159
2008–09121
2009–10100
2010–11134
2011–12178
2012–13203
2013–14136
2014–15201
2015–16193
2016–17206
2017–18131
2018–19133
2019–2072
2020–2159
2021–2299
2022–23386
2023–24184
2024–25181
2025–26143
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills95
  2. Specialist Skills35
  3. Short-term6
  4. Labour Agreement4
  5. Medium-term3
Granted, 2025–26
143
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.2%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Russia living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

6,09412k2012201420162018202220242025
6,09412k2012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20127,295
20137,513
20147,859
20158,092
20168,306
20178,672
20188,987
20199,378
202210,681
202311,634
202411,982
202512,187
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident4,730
  2. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services2,181
  3. Student1,475
  4. Spouse or Child of Japanese National1,215
  5. Dependent1,076
  6. Long-Term Resident461
  7. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident258
  8. Business Manager182
  9. Designated Activities146
  10. Highly Skilled Professional136
Residents, December 2025
12,187
In work-related statuses
2,800
Share in work-related statuses
23.0%
Students
1,475
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Russia

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Russia, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Italy161,401152,2548,4115.2%
France134,885123,8909,4867.0%
Spain125,551111,1879,9167.9%
Greece69,69059,7038,68812.5%
Hungary25,65123,3822,2698.8%
Germany21,82017,2021,1895.4%
Bulgaria15,58611,8156224.0%
Netherlands10,9589,734600.5%
Switzerland10,2248,4994774.7%
Portugal5,7895,3842754.8%
Austria5,4983,6201,25322.8%
Finland4,1253,2113809.2%
Estonia2,3051,30452222.6%
Sweden2,2591,56847320.9%
Lithuania2,0711,5811959.4%

Applications by year

3.5M7M2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
3.5M7M200920122015201820212024
Data table
20093,565,384
20104,222,551
20115,265,866
20126,069,001
20136,995,221
20145,768,182
20153,467,317
20163,177,621
20173,885,899
20183,695,671
20194,133,100
2020653,764
2021536,241
2022687,239
2023520,387
2024606,594
Refusal rate, 2024
7.4%
Refusal rate, 2019
1.5%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Russia in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Family30,044
  2. Work22,728
  3. Other reasons18,532
  4. Education9,136
First permits by country
  1. Spain15,246
  2. Germany12,605
  3. Serbia9,548
  4. France5,722
  5. Cyprus4,924
  6. Poland4,267
  7. Portugal4,076
  8. Italy3,297
  9. Hungary2,936
  10. Bulgaria2,633
  11. Austria2,314
  12. Netherlands2,047
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card2,694
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)3,538
  3. Researchers570
  4. Other paid activities15,926
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
6,658
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
34,946
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
42,818
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
3,915
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
960,150
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
47,463
Changed status into work, 2025
5,441
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
25
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
400
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Russia in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark20253852485167154
Sweden202539372342233925
Netherlands20251,79546545574510030
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland20251,112854258
Austria20252,5071,635872
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark248
  2. Sweden72
  3. Netherlands465
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Germany

Citizens of Russia living in Germany on 31 December 2025, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

By residence status, 31 Dec 2025
  1. Permanent residence title131,505
  2. Family reasons39,950
  3. International law, humanitarian or political reasons23,765
  4. Application for a residence title pending22,175
  5. Employment15,730
  6. Neither tolerated nor permitted14,110
  7. Tolerated stay (Duldung)10,685
  8. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure9,645
  9. Education and training6,815
  10. Special residence rights and national visas5,610
  11. EU free movement4,165

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
Residents in Germany, 31 Dec 2025
284,225
With a residence title for employment
15,730
Permanent residence title
131,505
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Italy

New residence permits issued in Italy to citizens of Russia, by year and reason, and permits valid on 1 January 2026 (Istat).

New permits by year

2,5695,1382016201720182019202020212022202320242025
2,5695,138201620182020202220242025
Data table
20163,057
20173,031
20183,192
20192,747
20201,475
20213,268
20224,558
20235,138
20242,840
20253,226
New permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family1,328
  2. Study1,177
  3. Work280
  4. Asylum and protection260
  5. Other reasons181
New permits, 2025
3,226
Valid permits, 1 Jan 2026
46,892
EU long-term residents, 1 Jan 2026
25,348
Source: Istat, residence permits of non-EU citizens: permits issued in the year and valid permits on 1 January (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Russia

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Russia, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Afghanistan1——
Albania1——
Algeria1——
Angola1——
Argentina1——
Armenia11—
Australia11—
Austria1——
Azerbaijan1——
Bahrain1——
Bangladesh1——
Belarus1——
Belgium1——
Benin1——
Bolivia1——
Bosnia and Herzegovina1——
Brazil1——
Brunei1——
Bulgaria1——
Burkina Faso1——
Burundi1——
Cambodia1——
Cameroon1——
Canada1——
Central African Republic1——
Chad1——
Chile1——
China16—
Colombia1——
Costa Rica1——
Croatia1——
Cuba1——
Cyprus1——
Czechia1——
Côte d’Ivoire1——
DR Congo1——
Djibouti1——
Dominican Republic1——
Ecuador1——
Egypt1——
El Salvador1——
Equatorial Guinea1——
Eritrea1——
Estonia11—
Ethiopia1——
Finland1——
France13—
Gabon1——
Gambia1——
Germany11—
Ghana1——
Greece1——
Grenada1——
Guatemala1——
Guinea1——
Guinea-Bissau1——
Honduras1——
Hungary12—
India11—
Indonesia1——
Iran1——
Iraq1——
Ireland1——
Israel1——
Italy1——
Japan14—
Jordan1——
Kazakhstan1——
Kenya1——
Kuwait1——
Kyrgyzstan1——
Laos1——
Latvia1——
Lebanon1——
Libya1——
Lithuania1——
Luxembourg1——
Madagascar1——
Malaysia1——
Mali1——
Malta1——
Mauritania1——
Mauritius1——
Mexico1——
Moldova1——
Mongolia12—
Montenegro1——
Morocco1——
Mozambique1——
Myanmar1——
Namibia1——
Nepal1——
Netherlands11—
New Zealand1——
Nicaragua1——
Nigeria1——
North Korea1——
North Macedonia1——
Norway1——
Oman1——
Pakistan1——
Palestine1——
Panama1——
Paraguay1——
Peru1——
Philippines11—
Poland1——
Portugal1——
Qatar1——
Republic of the Congo1——
Romania1——
Rwanda1——
Saudi Arabia1——
Senegal1——
Serbia1——
Sierra Leone1——
Singapore1——
Slovakia1——
Slovenia1—1
Somalia1——
South Africa1——
South Korea12—
South Sudan1——
Spain1—1
Sri Lanka1——
Sudan1——
Sweden11—
Switzerland11—
Syria1——
Tajikistan1——
Tanzania1——
Thailand1——
Tunisia1——
Turkmenistan1——
Türkiye13—
Uganda1——
Ukraine11—
United Arab Emirates1——
United Kingdom111
Uruguay1——
Uzbekistan1——
Venezuela1——
Vietnam1——
Yemen1——
Zambia1——
Zimbabwe1——
Countries
146
Missions
182
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Russia, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

5,21610k2000200320062009201220152018202120242025
5,21610k200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000500
2001986
2002936
20031,114
20042,207
20053,437
20063,820
20074,666
20085,737
20095,105
20105,250
20116,103
20125,788
20136,751
20147,777
20156,903
20166,689
20178,235
20189,287
201910,432
20209,915
20219,647
20223,245
20232,616
20241,816
20251,612
Remittances received, 2025
US$1,612 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.06%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Russia

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

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