A Growing Movement for Stricter Visa Rules for Russian Tourists
As the summer holiday season approaches, a coalition of nine EU member states, along with Iceland and Norway, is pushing for stricter visa conditions for Russian tourists. This move comes amid ongoing tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The initiative has been led by Sweden, with support from Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Poland.
The coalition recently sent a joint letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Internal Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, outlining their concerns about the current visa policies. Johan Forssell, Sweden’s Minister for Migration and Asylum, emphasized the need for change, stating, “I want there to be no more shopping weekends. I want no more fancy trips to Europe while Ukrainians are dying on the battlefield.”
Concerns Over Inconsistent Implementation
The letter highlights that after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the European Commission issued guidelines for handling visa applications from Russian nationals. However, the signatories argue that these guidelines are not being implemented consistently across member states. This lack of uniformity undermines solidarity and creates an uneven economic landscape among EU countries.
The coalition also points out that this fragmentation weakens the EU’s overall leverage in dealing with Russia. At a time when Moscow is launching fresh offensives against civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine, the inconsistent approach sends mixed messages about the bloc’s resolve.
Security Risks and Schengen Area Concerns
The letter warns that uneven visa practices could pose a security risk across the entire Schengen area. This concern is heightened by the movement of hundreds of thousands of Russian military personnel. Although the letter does not name specific countries, it references Schengen Barometer data showing a consistent increase in visas issued to Russian nationals between 2023 and 2025.
France issued the highest number of visas to Russian nationals in 2025, at just under 180,000—a significant jump from 2024. Italy followed closely behind with just under 160,000, despite a slight decrease from the previous year. Spain came in third with just under 100,000, showing a relatively stable trend year on year.
Opposition to the Initiative
Opponents of the initiative argue that the visa numbers simply reflect the fact that larger member states process more visa applications than smaller ones. They also challenge the notion that visas undermine EU action against Moscow, noting that those responsible for the war have already been sanctioned.
Despite these arguments, the 11 countries are calling for new, binding visa restrictions, as well as better monitoring of existing guidelines. They also want regular aggregated statistics provided to member states and a mechanism to identify former Russian combatants.
Ongoing Discussions and Future Steps
The issue was discussed during Thursday’s ministerial meeting in Luxembourg, though it was not formally on the agenda, and no decision was made. Based on the preliminary discussion, the coalition is seeking a proposal from EU institutions to restart the debate.
Forssell expressed his frustration, stating, “This situation is completely insane, and it needs to be stopped.” The call for stricter visa rules reflects a growing sentiment among several EU nations that the current approach is not sufficient to address the challenges posed by Russian tourism in the context of ongoing conflict.
