As reported by Politico.
The European Union plans to substantially tighten visa rules for Russian citizens, making single-entry Schengen visas the primary format and reducing access to multi-entry documents. Exceptions are possible only for humanitarian reasons or if the person holds citizenship of another EU country.
According to the European Commission, in 2024 Russians were issued more than half a million Schengen visas. This is more than in 2023, but significantly less than in 2019, when more than four million were issued. The most active visa issuers today are Hungary, France, Spain, and Italy.
The issue of visa issuance is regulated by each member country, so the European Commission cannot impose a complete ban on entry for Russian tourists, but it can significantly complicate the process.
Expected changes and their aim
It is expected that the new, stricter rules will become part of a broader package of measures to reduce the number of Russian citizens entering the EU. The decision is planned to be adopted and implemented during this week.
Also in the EU they are considering restricting the movement of Russian diplomats: they will have to notify the country in advance about crossing the Schengen area. This is explained by the desire to counter the Kremlin.
“to the growth of hostile intelligence activity”
Additionally, this also affects the revenue of EU budgets: in 2022 the amount of visa refusals amounted to about €105 million, and in 2023 about €130 million.
In June 2025, some EU countries proposed closing the Schengen area to Russians who fought against Ukraine. The initiators were the Baltic states, Northern Europe, and Poland.
Changes in the EU’s visa policy demonstrate resolve to reduce risks and strengthen border controls in the face of Russia’s aggression, but the final mechanisms and their impact on ordinary citizens will remain the subject of further decisions by individual member states.
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