Russian visitors to EU face possible visa curbs; rules unchanged for now

Ukraine has called on the European Union to restrict visas for Russian nationals, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha arguing that tighter visa rules are now a security issue for the whole bloc. Writing online on Sunday, he urged all European states to cut back non-essential visas for Russian travellers amid what Kyiv describes as escalating attacks from the Kremlin.

"To protect Europe, close the European door to Russians now," Sybiha said.

Key facts

• Who is calling for change: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, along with the governments of Finland and Estonia.
• What is requested: Non-essential visas for Russian nationals restricted to the maximum extent in all European states.
• What the EU has done so far: EU foreign ministers have discussed an entry ban for former Russian combatants, possible limits on Russian diplomats' movement and fewer Russian tourist visas.
• Related move: The Council of the EU adopted its largest-ever sanctions package last week, targeting almost 1,600 individuals and entities.
• Status: No visa restrictions have been adopted, and no start date has been announced.

What is Ukraine asking for?

Sybiha wants non-essential visas for Russian citizens cut back as far as possible across all European states, calling the question a matter of national security for every European country. He said Russian attacks on Europe are no longer merely hybrid and are growing in intensity and scale, so urgent pressure is needed.

He also linked the request to Russia's recruitment of troops, saying that any Russian man who signs a contract with the army fighting Ukraine is also signing a ban on entering Europe and the rest of the world.

What have EU governments discussed?

The EU has been weighing visa restrictions for certain Russian nationals following incidents inside its borders that have been blamed on the Kremlin. EU foreign ministers discussed an entry ban for former Russian combatants, and possible restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats and on the number of Russian tourist visas.

Cited incidents include drone incursions, an attempted act of sabotage at Germany's Leipzig airport in August and an arson attack targeting Starlink infrastructure in Poland last month.

Which countries back a ban?

Finland is among the EU governments calling for a complete halt to tourist visas for Russian nationals until the end of the war. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen set out that position in a statement on 12 October, saying Russians should not be able to enjoy European life and freedoms while their country bombs Ukrainian homes.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna backed the same call, saying it is unacceptable that Russian citizens can still take unrestricted leisure trips within the Schengen area while Russian strikes destroy Ukrainian infrastructure and kill civilians.

What this means for travellers

For now, no EU-wide visa rules for Russian nationals have changed. Russian travellers planning trips to Europe should continue to check the current visa requirements of the specific Schengen country they intend to visit before booking, and monitor for any decisions that may follow the ministers' discussions.

Next steps remain open: the EU has not announced a decision on an entry ban for former Russian combatants, restrictions on Russian diplomats or limits on Russian tourist visas. No timeline has been given.