EU plans tighter visa rules for Russian tourists

The EU is preparing proposals to tighten visa rules for Russian tourists
Around 478,000 Schengen tourist visas were issued to Russians in 2025
The EU is considering Limited Territorial Validity visas for non-essential travel
A person-by-person entry ban on 650,000 former Russian armed forces members is under review
The European Commission is expected to present the plans in January 2027

Brussels is preparing proposals to tighten visa rules for Russian citizens visiting the EU as tourists. The move aims to strengthen defences against hybrid attacks. Around 478,000 Schengen tourist visas were issued to Russians last year, many of them multiple entry. Countries including Poland, Sweden and Estonia have pushed for stricter controls. The European Commission is expected to put forward the plans in January.

The European Commission is finalising proposals to tighten visa rules for Russian tourists, with a formal legislative package expected to be presented in January 2027. The move aims to strengthen the bloc’s defences against growing threats of hybrid warfare, state-sponsored sabotage, arson and cyberattacks. European officials are evaluating several targeted measures to limit the movement of Russian citizens within the Schengen Area. The EU Council’s working group is discussing a shift toward issuing Limited Territorial Validity visas for non-essential travel, which would restrict Russian tourists to specific countries rather than granting them access to the entire Schengen Area.

Pushed by Estonia, Poland and Sweden, the EU is considering a comprehensive person-by-person entry ban on an estimated 650,000 former members of the Russian armed forces to prevent them from infiltrating organised crime networks or conducting localised attacks. Despite a temporary drop following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, roughly 478,000 tourist visas were still issued to Russians in 2025. EU leadership wants member states to scale down these approvals. The EU Foreign Affairs Council is reviewing proposals to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats, potentially banning them from leaving the specific member state in which they are accredited. The initiative follows pressure from frontline and Baltic states including Sweden, Poland, Finland and Estonia.