Germany pushes for stricter visa rules for Russian citizens

The German government is preparing to advocate for tighter restrictions on the issuance of visas to Russian citizens as part of a new European Union sanctions package targeting Moscow.

According to reports in the German media, Berlin has drafted a document calling for the full implementation of recommendations published by the European Commission back in 2022. These recommendations propose substantial limits on granting visas to Russian citizens, particularly for tourist travel to EU member states.

EU statistics show that in 2024, Russian citizens received around 542,000 short-term visas for travel to the EU and other Schengen zone countries, including Switzerland. While this figure was about 20 per cent higher than in 2023, it remains well below the level recorded in 2019, the German news agency DPA noted.

Germany’s share of these visas was comparatively modest. In 2024, the country issued roughly 27,300 Schengen visas to Russian citizens. In addition, about 11,300 national visas were granted for longer-term stays, such as for study or employment purposes, according to the agency.

The German Foreign Ministry stressed that the country had already introduced stricter criteria for Russian applicants following the start of what it described as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This tightening applied both to national visas and, in line with EU recommendations, to Schengen visas.

The European Commission is expected to present a more detailed proposal on future visa issuance policies, working closely with member states on the design of the next sanctions package. Germany and France are jointly pressing Brussels to ensure that the new measures include restrictions on Russia’s energy sector, specifically targeting the oil giant Lukoil as well as service companies in the industry.

Berlin and Paris are also seeking to shut down financial and logistical channels that Moscow continues to exploit to bypass sanctions. Under discussion are additional penalties on Russian banks, foreign financial institutions connected to the SPFS payments system created by the Russian Central Bank, and cryptocurrency service providers operating in Central Asia.

The push for further restrictions comes after EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated that the Union’s 19th sanctions package against Russia could cover energy, financial services, and the introduction of secondary sanctions.

Meanwhile, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright added pressure by stating that European countries must fully halt purchases of Russian oil and gas if they want Washington to impose stricter sanctions on Moscow.

By Tamilla Hasanova