The European Commission has adopted stricter visa rules for Russian nationals in response to heightened security risks stemming from Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. These measures address concerns related to the weaponisation of migration, potential sabotage, disinformation campaigns, and other threats that could compromise the security of the European Union and its citizens.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, emphasized that Russia’s ongoing aggression poses serious threats to European security, including sabotage and drone incursions. She noted that these tightened entry conditions are a necessary step to safeguard the EU and its citizens. Similarly, Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stressed that traveling to and freely moving within the EU is a privilege, and stricter visa rules are now essential to protect citizens amid unprecedented security challenges.
Under the new provisions, all visa applications from Russian nationals will undergo enhanced verification procedures and elevated scrutiny. Multiple-entry visas are no longer available, meaning Russian nationals must apply for a new visa each time they intend to travel to the EU. This allows authorities to closely monitor and assess each applicant, mitigating potential security risks while still allowing exceptions for limited, justified cases such as independent journalists or human rights defenders.
The decision follows a joint assessment by EU Member States under Schengen cooperation in Russia and approval by the Visa Committee. It builds on previous EU measures taken since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including the suspension of the Visa Facilitation Agreement and guidance encouraging Member States to deprioritize visa issuance for Russian nationals. These combined actions aim to protect public policy and internal security while ensuring a uniform approach across the EU.
