When determining the attractiveness of a country in terms of residence (intrinsic value) or temporary visit (extrinsic value), several criteria are taken into account. One of them is the Visa Restrictions Index, according to which 219 territories of the world are classified annually. This indicator is calculated based on an analysis of the visa regulations of countries and reflects the level of freedom of movement provided to their citizens.
Objectives of countries' introduction of visa restrictions
Anyone who has come across a visa to cross the border of any state, it is clear that a visa-free regime can make life much easier:
- provides more travel opportunities;
- promotes international contacts;
- simplifies business partnerships.
The introduction of visa restrictions is mainly due to the need for state control of all foreign persons entering the country. By the presence or absence of requirements for obtaining visas, one can judge the relationship between states, and the global index of visa restrictions reflects the external value of powers and their status within the international community.
Initially, visas were just a formality, but at the end of the First World War, visa restrictions intensified. The reasons for this are easily explained by the need:
- track enemy penetration;
- maintain domestic security.
Today, in addition, visa restrictions allow controlling the migration process and are a tool for achieving political goals.
General requirements for obtaining a visa
When planning a trip abroad, you should inquire in advance if you need to apply for a visa to enter the country of destination. Depending on the citizenship of the applicant, the purpose of the trip, the required frequency of visiting the country, a certain type of permit is issued:
- By multiplicity: one-, two- or multiple-entry visa.
- Nonimmigrant visa - for temporary stay with a specific purpose:
- business,
- student,
- tourist,
- transit,
- working,
- diplomatic,
- electronic.
- Immigration visa - gives the opportunity to permanently live and work in the country:
- immigration proper,
- marriage visa,
- family reunification visa,
- investment.
It should be remembered that even if you have a visa, you may not be able to enter the country. The final permission or ban on visits is issued by representatives of the immigration authorities at the state border.
Peculiarities of visa requirements for citizens of the Russian Federation
Visa requirements for citizens of the Russian Federation differ depending on the territory of destination:
- With a Russian passport, you can enter 6 countries (or 8, if you count the unrecognized states of the DPR and LPR): Abkhazia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, South Ossetia.
- Visa-free travel for Russians is currently open in 106 countries. However, before the trip, it is recommended to clarify the general requirements: the presence of a return ticket, hotel reservations, vaccination certificates, the validity of the passport, and others.
- The issuance of visas at the airport is a simplified service provided in 18 countries.
- Online visa processing is available in 9 countries.
- With a Schengen visa, Russians can visit 54 countries: on different conditions in each specific case.
States from paragraphs 3 and 4 are equated to countries with a visa-free regime, unless an invitation to enter, obtaining consular approval or other additional conditions are required to cross the border.
Freedom of movement of citizens and rating of states according to VRI
The Visa Restrictions Index (VRI) ranks countries and territories according to the level of freedom of movement of their citizens: the indicator reflects the number of countries to which citizens of a given state have the right to visa-free entry. Accordingly, the higher the index value of a country, the more attractive its citizenship is.
Germany has been leading the rating of visa restrictions for 4 years: in 2021, its citizens could visit 176 countries of the world without visas. The second place was taken by Sweden, and the third was shared by 5 states: Denmark, Finland, Italy, Spain and the USA.
The world's worst citizenship has also been identified. This is Afghanistan, according to the passport of which you can visit only 24 countries without a visa. In addition, the situation of a citizen of Afghanistan is getting worse due to military conflicts and the inability to freely move to another country.
Place of the Russian Federation in the rating of visa restrictions
Russia rises from year to year in the list, and in 2021 it was already in 51st place along with Micronesia. Citizens of both countries have access to visa-free visits to 106 states. With a deeper analysis, the citizenship of the Federated States of Micronesia turns out to be more preferable than the Russian one: according to the method of Henley & Partners, which developed VRI, in addition to the number of countries available for visa-free entry, their quality is also taken into account.
On this basis, it is more profitable to own a Micronesian passport, since it makes it possible to live in more developed and successful countries than a Russian one:
- Marshall Islands, Palau, USA - Visa-free residence for citizens of Micronesia;
- Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan - for Russian citizens.
Among the CIS countries, the VRI of the Russian Federation is the highest. Countries neighboring Russia are ranked in the following order:
- Lithuania - 11th place;
- Latvia - 12;
- Estonia - 13;
- Ukraine - 58;
- Kazakhstan - 67;
- Georgia - 68
- Belarus - 70;
- Azerbaijan - 74.
Most countries with a leading position in the world economy have a visa regime with Russia (USA, Japan, Canada, EU countries - for national and Schengen visas, and others). However, in many large tourist countries there are no visa restrictions for Russians in whole or in part (mutual or unilateral visa-free), and it is expected that in 2021 the number of these states will increase.
Conclusions
More than two hundred countries of the world are ranked by international experts on the Visa Restrictions Index. Germany tops the rating, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Spain, USA are also in the top. In last place is Afghanistan.
The Russian Federation ranked 51st in 2021 - the highest among other CIS countries. Today, Russians can visit 106 countries of the world without a visa. In the future, a positive dynamics of the index for the Russian Federation is expected, which will expand international relations and improve the quality of life of citizens.
