Poland may bar Russians despite valid Schengen visas

Poland may deny entry to Russian citizens even if they hold valid Schengen visas, according to comments made by Russia’s chargé d’affaires in the country, Andrei Ordash, in an interview with the Russian news agency TASS.

Ordash said Polish authorities have been steadily tightening entry restrictions for Russian nationals since 2022. According to the diplomat, in September 2022, Warsaw closed its borders to most categories of Russian citizens, even when they possessed valid Schengen visas issued by other countries, including visas for business, tourism, and private travel.

He added that further measures were introduced in September 2023, when Poland prohibited passenger vehicles registered in Russia from entering the country from outside the Schengen area.

Ordash also claimed that Polish authorities are creating additional obstacles for representatives of Russian civil society seeking to attend events organised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). According to him, in the autumn of 2025, Poland revoked visas issued to representatives of Russian non-governmental organisations who had planned to participate in a conference focused on the organisation’s human dimension agenda.

Earlier reports also indicated that, beginning April 1, Russian citizens holding non-biometric passports will no longer be permitted to enter or remain in Poland.

By Tamilla Hasanova