Information on visa applications for Russian citizens

PROGEDO – the first friend abroad. This statement is a commitment! That's why we regularly inform our customers about current events and happenings that we consider particularly important.

Currently, we're all concerned about the war in Ukraine and the associated sanctions in Russia. Companies that employ Russian workers in Russia are particularly concerned about these employees and their families.

We have seen that special European guidelines for Ukrainian refugees have been implemented into German law, as well as regulations that allow Ukrainian citizens to apply to German embassies in neighboring countries. This is a positive development for immigration to Europe, and especially to Germany. And it shows humanity towards those who have to leave their country.

Since last week, there has been a new directive from the Foreign Ministry aimed at Russian citizens who want to leave Russia – even if it is a very limited regulation:

Applications for a national D visa by employees of Russian nationality can be submitted to a foreign mission outside Russia IF they are employed in a branch in Russia or in a branch of a German or internationally active company or group of companies based in Russia and will be employed in a German branch or at a German location of the same company or group of companies.

The applicant must have had his or her habitual residence in Russia at the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and only relocated abroad as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Furthermore, he or she must have been employed there on February 24, 2022, and must not have been dismissed.

Even though the regulation is really limited, it feels a bit like a paradigm shift.