Russian MFA Issued Over 1K ‘Traditional Values’ Visas in 2025

June 17, 2026 Sergei Vedyashkin / Moskva News Agency Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued more than 1,100 visas to foreign nationals in 2025 on the grounds that they hold “traditional Russian values,” a senior official said Tuesday, marking the first full year of a program designed to attract conservative Westerners. The “humanitarian support” initiative, which President Vladimir Putin approved in August 2024, allows citizens of the U.S., the EU and several other countries to apply for special visas if they oppose what Moscow characterizes as the “destructive neoliberal ideological agenda” in their home nations. Of the 1,112 “traditional values” visas issued worldwide last year, EU citizens accounted for more than half, with 577 recipients, according to Alexei Klimov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s consular department. Citizens from Germany, France, Italy, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all ranked in the top 10 of recipients. U.S. citizens were among the top three national groups with 105 visas issued, which, alongside 54 Canadian recipients, placed North America’s share at 15% of the global total, Klimov said. The visas act as a fast-track entry point to permanent residency and eventual Russian citizenship. They grant immediate work rights and access to state social benefits while bypassing the standard requirements for Russian language, history and legal proficiency exams. Earlier this month at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, architect Anton Gilkin outlined plans to establish a town in the Nizhny Novgorod region designed to house 450 European families relocating under the “traditional values” program. Read more about: Foreign Ministry , Visas , Traditional Values Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Backs Venezuela's Interim Leader After U.S. Ousts Maduro Moscow has demanded the release of Maduro and his wife but has otherwise not taken action in support of its South American ally. 2 Min read Russia Warns Citizens Against Travel to Venezuela After U.S. Ousts Maduro Moscow warned of risks to personal safety in Venezuela “in connection with armed aggression by the United States … and threats of repeat attacks.”... 1 Min read Russia Demands Release of Maduro After U.S. Military Strikes Venezuela The Foreign Ministry urged restraint and warned against further escalation after a series of explosions rocked Caracas early Saturday. 2 Min read opinion Vladimir Frolov How Terror Attacks Gift Russia Foreign Policy Opportunity Russia has waged a war on terror at home and abroad. But when Moscow calls for joining forces with the West to combat global terrorism, it inevitably pursues...