A group of eleven European nations has officially petitioned the European Commission to implement more stringent restrictions on the issuance of visas to citizens of the Russian Federation. According to reports from the Polish news outlet RMF24, the collective appeal seeks to address concerns regarding the volume of travel documents still being granted despite existing limitations. The coalition includes a mix of Baltic, Nordic, and Central European states, signaling a unified regional push for a more restrictive common visa policy within the Schengen Area.
Expanding Restrictions on Multiple-Entry Visas
The formal complaint was signed by representatives from Poland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Iceland. These countries argue that the current measures are insufficient, noting that hundreds of thousands of tourist visas were issued throughout 2025. A primary concern highlighted in the appeal is the high proportion of multiple-entry visas, which allow travelers to move freely across internal European borders over an extended period.
The participating ministers are calling for a systemic overhaul to ensure that:
- Tightened protocols apply to all Russian citizens regardless of their current country of residence.
- The issuance of long-term, multiple-entry permits is strictly limited.
- Security screening processes are harmonized across all member states to prevent "visa shopping."
Evolution of the EU-Russia Visa Policy
This diplomatic move follows the previous suspension of the visa facilitation agreement between the EU and Russia, which had already increased application fees and processing times. The current initiative seeks to move beyond procedural delays toward a more definitive reduction in the total number of entries granted. The coalition emphasizes that the restrictive issuance of travel documents should be a standard practice across the entire bloc to maintain the integrity of regional security and policy consistency.
The goal is to ensure that restrictive issuance of multiple-entry visas applies to all Russian citizens, regardless of their place of residence
The European Commission is now tasked with reviewing the collective appeal and determining whether to propose new legislative amendments to the Schengen Visa Code. If adopted, these changes could significantly impact the mobility of Russian passport holders across the European Union and associated EFTA states. Travelers are advised to monitor official government portals for updates on application requirements and potential changes in processing standards at various consulates.