Czechia keeps current Russian visa rules, rejects EU-wide tightening for travellers

Czechia did not endorse a Finnish push for tighter European Union-wide visa restrictions on Russian citizens, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka confirmed on Monday. He argued that Czechia already applies similar measures at national level and will keep them in place.

The decision concerns a diplomatic initiative, not a change to Czech entry rules. Czech restrictions on Russian travellers remain unchanged.

Key facts

• Announced: Foreign Minister Petr Macinka confirmed the position on Monday
• What was proposed: EU-wide restrictions on visas for non-essential travel by Russian citizens, including tourism
• Who proposed it: Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen
• Deadline missed: Czechia did not submit its support by Finland's deadline last Wednesday
• Who backed Finland: the three Baltic states and Romania, according to Macinka
• Current Czech rules: national restrictions on Russian travellers remain in force

What was Finland proposing?

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen asked Czechia and other EU countries to back a proposal restricting visas for non-essential travel by Russian citizens, including tourism. The letter linked visa policy to Russia's war against Ukraine and to threats inside the EU, including sabotage and other hybrid operations.

Czechia did not submit its support by Finland's deadline last Wednesday. Macinka said only the three Baltic states and Romania had supported the appeal, while an equivalent Estonian initiative that Czechia backed in June had attracted wider support. The overall level of support for the Finnish proposal was not publicly clear.

Why did Czechia decline?

Macinka said most EU countries had not joined the initiative, making a Europe-wide solution unlikely, and that Czechia would continue relying on its national rules. At a press conference after Monday's Cabinet meeting, he said Czech practice already aligned with the Finnish initiative's objectives.

Several senior Foreign Ministry officials recommended supporting the proposal in internal assessments. Jan Buben, director of the ministry's Western European States Department, argued that backing Finland would be a natural step given Czechia's calls for less restrictive countries to act.

What are the practical limits of national restrictions?

Czech national restrictions do not stop Russian travellers from reaching the country through neighbouring states. Once admitted elsewhere, travellers can move between countries within the Schengen area, which limits what individual states' restrictions can achieve on their own.

EU countries issue nearly half a million tourist visas to Russians annually, with Italy and Spain among the leading issuers.

What this means for travellers

Russian travellers should note that Czechia's existing national restrictions remain in place and are not being lifted. Because Schengen-area travel allows movement between member states after entry, national rules in one country do not necessarily prevent onward travel to Czechia.

Opposition leaders criticised the decision. ODS leader Martin Kupka and STAN leader Vít Rakušan argued that coordinated European action was needed to address Russian sabotage and other security threats. Rakušan called the move a major mistake, saying neither Czechia nor the EU could disregard the growing number of sabotage incidents on European territory.

For now, Czechia's restrictions stay as they are, while the disagreement centres on how actively Prague should pursue tighter EU-wide rules.