Employers sponsoring Russian nationals for assignments or employment in Germany should be aware of increasing visa processing times at German diplomatic missions abroad. Based on our recent experience, visa applications filed by Russian nationals are taking considerably longer than standard processing timelines in a growing number of cases, which may affect employers’ assignment planning, onboarding timelines and workforce mobility into Germany.
Background
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the European Union has progressively tightened its visa policy towards Russian nationals. In September 2022, the EU suspended the EU-Russia Visa Facilitation Agreement, resulting in stricter procedural requirements and increased scrutiny of visa applications submitted by Russian citizens.
While no specific legislative change has introduced a formal extension of visa processing periods, the broader political and regulatory environment has resulted in heightened scrutiny of applications involving Russian citizens. Additional security reviews and inter-agency consultations appear to be contributing to extended processing times, particularly for national visa applications intended for long-term stays in Germany.
Security reviews and authority involvement
In parallel, German authorities continue to conduct security-related reviews where required under German immigration law. Depending on the circumstances of the case, multiple governmental authorities may be involved in assessing whether a visa can be issued.
Based on our practical experience, visa applications filed by Russian nationals are increasingly subject to more comprehensive background assessments than in previous years. These reviews often take place internally between the relevant authorities and are generally not visible to applicants or sponsoring employers.
A particular challenge for applicants and sponsoring employers is that these security-related reviews are frequently conducted outside the visibility of the German diplomatic mission processing the visa application. In many cases, the mission itself has limited insight into the status, scope or expected completion date of the underlying security assessment being carried out by other competent authorities.
As a result, even where applicants, employers or legal representatives proactively follow up on pending applications, the diplomatic mission may be unable to provide meaningful status updates or reliable estimates regarding the remaining processing time. German diplomatic missions are also generally not in a position to influence or accelerate these security reviews. Consequently, repeated status inquiries may have limited effectiveness while the review remains ongoing.
Practical impact on processing timelines
Processing times for national visa applications at German diplomatic missions abroad can therefore extend significantly beyond standard expectations. Delays may occur even where the application documentation is complete and no additional information has been requested from the applicant.
Prolonged processing times should not automatically be interpreted as an indication that a visa application is likely to be refused. In many cases, the delay reflects additional procedural and security-related assessments that must be completed before a final decision can be issued.
While the impact varies from case to case, employers should anticipate reduced predictability in processing timelines and should be prepared for visa procedures that take substantially longer than historical averages.
Impact on assignments and workforce planning
Employers relying on Russian nationals for key assignments, project work or local hires in Germany may face additional operational and workforce planning challenges due to extended visa processing times.
Project start dates, onboarding schedules and relocation plans may need to be adjusted to account for longer processing periods. In some cases, business-critical assignments may be delayed despite timely preparation and submission of the visa application.
The current environment also makes processing timelines less predictable. Applications that may previously have been processed within standard timeframes can now remain under review for extended periods due to additional internal assessments by the relevant authorities.
For employers and employees alike, this development highlights the importance of early immigration planning, realistic project timelines and proactive management of international assignments involving Russian nationals.
Managing risk and maintaining continuity
To mitigate these risks, employers should consider initiating immigration processes as early as possible and building additional flexibility into assignment planning and recruitment timelines. Early identification of affected employees and proactive communication with business stakeholders can help reduce disruption and manage expectations effectively.
Companies that integrate immigration risk assessments into their broader workforce planning strategies will be better positioned to navigate these challenges and maintain operational continuity.
Our legal team closely monitors developments affecting visa processing and immigration procedures in Germany and regularly advises employers on nationality-specific trends and procedural risks.
We support organizations in assessing expected processing timelines, planning international assignments and preparing visa applications strategically to reduce the risk of avoidable delays. Where applications remain pending for extended periods, we can engage with the relevant authorities and diplomatic missions to seek procedural updates and assess available options.
In addition, we assist employers in communicating realistic timelines and expectations to affected employees, helping to reduce uncertainty and support effective workforce planning.
If you would like to discuss how current visa processing trends may affect your employees or future hiring plans in Germany, we would be pleased to advise you.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Mostafa Massoud
Partner
Inga Mayer
Senior Manager
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