LatviaPublished: 28 June 2026 at 04:38

Latvia ranks second in applications for Russia's 'Shared Values' visa scheme

Russia's visa program for foreigners who align with traditional values has received 1156 applications, with 126 from Latvia.

Russia's special visa program based on 'traditional spiritual and moral values' has received 1,156 applications since its launch in August 2024, according to data from the Russian Interior Ministry compiled by migration publication IMI Daily in 2025.

The program was established by President Vladimir Putin's decree No. 702 of August 19, 2024. It offers a simplified temporary residence permit process – applicants do not need to pass Russian language, history or law exams, and are not subject to quotas.

The highest number of applications came from Germany (224), Latvia (126), the United States (99), France (95) and Italy (82). Among the top ten are also Estonia (55), Lithuania (39) and other countries. IMI Daily notes that this is the first official published statistics, but they have not been independently verified. Similar information was also published by VisaGuide.World in 2025.

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