How to move to Europe from Russia in 2026

Golden visas have almost closed for Russians, but Europe has not. Work, remote income, your own company, study and roots: what works in 2026, what it costs and when to expect permanent residence and a passport.

In detail

Golden visas in Europe are almost over for Russian citizens: Spain closed its programme on 3 April 2025, and Portugal had already removed flats from its own. But moving to Europe in 2026 is still possible - through work, remote income, your own company, study, family or roots. What you need is not capital but a basis the migration office will accept, and a willingness to actually live in the country.

Below are the routes that work for Russian citizens, with thresholds in dollars, the time to permanent residence and citizenship, EU restrictions and how to leave without much money. Euro amounts are converted at the rate of 6 October 2026 and rounded up.

Which routes to Europe are open to Russians in 2026

The fastest entry is Spain's digital nomad visa: a decision within 20 working days and a residence permit for up to 3 years straight away. The cheapest in government fees is your own company in Serbia. The shortest route to an EU passport is Germany: citizenship after 5 years in the country.

Closed to Russian citizens: Spain's golden visa for everyone, Spain's startup visa for Russians since 2022, and buying a flat as grounds for residence in Portugal. The remaining investment programmes are reviewed in golden visas in Europe.

Remote work: digital nomad visas

For anyone already working for a foreign company or clients, this is the most direct route. Spain grants residence to Russian citizens on general terms: income from $3,200 a month, work for companies outside Spain, experience or a degree. The migration office answers within 20 working days, and silence means approval.

Portugal asks for more - from $4,200 a month - and a spouse without children in common waits up to 2 years for family reunion. All countries with such visas and their conditions for Russians are in the review of digital nomad visas.

The main catch is tax. After 183 days in Spain a resident pays tax on worldwide income at rates of up to 47%. This needs to be worked out before the move, not after the first tax return.

Work and the EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is issued under Directive 2021/1883 to a specialist with a degree and a contract of at least 6 months. Each country sets the salary threshold from its national average. In Germany in 2026 it is 50,700 euros a year, about $58,000, and 45,934.20 euros, about $52,000, for shortage occupations and young professionals.

The card lets you bring a spouse and children straight away. In Germany it leads to permanent residence after 27 months of work, or 21 months with German at B1. Citizenship follows after 5 years in the country, without giving up the Russian passport.

In Spain the threshold for highly qualified workers is about $47,000 a year, and about $38,000 for shortage occupations. An ordinary work contract without a high salary is stricter: the employer has to prove it could not find a worker locally.

Opportunity Card: looking for a job in Germany without an offer

The Opportunity Card is a one-year residence permit for job hunting. It allows work of up to 20 hours a week and trial work of up to two weeks. In a year and a half Germany issued almost 17,500 such cards, and about 83% of applications are approved.

You need a degree or vocational qualification recognised in the country that issued it, German from A1 or English from B2, and at least 6 points for age, experience, language and ties to Germany. Money in the bank: 1,091 euros for each month, about $1,300. Russian citizens apply at the German embassy in Moscow.

Your own business: Serbia and Montenegro

Serbia is the simplest entry for freelancers and entrepreneurs. A Russian citizen enters without a visa for 30 days, registers a company or sole proprietorship and receives a single residence and work permit for up to 3 years. Government fees are about $240, the application goes through an online portal and the review takes up to 15 days. Permanent residence is possible after 3 years.

Serbia carries the same long-term risk as its neighbours: in August 2026 the authorities announced plans to align visa policy with EU requirements by the end of 2027.

From 1 November 2026 Montenegro introduces visas for Russian citizens, and its residence permit becomes a pass: holders of a valid card can enter without a visa. Grounds include a company, a job or property with a tax value from $170,000. Permanent residence comes after 5 years of continuous residence, citizenship after 10 years and only after leaving your previous citizenship. An absence of more than 30 days without notifying the police can cost the permit. Details in Montenegro visas for Russians.

Passive income, study, family and roots

• Passive income. Spain grants a non-working residence permit with income or savings from $33,000 a year for the applicant and about $8,100 for each family member. Portugal asks from $1,100 a month for the applicant.
• Study. Spain requires about $680 for each month of study and lets students work up to 30 hours a week. After graduating you can switch to a work permit.
• Family. The spouse of an EU citizen gets a family member's permit through a simplified procedure. Relatives of residents come through family reunion, usually after the sponsor's first year in the country.
• Roots. Descendants of Greeks, Bulgarians, Latvians and Italians may obtain citizenship or residence by descent.

France and Italy: two more working routes

France issues a qualified specialist the talent card for up to 4 years straight away. You need a contract with a salary from 39,582 euros a year, about $45,000, a research agreement, an approved business project or an investment. French is not tested for the card, the spouse gets the right to work, and permanent residence and citizenship are possible after 5 years. Conditions for Russian citizens are the same as for everyone, and you apply at the French consulate in your country of residence. More on the French talent visa page.

Since April 2024 Italy has issued a digital nomad visa to highly qualified remote workers. You need income from 28,000 euros a year, about $32,000, a degree or 5 years of professional experience and at least 6 months of remote work. The residence permit is issued for a year with renewal, and you cannot work for Italian employers on it. Conditions are on the Italian nomad visa page.

How to move to Europe without much money

Without capital, three roads lead to Europe: work, study and a small business of your own. Money is needed not for investment but for the first months of life and proof of funds.

The most common scenario for people leaving without savings: Serbia as the first country with a residence permit, work for foreign clients and a move into the EU on a nomad visa once income reaches the threshold. Slow, but every step is legal and leaves paperwork for the next one.

Step by step: how to move to Europe for permanent residence

1. Choose a basis, not a country. Work, remote income, business, study, family or roots. The country follows from the basis, not the other way round.
2. Get Russian documents before leaving. A 10-year biometric passport, a police certificate with an apostille, apostilles on birth and marriage certificates. Since 1 October 2026, 15 European countries no longer accept the five-year passport without a chip.
3. Translate the documents. A sworn translation into the country's language. A police certificate lasts 3-6 months, so it is ordered last.
4. Apply for a visa or permit. At a consulate or, where allowed, in the country. For Spain and Germany it is a national visa; for Serbia, visa-free entry and an application on the spot.
5. Register after arrival. Address, fingerprints, residence card, tax number, bank account.
6. Work out the taxes. After 183 days in the new country it taxes your worldwide income, and Russia stops. How this works is explained in how to become a Russian tax non-resident.
7. Renew the permit without gaps. Long absences reset the clock for permanent residence and citizenship.

How long until permanent residence and citizenship

Germany wins on time and on dual citizenship, but requires German at B1, a test and income without benefits. Spain and Portugal take 10 years. For comparison, a Paraguayan passport can be obtained after 3 years of living there with permanent residence.

Which Russian documents to get before leaving

From abroad the same papers take longer: consulates work by appointment, and some certificates have to be ordered through a representative.

What changed for Russians in 2025-2026

Multiple-entry Schengen visas now go mainly to close relatives of EU citizens and residents who already have three lawfully used visas within two years. So a tourist visa as a way to come and look around hardly works any more. It is more reliable to apply straight away for a national visa on a specific basis.

Risks and pitfalls

• Refusals over documents, not citizenship. Most refusals come from an expired police certificate, a translation in the wrong format or income that cannot be proven.
• Income from Russia. Nomad visas require income from companies outside the destination country, and the money has to reach a European account. Transfers from Russia still face strict bank checks.
• Tax in two countries. Russia's double tax treaties with most EU countries have been suspended since 2023. Without a plan, tax may be paid twice.
• Absences. In Montenegro the permit ends after 30 days outside the country without notifying the police; in Spain and Germany long trips reset the clock for permanent residence.
• Giving up citizenship. Spain, Serbia and Montenegro require leaving Russian citizenship on naturalisation. Germany and Portugal do not.
• Policy changes faster than laws. Montenegro introduced visas within three months, and Serbia has announced similar plans. A basis for living in a country is more reliable than visa-free entry.
• Currency obligations. As long as you spend 183 days a year or fewer abroad, you must notify the Russian tax office of an account in a European bank.

A full summary of the tightening for people leaving is in leaving Russia in 2026: what got tougher.

Who Europe does not suit right now

• Those who need a second passport fast and without moving: in the EU citizenship only comes after years of living there.
• Those whose income comes only from Russia and does not reach a European account: nomad and passive income visas will not accept it.
• Those not ready to give up Russian citizenship who choose Spain, Serbia or Montenegro.
• Those counting on a tourist Schengen visa to live there for a while and look around: multiple-entry visas are rarely issued to Russians.

For them it makes more sense to start with residence outside the EU, where the road to a passport is faster, and leave Europe as the next step.

How we help

The law does not forbid applying on your own. But mistakes cost more than fees: a basis that does not match your income, a police certificate that expired while waiting for an apostille, tax residency in two countries at once. Murblz specialists choose the country and the basis for your family and income, collect and legalise Russian documents in the right order, handle the application and keep a calendar of renewals and notifications after the move.

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