The European Union has decided to stop issuing multi-entry visas to Russian citizens residing in the country, marking its latest effort to increase pressure on Moscow regarding its ongoing war in Ukraine, which has lasted nearly four years.
“From this point forward, individuals from Russia will not be able to obtain multiple-entry visas. This implies that they will need to apply for a new visa for each visit to the EU,” said a statement from Brussels.
This decision aims to enable the bloc to closely monitor applicants and reduce any potential security threats.
European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen explained that this action builds on earlier measures and seeks to address issues of Russian “sabotage, disinformation, and drone incursions.”
Critics from Russia have condemned this decision, noting that it unfairly impacts ordinary citizens with no connections to President Vladimir Putin, including the many Russians who have fled to Europe to escape political oppression or military conscription.
In 2022, the EU first halted its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, making it more difficult and costly for Russians to secure travel documents.
Applications for visas from Russian citizens will undergo “enhanced verification” and be subject to “higher levels of scrutiny,” noted Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration.
Limited humanitarian exceptions will be made for independent journalists, dissidents, and human rights activists. Russians who also possess citizenship of an EU member state will not be affected.
“Traveling and moving freely within the EU is a privilege, not an entitlement,” stated Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief.
According to the European Commission, Russian citizens obtained approximately 552,000 Schengen visas in 2025, which is nearly 100,000 more than the previous year but significantly lower than the 4 million granted in 2019.
Most visas were issued by Italy, France, and Spain, while the Baltic countries have implemented almost total entry bans for Russian travelers.
The European Commission is reportedly preparing to unveil a new strategy in December, detailing how visa policies can be used as a geopolitical tool to counter Russian influence and bolster the EU’s external security.
Moscow swiftly criticized the new measures on Friday.
“Evidently, Europe does not require financially stable tourists when there are migrants and draft evaders from Ukraine,” stated Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, in an interview with the state-run TASS news agency.
