The European Commission announced Friday that it is tightening the rules for issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens, eliminating the option for multiple-entry visas in response to Moscow’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and related hybrid threats.
Under the new policy, Russian citizens will no longer be eligible for multiple-entry visas allowing repeated travel to the European Union. Instead, they will need to apply for a new visa each time they plan to visit the bloc. The Commission said the change will enable more frequent and thorough security checks, reducing potential risks.
“Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has created the most dangerous security environment in Europe in decades,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in a statement. “We are facing unprecedented drone disruptions and sabotage incidents across our territory. It is our duty to protect our citizens. Travel to the EU and free movement within the EU are privileges, not rights.”
The stricter visa rules took effect November 7, following unanimous agreement by all EU member states on Thursday.
Security
The Commission said the measure is part of broader efforts to respond to Russia’s hybrid attacks, including drone disruptions and the weaponisation of migration. In recent weeks, drone-related incidents have disrupted airports and military bases in several European countries, from Sweden to Belgium. On Thursday, Brussels Airport briefly halted operations due to drone activity.
Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert said the restrictions are directly linked to Russia’s aggression and hybrid tactics.
Meanwhile, Russian opposition figures, including Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, have urged the EU not to impose blanket visa restrictions, arguing they would harm ordinary Russians and strengthen the Kremlin’s propaganda.
Exceptions
Despite the tougher rules, certain categories of Russian citizens will still be eligible for multiple-entry visas, though with strict limits.
These include:
- Close family members of Russian citizens living in the EU, as well as family members of EU citizens, who may receive visas valid for up to one year.
- Transport workers, who may receive visas valid for up to nine months.
- In exceptional and well-justified cases, visas may also be granted to individuals whose “reliability and integrity are beyond doubt”, such as dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society representatives, the Commission said.
Decline in Russian travel
The move comes after a steady decline in Russian travel to the Schengen area since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. That year, the EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia.
In 2019, EU countries issued about 4 million visas to Russian citizens. By 2024, the number had dropped to 541,000, though that represented a slight increase from 517,000 in 2023.
Visa issuance remains uneven across the bloc. Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, and Estonia maintain strict limits, while Hungary, France, Spain, and Italy have taken a more liberal approach. Last year, Italy issued 152,254 Schengen visas to Russian citizens, France issued 123,890, and Spain issued 111,537.
Lithuania’s policy
Lithuania has maintained a national ban on issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens since September 19, 2022, allowing only limited humanitarian exceptions or cases involving immediate family ties to EU citizens.
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