European states urge EU to suspend Schengen visas for Russian citizens

A group of European countries is pressing the European Commission to urgently suspend the issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens, citing security concerns, policy inconsistencies and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

According to Polish radio station RMF FM, which obtained a copy of a joint letter, the appeal was signed by the interior and foreign ministers of Poland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and the Netherlands, as well as Norway and Iceland, which are not members of the European Union.

In the letter, the ministers said it was unacceptable that citizens of what they described as an aggressor state could continue to travel for leisure within the EU while the war in Ukraine persists.

"We are deeply concerned by the growing number of Russian tourists spending their holidays on European beaches and at European resorts while missiles and drones continue to strike civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine," the ministers wrote.

They also voiced frustration over the continued issuance of visas, pointing to data from the Schengen Barometer showing that Russian citizens received 477,878 Schengen tourist visas in 2025 alone. A significant proportion of these permits were multiple-entry visas.

"This contradicts the Commission's recommendations, which call for a strict approach toward Russian applicants travelling for non-essential reasons, and represents a serious flaw in our common policy toward the aggressor state. We find this extremely concerning," the letter states.

The signatories argued that uneven implementation of visa restrictions across the bloc has led to so-called “visa shopping,” with applicants bypassing stricter consulates in Central and Eastern Europe by applying in other countries. While the letter does not name specific states, Schengen Barometer data indicate that France, Italy, Spain and Greece issue the largest number of tourist visas to Russian nationals, whereas Poland and the Baltic states issue very few.

A diplomat from one of the signatory countries told RMF FM that the issue also involves the “fair distribution of costs.” The diplomat cited Finland as an example, noting that after it halted visa issuance to Russian citizens, businesses near its border suffered economic losses, while countries such as Italy and Greece continue to benefit from tourism revenues.

The letter argues that the current system creates an imbalance, with countries bordering Russia bearing the costs and security risks associated with protecting the EU’s external borders, while others continue to profit from Russian visitors.

Poland has proposed the creation of a rapid-response mechanism for visa sanctions, modelled on an existing EU tool that allows for the suspension of visa-free travel in response to security threats or deteriorating relations with third countries.

"Just as the EU can already suspend visa-free travel in response to deteriorating relations or threats from a third country, we should have visa instruments available to restrict visa issuance in response to such threats, while preserving proportional exceptions, such as for humanitarian reasons. We expect work on amending the Visa Code in this direction to be treated as a priority," the Polish diplomat said.

The ministers concluded their appeal by calling on the European Commission to amend the EU Visa Code and introduce “new restrictive and mandatory visa measures” to enable a more coordinated response to what they described as hostile actions by third countries.

They also urged tighter rules on multiple-entry visas, proposing that restrictions apply to all Russian citizens regardless of their place of residence. In addition, the letter called for swift action on an initiative put forward by Estonia on March 11, 2026, aimed at identifying current and former Russian military personnel and banning them from entering the Schengen Area.

By Tamilla Hasanova