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EU to Tighten Visa Rules for Russian Citizens. The European Union is preparing to further tighten visa rules for Russian citizens, effectively ending most multi-entry Schengen permits, according to EU officials. The move aims to increase pressure on Moscow over its ongoing war in Ukraine and will limit Russians to single-entry visas, except for humanitarian or dual-citizen cases. Brussels already suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in 2022, making travel more costly and restrictive for Russian nationals. Some EU countries, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, have gone further by banning or heavily restricting Russian entry altogether. While the European Commission can make visas harder to obtain, visa issuance remains a national matter, preventing a full bloc-wide ban. In 2024, over 500,000 Russians received Schengen visas — far below the 4 million issued before the war — with Hungary, France, Spain, and Italy issuing most. The tougher rules are part of a broader EU package to curb Russian access and counter “hostile intelligence activities” by restricting the movements of Russian diplomats. A new EU-wide visa strategy is expected next month, recommending stricter vetting for nationals of “hostile countries” and greater coordination among member states.
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