Published: 03.10.2026
Germany is subjecting Russian applicants of conscription age to more extensive checks when issuing short-stay Schengen visas, assessing the risk that they may not return. In practice, Russians are receiving single-entry visas limited to their planned travel dates, and security-based refusals have also appeared in student visa cases, including an applicant for a design programme.
According to sources, Russian applicants face more scrutiny regarding their intention to leave the Schengen area, particularly those of conscription age, while security assessments are increasingly affecting some student visa applications, including creative fields. For short-term travel, this means greater reliance on documents proving personal, economic, social and family ties outside Germany, and visas issued without multiple-entry privileges. Students and other applicants planning a longer move should also treat security screening as a separate potential factor in the visa process, even when the stated purpose of travel is documented. This is worth watching for Russian citizens planning travel or study in Germany, although each case remains dependent on its individual circumstances.