Less and less: how many and what visas Germany issues to Belarusians

Illustrative photo. Photo: freepik.com

Last year, Belarusians received 20% fewer visas

In 2025, the German Embassy in Minsk issued 42,763 Schengen C-type visas to Belarusians, suitable for tourism, business trips, and visiting relatives and friends. For comparison, in the United Arab Emirates, Germany issued 40,560 visas to a population of 11 million people.

Compared to 2019, the "pre-coronavirus" year, when 35,502 visas were issued in Belarus, it turns out that there are now more.

But the trend is downwards. A year earlier, in 2024, Germany issued 52,000 visas to Belarusians and was number one in this regard, according to Eurocommission statistics. The top 5 included Italy (a thousand fewer visas), Hungary, France, Poland.

That is, over the past year, the number of visas decreased by almost 8,000, a direct 20% drop.

"The main reason is the limited resources of consulates. After 2020, European diplomatic missions in Minsk have been operating with reduced staff. The second reason is increased checks, which reduces throughput. Germany also processes visas for Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium," comments Belarusian visa expert Nastassia Lysakouskaya.

The wait for an appointment at the German embassy recently reached a year and a half.

"In 2025, the situation improved, but on average, appointments still took a year," the expert clarifies.

"Schengen visa 'for a trip' is the new reality"

"One of the main trends of recent years is a sharp reduction in the number of long-term visas. Previously, they were often issued for one or two years; now it's more often for specific travel dates or short periods. A Schengen visa 'for a trip' is the new reality," believes Nastassia Lysakouskaya.

According to the expert, this trend is not only for Belarusians but is "a pan-European one, related to states' desire to control migration risks."

In this sense, the situation at the German embassy is rather positive for Belarusians. The official 42.7 thousand visas include both multiple-entry and single-entry. The German MFA told Deutsche Welle about the ratio: 3,919 visas in 2025 were issued for a single trip, and 38,844 visas, or nine out of ten, were multiple-entry. However, about 62% of multiple-entry visas had a validity period of less than a year.

The embassy issued 7,582 visas for a period of one year, 4,039 visas for two years, 1,558 for three years, and only 467 visas for four years. And another 2,620 lucky individuals received German visas valid for five years.

Fewer humanitarian and more work visas

In 2025, the German Embassy in Minsk also issued 1,353 Category D visas, meaning national visas, among which 582 were work visas, 235 for family reunification (spouses), 202 for late repatriates, for study, or immigration via the Jewish line.

Last year, Belarusians received only nine humanitarian visas. A year earlier there were 35, and the highest number was in 2022 — 131 visas. In 2020 [likely referring to 2020 or later], Germany initially suspended, and then tightened its approach to issuing them.

Currently, the reception of foreign citizens on humanitarian grounds is possible for the protection of Germany's political interests in particularly significant individual cases, the German MFA explained to Deutsche Welle. Such a decision is made by the Federal Ministry of the Interior based on a request from the MFA, and only after the Ministry of the Interior declares the acceptance of a specific person does the visa application procedure begin for them.

What will happen to visas for Belarusians next?

"With high probability, 2026-2027 will not bring a simplification of the visa regime for Belarusians, and the sanctions policy, reduced diplomatic missions, and high workload on consulates will persist," believes Nastassia Lysakouskaya.

According to the expert, the Schengen area will not close for Belarusians, but the rules will become stricter.

"Tens of thousands of Belarusians receive visas. The system works, but it requires more and more time, documents, and planning," she summarizes.

Nastassia Lysakouskaya says that in recent years, Schengen countries can be divided into several groups:

"Stricter ones are Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, partially Poland; they more often refuse or issue 'for a trip' visas, there are risks of visa annulment if used improperly. Stable ones are Germany, France, Spain, Italy; they are more lenient in issuing long-term visas, but waiting times remain long."

For those who simply want to travel, the expert advises thinking about the route and choosing a country "with a developed system of visa centers, a high approval rate, and relatively fast appointment times":

"In practice, for Belarusians, this is most often Greece, especially for a single trip, Spain — with confirmed income, you can also get a multiple-entry visa. It is important to understand: you cannot submit documents 'anywhere'; you must adhere to the rule of the main country of stay. But with a flexible itinerary, this can be combined."

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