Single-entry Schengen visas for Russians: what it means for Spain

What did the European Commission decide in November 2025?

Commission Implementing Decision C(2025) 7552 of 6 November 2025 sets special rules for issuing multiple-entry visas to Russians. Legal basis: Article 24(2d) of the Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009). The decision is addressed to the member states, including Spain [1].

The rule is this: only applicants from the list below get a multiple-entry visa. Consulates issue everyone else a single-entry one [1].

Who will still get a multiple-entry visa?

The visa cannot run beyond the passport’s validity: it ends three months before the passport expires [1]. Separately, the decision keeps the right of countries, in justified cases, to issue a multiple-entry visa to someone who proves the need for frequent or regular travel and their reliability. Whether and how the Spanish consulate applies this is not described in public materials [1].

Who is not affected by the decision?

The decision applies to Russians who live in Russia and apply for a short-stay visa at the consulate of a Schengen country in Russia [1]. The text implies the following:

• citizens of other countries living in Russia remain under the general rules unless they hold Russian citizenship [1];
• family members of EU citizens moving with a Union citizen are covered by a separate Directive 2004/38/EC [1];
• Russians legally living in another country do not fall under this decision, but the consulate must strictly follow the rules on territorial competence [1].

Where exactly to apply is covered in the article where Russians should apply for a Spanish visa.

What does a single-entry visa mean for a plan to move to Spain?

A short-stay Schengen visa gives up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You apply at the consulate’s visa centre between 6 months and 15 days before the trip; the decision is taken within 15 calendar days, or 45 if documents are requested or an interview is held. The consular fee for applicants aged 12 and over is 90 euros, plus the visa centre’s service fee [3].

There are two routes to the DNV: a national visa at the consulate, or an application to the UGE for those already legally in Spain [4][5]. The national visa is a separate procedure, while a single-entry Schengen visa affects the second route: once you leave the Schengen area, you need a new visa. So it makes sense to gather everything the application needs (contract, employer’s letter, income documents, apostilled certificates) before you enter. This is our practical assessment, not a legal rule. How applying from Spain works: DNV from Spain on a tourist visa.

What we don't know

The decision gives no date from which consulates apply it and does not describe how the Spanish consulate assesses “justified cases” for a multiple-entry visa. Practice may differ from one consulate to another, so check the consulate’s page before booking an appointment [3]. You can work out the right route for your situation at a consultation. The general procedure for a residence permit is set out on the page residence permit in Barcelona on your own, and for remote work there is the DNV route card.

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ReloVictory · Sources reviewed 02.10.2026 · Not a substitute for individual legal advice.