Will I get a visa to Europe as a Russian citizen? // Schengen visa application process 

As EU citizens we tend to forget how convenient it is to be inside the Schnengen area and how great it is to have passports that allow visa-free travel to many countries outside of the EU. Glad to see that you got through this ordeal.

We are lucky too, because we know you will share your adventures with us! Blessings, Natasha.

What a cleverly assembled video - you took us through the multiple week process condensed to 15 minutes. So glad about the outcome! Hope you post while you're visiting EU!

Congratulations Natasha and remember they (the Dutch border force) will stamp your passport/visa with a date in. When you leave Schengen you need to make sure they stamp your passport/visa again with a date out. This is important for future Visa request you want to make. I've read some stories from UK residents that got a stamp with date in but on return back to the UK the spanisch border force didn't stamp it with a date out. (some of the smaller spanisch islands Gran Canaria). So when you return from Spain to Georgia make sure and demand they stamp it with a date out. Some of these UK resident got problems when returning to the EU and where refused entrance because of this missing stamp and date out of Schengen. When you visit The Netherlands please consider to travel out side of Amsterdam too. The Netherlands is small but there is a difference in several area's of this small country. Amsterdam is a mundane city and there are about 180 different nationalities living/studying and working there. Some tips if i may give you these. The netherlands has some university cities outside of the big 4 Delft, Rotterdam, Groningen en Amsterdam. Enschede , Utrecht, Leiden, Eindhoven Maastricht etc. Things to see : Amsterdam of course. Some smaller villages outside of Amsterdam like Naarden, Volendam, Edam, Alkmaar. Rotterdam (the food hal with food from all over the world but the building it self is a piece of art). Leiden (City walking touir with Wall poems about 120 from diffent countries and writers). Den Haag (where our government is located). Den Bosch (underground river and the world famous Bossche bollen). Maastricht (one of the oldest city's of the netherland). Groningen ( Museum modern art, Oosterpoort for music events) Leeuwarden (located in Friesland a nothern provence where they speak a different language close related to old English) I will closely watch your adventures in Europe and how you look at Europe with an other view from outside and notice things we take for granted or we could do better. I do hope you will get a student visa in the future. Save travels.

Thanks, Natasha, for showing us your inspiring journey through life. May the 4 winds blow you safely home.

Congratulations Natasha! Glad my homecountry provided you with the visa! I hope you have a wonderful time in the Netherlands and rest of the EU.

I've loved watching your vids, it really has given a balanced perspective through troubled times, I hope that your journeys are both pleasant and fruitful for you.

I am Brazilian born, and we don't need a Visa to the EU / Schengen area. Last year, I finally got my Italian citizenship by blood (thanks grandma). Now, the world is my oyster.

I'm so happy that you will get to visit Europe! I can't wait to see your vlogs from your travels.

My sister's daughter has been treveling since birth (she is 18 now) through all EU. We are Latvian. She never has seen a border and a border control. I never forgot her reaction when she first time saw a border .... It was priceless. It was back in 2017 when we went to St Petersburg. We realised that so many young people don't understand what are borders and why we need them. The world changes so fast... Crazy.

Hello Natasha, I send you a warm welcome from the Netherlands. I hope that you’re visit to Europe brings you comfort and new adventures.

Congratulations, Natasha! You’re doing a lot to advance your life and grow your experiences. You’re already a “citizen of the world,” and travel will further develop these aspects of your mind and character- and it should be fun!!

I like watching your video's Natasha. They're very interesting and educating. You also tell your experiences well and have a good sense of humor. I am glad you are doing well. Hope you stay safe and have many more adventures to come in the future. Take care.

Best wishes from Warsaw. Good luck with your trips and your channel!

I admire your determination to deal with the bureaucracy!

Enjoy your travels Natasha and congrats on the visa!

Happy travels, Natasha! I have a Venezuelan passport and while I have Schengen zone visa-free access I had to apply for an American visa recently and it was a very stressful process, the most stressful thing I've ever done. I'm glad that it got approved and recently I visited there. I can feel you about that Schengen visa!

I am so happy for you that you got the visa and even for a longer period. I wish you all the best. Greetings from Denmark 🙏

Hi Natasha, so happy for you. Congrats on the visa 🥳 I hope you will have (had) a great time in Europe, and a very big welcome to Sweden ❤🤙

It's so cool that a lot of people wants you to visit their city 😁 If you happen to visit Italy, we wait for you in Genova! I live here with my russian gf, who had her big portion of immigration headaches too 😂 Have fun and enjoy the trip in any case 🎉

I am very pleased for you, Natasha. We need more young people in Germany. Looking foeward to your vlog.

You are very good at composing your story. Its is easy to keep listening because you develop it so well. Best wishes and hopes as you set the course on your (new) life-plans.

You often say how nervous you are and you still manage to do so much! I am really looking forward to following your European trip. I love Paris and Italy myself.

I've been watching your channel since before you left Russia, so basically for years now. I felt a bit sentimental and teary eyed with happiness that you've come so far over all this time and now your'e ready to start a new chapter in your life. Good luck to you. I think many of us on here feel happy that you're looking at a bright future full of promise.

Good news Natasha. Glad that you were able to get the Schengen Visa. Looking forward to experiencing your adventures in Europe. I wish you the best. Take care and stay safe.

Hi Natasha, Nice you have visa for EU, you are always welcome in Denmark, our family have to Young russians living with us. Hope to See you here 🫡🤘🤗🙏🏽

Congratulations Natasha. I’ve been watching your videos for several years. Happy for you that you can travel and explore places in Europe .🇺🇸

Russia would be a first world country if it used its resources to develop its non-military capabilities and not to invade and threaten its neighbours.

Wow, Natasha! I'm so glad that you can finally visit our countries. I don't know if you will visit Italy too, but i'm so impatient now to watch your videos from this travel. Have the best trip and have even some little addictional apologize from an EU citizen for every trouble you had to face to plan this trip. Ad maiora, lovely Natasha.

Have a great trip! If you have any questions about Germany please feel free to ask.

I'm so happy that our country is allowing you in. I'm looking forward to watching your European adventure.

glad you are coming over, and relieved our embassy did the right thing. Enjoy!

We look forward to welcoming you to Europe! So happy for you and glad you had the courage. Can’t wait to see how you get on❣️

I hope for a safe and pleasant trip!

Great video! 🙂As an EU citizen, I often take for granted the privilege of living here and don't fully appreciate it. Watching the challenges just to obtain a tourist visa really puts it into perspective. I hope you have an amazing time traveling around Europe 🇪🇺💙

Congratulations Natasha !! Your going to be fine as usual. Best wishes always.

Oh you will have so much fun in Europe! it's gonna be interesting to see your experiences and most importantly your impressions! I hope you manage to visit everything that you wish! I hope someday you live among us EU citizens. You are a good person!!!

Let's add some support to your Budapest visit, so glad you got the visa!

Glad to see you booking tickets to Sweden, I hope you will like my country, it is a great place. If you have any questions, let us know! Nice to see you get the opportunity to visit us in Europe, you deserve it! It is so fun to see you take these steps when looking back to the days in Spassk and before the war. You seem to manage to do everything you put your mind to, glad to see it, way to go! Looking forward to seeing your videos from the countries you will visit. I think I can see and sense a calmer and more happy person compared to your videos made the last 2 years, Tbilisi is a lovely place but it cant be fun to feel like you are locked there indefinitely without a set future.

Best of luck, Natasha ♥

Hi Natasha. It's great that you're visiting the Netherlands! I’d also recommend considering it as a potential place to immigrate. I’m Italian and moved here five years ago, and the quality of life is exceptional. The salaries are high, personal safety is excellent, and the work culture is fantastic. The country is modern, progressive, and most people are welcoming towards immigrants and the LGBT community. Nearly everyone speaks English fluently, which makes integration easier. However, the weather can be gloomy during winter, and the healthcare system can be challenging-GPs are often conservative with prescriptions and specialist referrals, tending to downplay issues until they become more serious. While Dutch people are polite, they can be reserved when it comes to socializing, but that’s not much of a problem since the expat community here is large and vibrant.

Have a great trip....you deserve it...the experience will undoubtedly expand your horizons.....✈

Congratulations, Natasha! I'm delighted you got your EU Visa and have a chance to see more of the world. Have fun and follow your dreams!

Wow, good for you. Big steps, what a journey just watching your videos over the years. And I can't wait to see the videos to come.. Good luck and gods speed.

As an Brazilian-Italian I'm really happy you got your visa.. It is not your fault your country messed up. And everybody is deserving of having freedom of movement. All the best to you Natasha!

How very exciting! I am confident that you will have a remarkable visit to Europe. I can hardly wait to hear about your adventures and your impressions of the various countries. Many blessings to you! Safe home.

Great news Natasha. Well done. Well done indeed. Excellent video - your video making techniques just get better and better. Can't wait for you assessment of the European countries you visit. Getting a Schnengen visa for the first time opens up so much for you and your future. How wonderfully sunny and brighter your life, and things in general are looking for you now. I'm so happy for you.

Fantastic news. I am so happy for you, Natasha. Good luck and enjoy!

Congratulations Natasha! I hope you enjoy your stay in the EU. If possible, try to visit the ex-Yugoslavia countries, not just the "first world" EU member states. I think you'll be surprised by the combination of Slavic (especially Balkan) culture and the EU membership such as in Slovenia and Croatia. In any case, stay safe and have a good time. Hopefully soon you'll be able to live somewhere in the EU and we will be able to witness your experiences from your vlogs :)

Really happy you got it! I think you should also consider Bulgaria as an option, I know it's not in your top 2, but its cheap and there's a big digital nomad community and generally many international people in here. Enjoy your trip!!

Lately a lot of russians are getting Romanian citizenship to be able to live and work in any EU country or just settle there (average wage ~2000€). Romania offers easy citizenship if you can provide documents of ancestry and there are many lawyers and companies in Russia that handle everything, including "finding" documents for a long lost relative (grand-grand mother for example) for ancestry. You might want to look into it.

As a Dutch person it is really interesting to see how it all works. I wish you a safe and fun travel! and if you ever need to know something for the Netherlands feel free to ask:)

15:28 Natasha, Portugal sounds nice, with much warmer weather than Germany. In Portugal, you will also find many USA and British citizens living there and you could get to know them.

Welcome to Sweden, I hope you get to have a nice stay here 😊

Congratulations and I am sure you were right to be honest with your visa application. Looking forward to getting updates from your travels

Bureaucracy can be incredibly frustrating with how slow it works and how many hoops you have to jump through and so on. I went through a permanent residency and then citizenship application for another country many years ago and it took years upon years, and required so many different applications, fees and different appointments and interviews. You just have to dig your heels in and be patient and follow every instruction to the letter. All in all the process took me about 42 months, but in the end I became a citizen and it was all worth it.

So happy for you Natasha ! 😊 I am an American studying in Germany (on a French visa) so I understand the headache and stress of visa processes. Have fun traveling!

Hi Natasha, I'm so happy for you to be able to visit Europe!! I've been following your channel for a couple of years! I cannot imagine the stress you had to suffer. If you ever able to visit, I would love to show you around in Budapest 😊 Take care!

Yay! Nice story. I'm really looking forward to seeing videos about your trip, Natasha. I have a Russian Kiwi friend whose happiest day was when they qualified for a New Zealand passport, and the world suddenly opened. I have taken it for granted to be able to travel and live wherever I want. I have sent a thanks so you can have a coffee and cake on me when you are on your travels.

Happy travelling, Natasha!

Congratulations on your Visa! Regarding settling down in Europe: As a former German, I don't recommend it. High taxes and bureaucracy paired with mediocre infrastructure (including social services) and a rather antisocial mentality. I can't say anything about Portugal as I haven't been there yet. European countries I would put on the shortlist: Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway and Ireland. All have their pros and cons. Edit: As a youtuber, you may consider czech republic or other eastern countries as well due to your income situation. Most value for money, with some minor drawbacks. Good luck!

Congratulations on getting your visa. Have fun in the Netherlands. 👏👏👏

Hi Natasha, sorry for all the stress and anxiety you had to put up with but in the end you were victorious. Wish you some great adventures ahead!

I am so happy for you, Natasha! This is good news. Enjoy your 60-day European excursion!

Thanks!

Enjoy Western Europe, it's awesome. Looking forward to your experience and opinions

This is a wonderful opportunity for you and I am over the moon happy that you are getting it❣

Hi Natasha. You are lucky to get your special visa. I look forward to your videos. Have fun during your travels.

It took so long because they had to watch all your videos first. :-)

60 days ist the standard Schengen Tourist Visa. You have 180 days (6 months) to spend a total of 60 days (2 months) and once they are used up you can not re- enter until the 180 days are reached and you can get a new one. HTH.

So happy for you Natasha. You deserve this chance to live and experience EU. Extra 30 days! Michael

I loved the way you kept highlighting you have no plans to overstay your welcome,though you are most welcome to overstay you welcome!

I’m happy for you, enjoy your trip 😊

Thanks for the video! Best wishes finding a better life in EU and away from Putin.

Hope you can get it without much problem! If you pass by Barcelona would be lovely to show you around! My girlfriend is from Colombia but she lives in Madrid, so we could show you around there too. Gl and hope you can end in a place where you find happiness without worrying for your safety and freedom :)

Hi from the Netherlands. Coffee is on me today :) Can't wait to see your vlogs

The most awesome news. I hope you use the opportunity to visit as much places you can. 😊

🤘Congratulations! As a German (living in Asia for 15+ years), I would prefer Portugal over Germany. Because: better weather, open-minded and very young society, the food, Lisbon(!), ‘live and let live’ mentality, punctual trains ... I'm really looking forward to your videos of Europe! 🤘🎸🤘

I have one visa story that is ancient and probably obsolete, but I'll tell it anyway. I had a relative visiting Detroit from Iran. She waited until her Visa expired before going in to ask for an extension. Turns out that was a big mistake. If she had gone in the day before it expired she could have got an extension but since she went in the day after it expired, we ended up having an adventure at the immigration office in Detroit. They actually had a mini courtroom to deal with the people whose visas were expired. Once they found out her visa had expired, they whisked us into the courtroom to start deportation proceedings. Somehow I managed to stop the deportation by going up the chain of command and threatening to seek political asylum. They gave her a 6-month extension and within that time she moved to Istanbul and eventually Germany.

I had 0 doubt you would get it and am glad that it worked out! Thank you for showing us all the good and bad things you see and I am very happy to watch all the future videos about your travel adventures! ❤ Even with coming around in the world and changing your channel name, you will always be that cute and funny laptop _lady of the frozen lake_ 👌😊 And I love it.

Stockholm, Sweden? Welcome to my country, the summer is almost ever but hope you get luck with the weather 🙂🇸🇪

Happy for you Natasha. I actually know that feeling when everything hangs in the balance. Politicians and governments do silly things and it is the common citizen that pays for it. I am glad it worked out for you. Looking forward to your next videos.

You will see a difference in Europe in terms of how people live and think! Hopefully one day you will move to Europe… you are educated, bilingual, and skilled…& will do well!

Congratulations!

Congratulations, Natasha! Good luck on your travels, looking forward to seeing where you go.

You look extremely excited with the good news Natasha. 😁😁

Well done! I think it's really good for you too see how different those countries are and how free peole are. Safe travels.❤

Hiya Natasha ... i won't give away the ending, so everyone who watches all the way through will find out for himself/herself. So much suspense today! You look terrific and it's always great to see your new episodes, good luck and poka-poka for now! 😘

My Go-To Person for Russian people's life struggles. Natasha... you are a true Gem and I hope you are able to grow and enjoy life more and more as we journey forward. Your videos are actually encouraging. Keep up the good work !!

I can’t wait for your “Natasha’s European Reconnaissance” videos!

This video is the most important chapter in your steps. Your next life path will be more interesting. All the best ♡♡

Congrats for the Visa! Hope you enjoy your stay in the EU! For immigration, were is my 2 cents as a lawyer: you can get an Argentine passport just by living there for two years. Brazil is 4, Uruguay is 5. You don't need a visa to come as an Russian tourist and you do qualify for asylum. Mercosur countries are great for Russians - Montevideo, Buenos Aires or Florianópolis - amazing places, low cost of living, no prejudice against Russians (or immigrants in general) and far from any geopolitical drama. Learn spanish or portuguese, live here until you get the citizenship, and you will be an russian-argentinian or russo-brazilian with a very strong passport in a decent progressive democracy.

Congrats, I hope you have a safe journey and have some fun..

congrats on your visa Natasha, really happy for you. Germany and Portugal are both great options - I'm sure you'll have a fantastic trip!

Good luck and hope you have a great time.

Safe journey, Natasha. I'm sure you are aware of this already but it's very important to keep track of the dates when entering and leaving different countries. Especially important now that a lot of countries have moved away from stamping the passport. A key piece of information for any future immigration-related applications. I learned it the hard way.

Congratulations 🎈

I am myself an emigrant from Lithuania, now living in Sweden. I also lived in England previously. My family and I have visited several European countries. It's a shame you didn't get to experience more of Europe. I believe you would truly appreciate the diversity and culture here. Europe is quite different from America, and I think you would enjoy exploring its unique character. From your videos, it seems that Europe would be more suited to your interests.

Congrats. The process sounds so stressful. Glad you made it through the process. Hope you have a good time in Europe.

Great news, think about visiting Spain, I’m a British guy but moved here long time ago, It is getting hard for brits because england left the European Union, now WE have to get visas as well, but that’s life, cannot wait to hear what you discover about Europe, remember, Fun fun fun, have lots of fun! 😎