EU Visa Policies for Russians Remain Divided Amid Ongoing Tensions
The European Union’s decision to scrap its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in September 2022, following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has significantly complicated the visa application process for Russians, reports 24brussels.
Each EU member state retains the authority to govern visa policies, preventing the Commission from implementing a comprehensive ban on Russian entries into the bloc. Consequently, national policies differ greatly; countries such as Poland, Czechia, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania have enacted strict limitations or complete bans on visa applications from Russians, while nations like Hungary, France, Spain, and Italy maintain a more lenient approach.
In 2024, over half a million Russians acquired Schengen visas, according to Commission data—this figure represents an increase from 2023 but remains significantly lower than the prewar level, which exceeded four million visas issued in 2019.
The European Commission is poised to unveil a comprehensive strategy in December aimed at establishing common recommendations for visa processing, rather than imposing mandatory regulations. This forthcoming plan is expected to focus on stricter criteria for assessing Russian applicants, as indicated by a Commission official.
The strategy will address emerging challenges, especially concerning security risks associated with visa issuance to Russian nationals, as outlined in a recent call for evidence from Brussels.
