What Happened Since 2022
The first wave hit in late February and March 2022. Within weeks of the invasion, an estimated 300,000 Russian citizens left the country. Many went to the nearest visa free destinations: Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Serbia.
The second wave came in September 2022 when Russia announced partial mobilization. Another 400,000 or more left in the weeks that followed. This time it was not just opposition minded professionals. It was men of military age from every background who did not want to be drafted.
By mid 2023, independent estimates put the total number of Russians who had left and not returned at roughly 650,000 to 900,000. Some estimates go higher. The exact figure is impossible to pin down because Russia stopped publishing reliable emigration data.
This is the largest outflow of Russian citizens since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Unlike the 1990s emigration, which happened gradually, this one happened in months.
Who Is Leaving
This is what makes the Russian emigration different from most migration waves. It is not the poorest or most desperate leaving. It is the most educated, most skilled, and most economically productive segment of the population.
Over 50,000 IT specialists left Russia in the first year alone. Engineers, software developers, data scientists, product managers — people who built Russia's growing tech industry packed up and rebuilt their careers in Tbilisi, Yerevan, Istanbul, Belgrade, and Dubai.
Beyond tech, the emigration has pulled from finance, media, academia, medicine, and the creative industries. These are people with transferable skills, international networks, and the ability to work remotely.
IT specialists left in the first year
Nominal wage increase in Russia in 2024 due to labour shortages
Natural population decline per year before adding emigration
Proportion of emigrants who have returned
Where Russians Are Going
The initial destinations were driven by one thing: where can you go without a visa?
Georgia
Tbilisi's tech scene exploded with Russian arrivals. Russians could enter visa free and stay for a year. The cost of living was low and the internet was fast. But rents in Tbilisi doubled and locals pushed back against the sudden influx. Georgia's complicated relationship with Russia made the situation politically charged.
Armenia
Absorbed an estimated 110,000 Russian citizens. Yerevan became a major hub for Russian tech companies that relocated entire teams. The shared language and cultural familiarity helped.
Turkey
Attracted roughly 100,000 Russians who obtained residence permits in 2022 alone. Istanbul and Antalya were the main draws. Turkey's position outside the EU sanctions framework made it easier for Russians to maintain business and banking relationships.
Kazakhstan
Took in about 150,000 Russians initially, though many moved on. The shared border and Russian language made it an obvious first stop. Almaty saw a significant influx of tech workers.
Serbia
Home to an estimated 150,000 Russians. Belgrade's low cost of living, visa free access for Russian citizens, and a government that maintained relatively warm relations with Moscow made it attractive. Montenegro saw another 113,000 Russian registrations in 2022.
UAE (Dubai)
Became the destination of choice for wealthier Russians. Entrepreneurs, crypto professionals, and business owners who needed functional banking outside the sanctions framework gravitated there. Dubai offered residency through investment, no income tax, and an accessible financial system.
Israel
Received about 50,000 to 75,000 Russian citizens through repatriation under the Law of Return, open to anyone with Jewish heritage.
The European Problem
Most Russians who left wanted to end up in Europe. Western Europe specifically. But the doors that were open before February 2022 have largely closed or narrowed significantly.
The EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia. Schengen visa issuance to Russian nationals was dramatically restricted. Several EU countries stopped issuing tourist visas entirely.
Countries with the most significant restrictions:
- • Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) — effectively closed their borders to Russian citizens
- • Poland and Finland — closed border crossings
- • Spain — suspended visa processing at various points
- • Greece and Italy — paused or restricted programmes
This does not mean European residency is impossible. It means the straightforward routes that existed before are gone. What remains are specific investment, business, and skilled worker pathways that still function but require more planning and more capital.
Countries That Still Welcome Russian Citizens
Despite the restrictions, several countries continue to offer realistic pathways.
Portugal
Still processes D7 (passive income), D8 (digital nomad), and D2 (entrepreneur) visa applications from Russian nationals. The process is longer and scrutiny is higher, but the routes are open. Portugal's Golden Visa programme also remains available — fund investments starting at €500,000 still qualify.
Hungary
Relaunched its Guest Investor Programme (Golden Visa) and has been relatively open to Russian applicants. Minimum investment is €250,000 in a government approved real estate fund. Processing can be as fast as 21 to 90 days. Hungary's political stance within the EU has made it more accessible for Russian nationals than most other member states.
Germany
Continues to process work visas, EU Blue Cards, and business visas for qualified Russian professionals. The process is thorough and includes enhanced due diligence, but German employers actively recruit from the Russian tech talent pool. The 2024 citizenship reform allowing dual nationality also helps.
UAE
Remains fully open. Residency through business setup, employment, or investment is straightforward. Dubai has built significant infrastructure for Russian business communities. No income tax and an accessible financial system.
Turkey
Continues to offer residency permits and citizenship by investment ($400,000 in real estate). No sanctions related restrictions on Russian applicants.
Argentina & Paraguay
Offer residency with minimal barriers for Russian citizens. Both have short naturalization timelines (2 and 3 years respectively). For Russians who want a second passport quickly, South America is a realistic path.
Visa and Residency Options That Actually Work
For Russian citizens who want to settle somewhere permanently, here are the most practical routes as of 2026.
If you work in tech or a skilled profession
Germany's EU Blue Card or a work visa through a qualifying employer. Portugal's D8 Digital Nomad Visa if you work remotely for a non-Portuguese company earning at least €3,480 per month. Both lead to permanent residency and eventually citizenship.
If you have capital to invest
Portugal's Golden Visa (€500,000 in qualifying funds), Hungary's Guest Investor Programme (€250,000), or Turkey's citizenship by investment ($400,000 real estate). Malta's citizenship programme is available but expensive (€690,000+) and processing for Russian nationals is slow.
If you are an entrepreneur
Portugal's D2 Entrepreneur Visa requires a viable business plan and approval from a Portuguese government body. Germany offers entrepreneur visas for those establishing businesses. UAE free zone company setup provides residency and a business base.
If you want the fastest second passport
Turkey (3 to 6 months through investment), Vanuatu (2 to 4 months, roughly $130,000), or Caribbean programmes like Dominica and St Kitts. These do not give EU access but they give travel freedom and an exit option.
If you want eventual EU citizenship
Portugal (5 years to citizenship), Germany (5 years), or Hungary (8 years after Golden Visa residency). These are longer paths but end with an EU passport.
The Brain Drain Nobody Can Undo
When 50,000 IT specialists leave a country, that is not just 50,000 salaries leaving. It is the knowledge, the networks, the startups that would have been built, the products that would have been created, the tax revenue that would have been generated.
Russia's tech industry was growing rapidly before 2022. Companies like Yandex, Kaspersky, and dozens of smaller startups had put Russia on the global tech map. That momentum has been disrupted in ways that salary increases alone cannot fix.
The emigration has also skewed young and educated. These are people in their prime working and family forming years. Russia was already facing a demographic decline. Losing hundreds of thousands of its most productive young citizens accelerates that decline sharply.
For the countries receiving these emigrants, the picture is reversed. Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Serbia, UAE, and increasingly Portugal and Germany are gaining skilled, educated, internationally minded professionals who bring capital, talent, and economic activity with them.
What Comes Next
Only about 8 percent of Russians who left after 2022 have returned. Surveys show that just over half would even consider returning under any circumstances, including the end of the war or a change of government.
That tells you something important. For most of these emigrants, the decision is permanent. They are not waiting for things to get better. They are building new lives somewhere else.
The countries that make it easy for this talent to integrate, to get residency, to start businesses, to bring their families, will benefit the most. The ones that close their doors entirely risk missing one of the largest skilled migration events in modern European history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Russian citizens still get a Schengen visa?
Yes but it is much harder than before. The EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia. Many consulates limit Russians to single entry visas with longer processing times and higher rejection rates. The Baltic states, Poland, and Finland have effectively stopped issuing visas to Russian nationals entirely. Others like France, Germany, and Portugal still process applications but with enhanced scrutiny.
Is it possible for Russian citizens to get European residency in 2026?
Yes, through specific pathways. Portugal's D7, D8, and D2 visas are still available. Germany processes work visas and Blue Cards for qualified professionals. Hungary's Golden Visa programme accepts Russian applicants. These routes require more documentation and due diligence than before, but they function.
Do Russian emigrants lose their Russian citizenship?
No. Russia does not automatically revoke citizenship for people who leave. However, Russia has made it increasingly difficult for citizens abroad to renew passports and access consular services. There have also been discussions about restricting dual citizenship, though no law has been passed as of early 2026.
Where have most Russian tech workers gone?
The largest concentrations are in Georgia (Tbilisi), Armenia (Yerevan), Turkey (Istanbul), UAE (Dubai), Serbia (Belgrade), and increasingly Portugal and Germany. Many tech companies relocated entire teams to these countries. Remote work has allowed many to maintain their existing jobs while living abroad.
Can Russian citizens get citizenship somewhere else quickly?
Yes. Turkey offers citizenship through a $400,000 real estate investment in 3 to 6 months. Caribbean programmes (Dominica, St Kitts) take 3 to 6 months for $100,000 to $250,000. For naturalization through residency, Argentina (2 years) and Paraguay (3 years) are the fastest. For EU citizenship, Portugal (5 years) and Germany (5 years) are the most realistic long term options.
