The EU already scrapped its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in September 2022 after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, making the application process more expensive and arduous.
But visas remain the responsibility of individual member countries, meaning the Commission executive cannot impose a sweeping ban on Russians entering the bloc.
As a result, national policies vary widely, with some countries, such as Poland, Czechia, Finland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania blocking or severely limiting visa applications from Russians except in specific cases; while others, including Hungary, France, Spain and Italy, continue to grant them more liberally.
In 2024, more than half a million Russians received Schengen visas, according to data from the Commission — a marked increase from 2023, though still far below prewar levels, with more than 4 million issued in 2019.
The Commission’s upcoming bloc-wide strategy, set to be released in December, will not impose binding rules but rather set out common recommendations, including stricter criteria for Russians entering the bloc, according to the Commission official.
According to a call for evidence from Brussels, the plan will partly “focus on addressing emerging challenges, particularly those related to security risks.”