Russia issued over 1,000 visas in 2025 to foreigners "sharing traditional values"

According to Russia's Foreign Ministry consular department, Russian diplomatic missions issued 1,112 visas in 2025 to foreigners who share "traditional Russian spiritual and moral values". The most visas went to German, French and US citizens. Estonian citizens received 63 visas.

Russian diplomatic missions and consulates issued a total of 1,112 visas in 2025 to foreigners who "share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values", announced Aleksei Klimov, director of the Foreign Ministry's consular department, in an interview with the state news agency RIA Novosti.

Western countries' citizens received most visas

According to the statistics, the most visas were issued to citizens of Germany (168), France (140) and the US (105). Estonian citizens received 63 visas, one of the lowest figures, by comparison, Latvian citizens received 60, Canadian citizens 54, Lithuanian citizens 46 and Australian citizens 43 visas.

Putin's decree from 2024

The special scheme is based on a decree signed by Vladimir Putin in August 2024 on "providing humanitarian support to individuals who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values". The decree allows foreigners and stateless persons to obtain temporary residence in Russia without the usual quota requirements, proof of Russian language proficiency, knowledge of Russian history, or understanding of the country's legal system.

The scheme targets those who wish to relocate to Russia "as a result of their opposition to their countries' policies that impose destructive neoliberal ideological frameworks".

Putin calls defenders of family values to Russia

In June 2024, Putin repeated his call for foreigners to come and live in Russia. "In many countries, unfortunately, traditional family values are being dismantled. We support those who, under such pressure, decide to come to Russia to live, work and raise children," he said.

Analysts view this as part of Russia's propaganda effort, aimed both at attracting conservatives from Western countries and reinforcing the narrative that Russia stands against Western liberalism. However, actual interest in such an opportunity remains modest, 1,112 visas worldwide is a very small number.