Russia issued 1,112 visas in 2025 to foreign nationals under a programme aimed at people who say they support “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values,” according to figures cited by Russian state media.
The scheme, created under Presidential Decree No. 702 and promoted by Moscow as a form of “humanitarian support,” offers a route into Russia for citizens of countries the Kremlin accuses of advancing “destructive neoliberal” policies. It allows eligible applicants to enter on a private visa and then seek temporary residence without some of the usual requirements, including proof of Russian language ability, knowledge of Russian history or understanding of the country’s legal system.
🎙President of Russia Vladimir Putin:
— Russian Embassy in South Africa 🇷🇺 (@EmbassyofRussia) June 11, 2025
💬"Traditional values are the moral guidelines that our forefathers have laid down over the centuries. They are the basis of our civilisation and identity, the pillar of life for individuals and families. They mould our culture, our… pic.twitter.com/syuInFPwTj
Alexey Klimov, who heads the consular department of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti that Russian diplomatic missions and consulates issued the visas during 2025. The most went to German nationals, with 168 visas, followed by French citizens with 140 and US citizens with 105. Italy accounted for 100 approvals, while Estonia, Latvia, Canada, Lithuania, and Australia were also among the leading source countries.
For the travel sector, the figures offer an early indication of how Russia is trying to recast migration and long-stay travel as part of its wider ideological messaging. Rather than presenting the initiative as a conventional work, study or investment route, officials have framed it around cultural alignment and family life.
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly positioned Russia as a destination for foreigners who feel alienated by social changes in their home countries. Earlier this month, he said Russia would welcome those wishing to “live, work and raise their children” in the country while preserving traditional family values.
The programme was introduced in August 2024 and applies to citizens or permanent residents of a list of countries and territories that includes much of Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea. Russian consular guidance describes the visa as a single-entry private visa valid for up to three months, intended to let applicants enter Russia before applying for temporary residence.
Recently, at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, plans were unveiled to establish a town in the Nizhny Novgorod region where 450 European families could be relocated under the “traditional values” scheme.
The initiatives come as Russia continues to tighten its domestic stance on social issues and intensifies its anti-Western rhetoric during the war in Ukraine. Moscow has expanded restrictions on LGBTQ-related expression and gender transition in recent years, moves that have drawn condemnation from rights organisations and Western governments.
Western media have widely referred to the route as an “anti-woke” visa, though Russian officials use the language of traditional values and humanitarian assistance. Klimov did not say how many of the visa recipients ultimately settled in Russia or whether they remained in the country after arrival.
While the overall number remains modest compared with mainstream migration flows, the programme is notable for the way it blends tourism, residency, and political identity. For travellers considering Russia, it also highlights the increasingly politicised nature of entry routes at a time when many Western governments continue to advise caution over travel to the country.
