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EU Set to Tighten Visa Rules for Russians
(MENAFN) Brussels is set to impose stricter visa limitations on Russian nationals, eliminating most multiple-entry Schengen permits in favor of single-entry documents only, according to a media report citing European officials.
The planned restriction would affect the vast majority of Russian applicants, though exceptions would apply for humanitarian circumstances, the outlet noted. Officials indicated the measure could take effect within days as part of a broader crackdown on Russian travel to the bloc.
This move represents the latest escalation in the EU's efforts to limit Russian mobility. Last month's 19th sanctions package already imposed travel notification requirements on Moscow's diplomatic personnel moving within the Schengen zone, mandating advance alerts to member states.
Responding to media disclosure, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov predicted continued restrictions, stating that Europeans "are diligently recalling everything connected to the confrontation that occurred during the Cold War, and are just as diligently adding new elements to this confrontation."
Russian tourists once flocked to Europe in massive numbers—over 4 million Schengen visas were granted to Russian citizens in 2019 alone. That landscape shifted dramatically after the Ukraine conflict intensified in 2022, with Brussels terminating its visa facilitation treaty with Moscow while raising application fees and heightening review standards.
Though the European Commission lacks authority to implement a complete visa prohibition, it has persistently urged member states to adopt tougher eligibility thresholds.
Member state approaches remain divided. The Baltic states and Poland have enacted total bans, while Greece, Hungary, France, Spain, and Italy continue processing applications and resist blanket restrictions on ordinary Russian travelers.
Despite tightening measures, 2024 saw more than half a million Schengen visas issued to Russians—a 25% jump from 2023 figures—with Italy, France, and Spain leading issuance numbers.
The planned restriction would affect the vast majority of Russian applicants, though exceptions would apply for humanitarian circumstances, the outlet noted. Officials indicated the measure could take effect within days as part of a broader crackdown on Russian travel to the bloc.
This move represents the latest escalation in the EU's efforts to limit Russian mobility. Last month's 19th sanctions package already imposed travel notification requirements on Moscow's diplomatic personnel moving within the Schengen zone, mandating advance alerts to member states.
Responding to media disclosure, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov predicted continued restrictions, stating that Europeans "are diligently recalling everything connected to the confrontation that occurred during the Cold War, and are just as diligently adding new elements to this confrontation."
Russian tourists once flocked to Europe in massive numbers—over 4 million Schengen visas were granted to Russian citizens in 2019 alone. That landscape shifted dramatically after the Ukraine conflict intensified in 2022, with Brussels terminating its visa facilitation treaty with Moscow while raising application fees and heightening review standards.
Though the European Commission lacks authority to implement a complete visa prohibition, it has persistently urged member states to adopt tougher eligibility thresholds.
Member state approaches remain divided. The Baltic states and Poland have enacted total bans, while Greece, Hungary, France, Spain, and Italy continue processing applications and resist blanket restrictions on ordinary Russian travelers.
Despite tightening measures, 2024 saw more than half a million Schengen visas issued to Russians—a 25% jump from 2023 figures—with Italy, France, and Spain leading issuance numbers.
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