EU tightens visa rules for Russian citizens

8 November 2025

The European Union has introduced stricter rules for issuing visas to Russian citizens, citing “increased security risks.” The European Commission announced the new measures on Friday.

Heightened security concerns

“Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine continues to pose a serious threat to European security, with increased risks of sabotage, disinformation and drone incursions,” said European Commission vice-president Henna Virkkunen in a statement.

Under the new rules, Russian citizens will no longer be able to apply for multiple-entry visas. Instead, they will have to submit a fresh application for each trip to the EU. This will allow applicants to be “closely and regularly vetted to mitigate any potential security risks,” according to the Commission.

The decision follows a joint assessment by EU Member States, which had already endorsed the measure. “We are now facing unprecedented disruptions from drones and sabotage on our territory. We have a duty to protect our citizens,” said EU high representative for foreign policy Kaja Kallas.

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Visa restrictions since the invasion of Ukraine

A limited number of exceptions will apply. Political dissidents, independent journalists, and human rights activists will still be eligible for multiple-entry visas, as will immediate family members of Russians residing in the EU and relatives of EU citizens, for a maximum of one year. Transport workers may be granted visas lasting up to nine months.

The EU had already suspended its more flexible visa regime for Russian citizens following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. That move made visas more expensive and the process more complex and time-consuming. As a result, the number of visas issued to Russians dropped from over four million in 2019 to around 500,000 in 2023.

However, this downward trend has started to reverse slightly. In 2024, the EU recorded 606,594 visa applications from Russian citizens, while the share of refusals decreased from 10.6 per cent in 2023 to 7.5 per cent. Popular tourist destinations such as Italy, France and Spain continue to issue the highest number of visas.

^{© PHOTO ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP}

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