Russian travellers could lose EU tourist visas under Finland's bloc-wide call

Finland's foreign minister has urged the European Union to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens for as long as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues. Elina Valtonen made the appeal on Monday, arguing that the rest of the bloc should follow the ban Finland introduced in 2022.

Key facts

• Who spoke: Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, on Monday.
• The request: EU countries should not issue tourist visas to Russians until the war ends.
• Finland's existing rule: tourist visas for Russian citizens have been banned since 2022.
• Scale: Schengen countries granted nearly half a million tourist visas to Russians in 2025.
• Status: the appeal is a proposal; no EU-wide decision is reported.

What is Finland asking for?

Valtonen called on the EU to halt tourist visas for Russian nationals while the war continues, saying Russian citizens "should not be issued tourist visas" as long as the invasion goes on.

She also said it is not right for Russians to enjoy Europe's freedoms while their country bombs the homes of Ukrainians, and argued that the rest of the bloc should follow Finland's example.

What has Finland already done?

Finland banned tourist visas for Russians in 2022. Valtonen noted that Schengen countries granted nearly half a million tourist visas to Russian citizens in 2025, and said that figure should fall to zero across the bloc.

Why is this happening?

Valtonen's appeal comes as Finland hardens its stance towards Moscow. The country shares a border of roughly 1,340 kilometres (830 miles) with Russia, has beefed up its defences since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and has reported migrants being pushed across from the east.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has called Russia, which sits on Finland's eastern edge, a long-term threat. Finland is seeking one million anti-personnel mines at a cost of 100 million euros ($112 million), after announcing in April 2025 that it was withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, the treaty banning those weapons, and ceasing to be bound by it in January. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have also quit the agreement.

What this means for travellers

For Russian passport holders, Finland already refuses tourist visas, and the source reports no EU-wide change to visa rules at this stage. Anyone planning travel should check the current visa rules of the specific Schengen country they intend to visit before booking.

No change to entry rules for other nationalities is reported in connection with Valtonen's appeal.

No timeline for an EU decision on the request has been announced.