EU Considers Stricter Visa Measures for Russians as Germany Pushes for Consistency

The European Union is edging closer to tougher rules on Schengen visas for Russian citizens, with Brussels preparing new guidance under pressure from several member states.

Germany, meanwhile, has insisted that any changes must apply uniformly across the bloc.

According to recent reports, the European Commission is drafting non-binding recommendations that would make it more difficult for Russian nationals to secure short-stay visas, though the plan stops short of an outright ban on entry. The debate has gathered pace in mid-September, after years of lobbying by countries bordering Russia, and reflects ongoing frustration that national practices remain inconsistent across the Schengen Area.

The emerging framework appears to follow two distinct tracks. The first centers on tighter scrutiny of Russian tourist and other non-essential travel, with clearer justifications for refusal when security concerns arise. The second, driven by Prague and supported by several frontline states, seeks to limit the freedom of movement of Russian diplomats within Schengen, confining them to their host country. EU sources have described both proposals as elements of wider Russia-related measures now under discussion.

Berlin has confirmed publicly that it has already adopted stricter reviews of Russian visa applications and is pressing for a standardized approach. German officials argue that piecemeal rules create loopholes, enabling applicants to exploit differences between member states. On the eastern flank of the EU, several countries have already imposed near-total restrictions on non-essential Russian travel, while others remain far more lenient—an imbalance that has encouraged so-called “forum shopping” by applicants.

The EU’s visa facilitation agreement with Moscow was suspended in 2022, increasing costs and documentation requirements for Russians. Nonetheless, demand for travel has surged back, with large numbers of visas issued last year, concentrated in just a few destinations.

This uneven distribution has sharpened security concerns across the bloc. Reflecting that trend, Spain this summer introduced a new requirement for Russian citizens to obtain airport transit visas, a step seen as part of a broader tightening even before EU-level guidance takes effect.

Schengen statistics for 2024, as well as data on which countries issued the largest share of visas to Russian travelers, have pushed the issue higher on ministers’ agendas. Spain’s latest measure is widely viewed as a sign of the direction the EU as a whole may take.

If the Commission’s recommendations are adopted, they would not compel member states to deny Russian applications automatically. Instead, they would encourage consulates to apply stricter risk assessments and to harmonize requirements for supporting documents, interviews, and checks on travel purposes. Any restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats, by contrast, would likely be handled separately through the EU’s foreign policy mechanisms.

For travelers, the practical impact would be felt in closer vetting, longer processing times at certain consulates, and fewer approvals for discretionary trips. Family visits, studies, and humanitarian cases are expected to remain possible but will likely involve heavier paperwork and more frequent in-person interviews. For now, outcomes still depend heavily on where applications are filed, but Brussels hopes the new rules will narrow those disparities without introducing a blanket ban. 

By fLEXI tEAM