Russia has issued a substantial number of visas through its diplomatic missions in China since the start of 2023, with the total approaching fifty-one thousand. This uptick marks a significant rise from the previous year, according to reports from DEA News about the Russian Embassy in China.
The agency notes that the total visa issuance is roughly five times higher than the same period last year. In the January to March window, the Russian mission in China granted 50,855 visas, with tourist visas making up about forty percent of the mix.
Regional distribution shows Shenyang in Liaoning province receiving nearly 30,000 visas. Beijing accounted for 12,693 visas, while other major hubs such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong reported 7,115, 9,11, and 623 visas respectively since the beginning of the year.
There is ongoing outreach from the Tour Operators Association as it submitted a request to the Ministry of Economic Development, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Moscow Tourism Committee regarding the timelines for resuming visa-free group trips for Chinese and Russian tourists. At this time, there is no official date set for implementing any such agreement.
Earlier in the year, the Russian Ministry of Transport announced a notable expansion in flight services to China, indicating a substantial increase in flights planned for the year ahead. This broader effort supports greater travel links and may influence upcoming visa activity and tourism flows between the two countries.