Russians to face more and more restrictions to visit the Schengen countries

The European Commission has confirmed it is preparing additional restrictions on the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, though details remain under wraps. Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert told reporters in Brussels on 6 November that “additional measures” were being discussed with member states, but declined to elaborate, urging journalists to “stay tuned for updates.”

Politico, citing three EU officials, reported earlier that the plan includes limiting Russian citizens to single-entry Schengen visas, effectively ending the routine practice of granting multi-entry permits. The measure, part of the bloc’s broader effort to penalise Moscow for its ongoing war against Ukraine, would still allow exceptions for humanitarian cases or individuals with dual EU nationality.

The Commission has refrained from confirming the scope of the planned restrictions, but the initiative aligns with growing pressure from several member states, notably in the Baltics and Poland, for a tougher stance on Russian mobility within the EU. Some capitals, however, remain reluctant – with Hungary singled out by Politico as continuing to issue national residence cards to Russian applicants, a loophole that has raised concerns in Brussels.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has gradually dismantled the framework that once facilitated Russian travel to the bloc. The Visa Facilitation Agreement with Moscow was suspended shortly after the invasion, and the process of obtaining Schengen visas became slower, more expensive and more restrictive. Lammert noted that the number of visas issued to Russian citizens has dropped sharply – from over four million in 2019 to about half a million in 2023 – although figures for 2024 show a modest rebound.

Despite these limits, several EU countries, including France, Spain, Italy and Hungary, have maintained relatively liberal visa policies, particularly for tourists.

The tightening of visa rules comes alongside new restrictions in the tourism sector introduced in late October under the EU’s latest sanctions package. The measures prohibit EU-based operators from offering or promoting tourist services in Russia, though they do not ban EU citizens from travelling there individually or at the invitation of Russian organisers.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the ban aims to “reduce Russian revenues and discourage unnecessary travel,” pointing to an increased risk of arbitrary detention of EU nationals visiting Russia. Russian tourism industry representatives, however, downplayed the impact, noting that domestic companies will continue operating as usual.

Tourism and visa restrictions already form part of the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Moscow, although additional restrictions are in preparation. Another element targets Russian diplomats, who will now be required to notify member states in advance when travelling within the Schengen area – a move Brussels says responds to “increasing intelligence activity” by the Kremlin.

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A broader visa strategy is expected from the European Commission in December, outlining recommendations for tightening controls on citizens of “hostile states” and revising the criteria for issuing long-term visas.

The latest measures mark a continued hardening of EU policy since 2022, when the bloc first moved to restrict Russian access to Europe’s travel area. That decision increased visa fees from €35 to €80 and extended processing times, but still left discretion to individual states – a loophole that enabled millions of valid multi-year visas to remain in circulation.

For now, the Commission appears determined to close those gaps, though the exact mechanism remains to be defined.

Sources: Politico, Suspilne, European Pravda

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