EU Visa Debates Do Not Make Turkey a Key Destination for Russians

Turkey remains open to Russian travelers under long-standing rules, but claims that the EU visa debate has turned Turkey into a new “key destination” for Russians in 2025 are not supported by official evidence. As of September 16, 2025, there has been no EU-wide decision that blocks Russian tourist or business travel across the Schengen Area, and no fresh policy move that would push large numbers of Russians toward Turkey as an unintended result. Officials in Brussels continue to discuss visa policy toward Russians, as they have since 2022, but no sweeping new measures have appeared this year.

What is clear is that Russians already had easy entry to Turkey before 2025. The visa-free arrangement for ordinary Russian passport holders allows stays of up to 60 days per visit for tourism or business. There have been no official announcements about changes to this rule. Turkey’s policy, which reduces red tape at the border, keeps the country attractive on its own terms.

Direct flights, close trade ties, and a large tourism sector all add to the draw—factors that sit apart from the EU visa debate.

EU and Turkey: the policy context in 2025

• No EU-wide ban in 2025: The EU has not adopted a new, union-level rule barring Russian tourists or business travelers this year. Discussions continue, but policy remains largely as it was after 2022.
• Existing restrictions still matter: With the 2022 suspension of visa facilitation, Russians face longer processing times and higher fees for Schengen visas. National measures vary, which can confuse applicants, but they do not amount to a total shutout.
• Turkey’s stance is steady: The visa-free entry for Russians up to 60 days per visit remains in effect. There is no sign of tighter screening or a new limit aimed at Russians in 2025.

These facts undercut the claim that the EU visa debate alone is steering Russians toward Turkey as destination. Instead, Russians continue to visit and reside in Turkey because it is simple to enter, affordable relative to many European capitals, and well-connected by air.

On-the-ground impact for travelers and residents

Russians looking at Turkey for short stays can still follow a straightforward path:

1. Check that your passport will be valid for your full stay.
2. On arrival, present your passport at the border.
3. Receive an entry stamp that allows up to 60 days for tourism or business.
4. If you plan to remain longer, apply inside Turkey for a residence permit.
5. For stays beyond the visa-free period, follow local registration rules.

These steps are routine and have been in place for years. There is no sign of new burdens on Russian visitors at Turkish airports or land borders this year.

For Turkish travelers, the situation is unchanged:

• Turkish citizens still need visas for the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Talks on EU–Turkey visa liberalization show no breakthrough in 2025.
• The Turkish passport allows broad travel worldwide through visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and eVisa access, but the Schengen Area remains outside that group.

This split—open doors for Russians entering Turkey and closed doors for most Turks entering the EU without a prior visa—continues to shape travel realities across the region.

Practical effects for policymakers, businesses and tourism

• For EU policymakers, the state of play remains fluid but not transformative. Some capitals continue to debate whether to limit Russian tourist travel more sharply; others hesitate on legal, humanitarian and practical grounds.
• For Turkish authorities, stable procedures mean predictable traffic. Tourism officials have long counted on Russian travelers to fill hotels along the Mediterranean coast and in Istanbul.
• Business links in energy, construction, logistics, and services remain active. Real estate interest from Russians rose after 2022, and while current-year data is limited, there is no official sign of a sudden surge tied to new EU steps in 2025.

Experts caution against drawing broad conclusions from scattered anecdotes. There are no fresh, official statistics for 2025 that show a sharp increase in Russian arrivals driven by EU visa rules. Pre-2025 patterns already placed Turkey near the top of Russian destination lists. Those patterns continue for the same reasons: ease of entry, cost, and proximity.

The EU visa debate is real, but it has not produced a new barrier in 2025 that diverts Russian travelers en masse. Turkey’s role as a welcoming destination for Russians is grounded in policies and ties that predate 2025, not in a sudden shift from Brussels.

Key takeaways and travel advice

• Confirmed: Russians can enter Turkey visa-free for up to 60 days per visit (tourism or business).
• Not confirmed: Any EU-wide decision in 2025 that forces large numbers of Russians to choose Turkey instead of Europe.
• For Russians: Turkey is a reliable short-stay option with no extra paperwork beyond routine checks; longer stays require residence permits and local registration as usual.
• For Turks: Schengen visas are still required—allow extra time for processing and expect higher fees and possible delays compared with pre-2022 procedures.

Travelers should plan based on official rules, not rumors. Russians who need certainty can choose Turkey for short stays without extra paperwork. Those aiming for Schengen travel should expect standard documentary proof and potential delays. Turks aiming for Schengen trips should continue to allow extra time for visa processing.

For official rules on entry to Turkey, consult the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs page on visa policy for foreigners at https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa.