EU Tightens Visa Regulations for Russians Amid Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine

The European Union has decided to discontinue the issuance of multi-entry visas to Russian citizens living in the country, marking its latest step to increase pressure on Moscow regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine that has persisted for nearly four years.

“Going forward, Russian citizens will no longer have the ability to obtain multiple-entry visas. This means they will need to apply for a new visa every time they intend to visit the EU,” the statement from Brussels indicated.

This decision aims to enable the EU to conduct more rigorous and frequent assessments of applicants in order to address any potential security threats, the statement explained.

Henna Virkkunen, Vice President of the European Commission, noted that this action builds on previous measures intended to tackle issues such as Russian-related “sabotage, disinformation, and drone incursions.”

Critics in Russia have condemned this decision as one that would adversely impact ordinary individuals who have no connections to President Vladimir Putin, including many Russians who have sought refuge in Europe to escape political oppression or military conscription.

The EU initially suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in 2022 following the comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, making it more challenging and costly for Russians to secure travel documentation.

As stated by Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, visa applications from Russians will undergo “enhanced verification” and “higher levels of scrutiny.”

Exceptions will be made only in limited humanitarian cases, such as for independent journalists, dissidents, and human rights activists. Russians who also possess citizenship from an EU member state will not be impacted.

“Traveling to and within the EU is a privilege, not a right,” emphasized Kaja Kallas, the EU’s chief foreign policy official.

The European Commission reported that Russian citizens received approximately 552,000 Schengen visas in 2025, nearly 100,000 more than the previous year, but significantly lower than the 4 million issued in 2019.

Italy, France, and Spain were the countries that issued the majority of these visas, while the Baltic states have enforced near-total entry restrictions on Russian travelers.

The European Commission is expected to unveil a new strategy in December that will outline how visa policies can be leveraged as a geopolitical instrument to counteract Russian influence and enhance the EU’s external security.

Moscow responded swiftly to this decision on Friday.

“Apparently, Europe has little interest in affluent tourists when there are migrants and draft evaders from Ukraine,” stated Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, to the state-controlled TASS news agency.