EUโค to Imposeโฃ Stricter Visa Rulesโข for Russian Citizens Amid Security Concerns
Brussels, Belgium – The European Union is set to โฃsubstantially โtighten visa regulations for Russian โฃcitizens, moving away from multi-entry visas to โa โขsystem requiring a new visa submission for each trip. โThe change, expected to be โformally approved by all member states this week, is designed to enhance security checks and address concerns about public order following Russia’s full-scale invasion ofโ Ukraine.
The newโฃ rules will eliminate the ability for Russians to obtain multi-entry visas, instead mandating a fresh application each time thay wish toโฃ enter the EU.This shift โaims to allow for “more frequent and thorough security checks,” according to officials.
“We โhave a duty to protect our citizens,” stated Kaja โkallas, โHigh Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security โขPolicy. “Travelling to and freely moving within the EU is a privilege,โค not a given.”
The European Commission has emphasized โthat the โฃregulations โขwill be applied consistently across all 27 member states to prevent circumvention. Exceptions will be made โfor independentโ journalists and human rights defenders.
This decision follows a jointโค assessmentโค conducted by EU countries within the Schengen cooperation framework and builds โคupon previous measures taken to restrict visa access forโค Russian citizens. In late 2022, the EU โsuspended its visa facilitation agreement โwith Moscow in โคresponse to theโค war in Ukraine.
Several member states have already implementedโ even stricter measures. โPoland and โฃthe Baltic nations – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – have imposed outright bansโค or sweeping restrictions on Russian travelers holding short-term Schengen visas โfor โtourism, cultural โคevents, sports, โคor family visits, irrespective of the issuing country.
Outside the โขEU, the United Kingdomโฃ already requires Russian citizens toโ obtain a โฃStandard Visitor Visa, subjectโค to โadditional security checks and processing delays. While there is no limit on the number of Russian nationals permitted to enter the UK,โข applicants must demonstrate financial stability andโ intent to leave the countryโ after their visit.