Since the easing of anti-COVID travel restrictions, border crossings from Russia into Finland have grown by roughly 10 to 30 percent when compared with the spring and early summer period. Yet, if the majority of Russians continue to travel on a Finnish Schengen visa with the primary purpose of visiting other countries, Finland’s Foreign Ministry may step in to reassess visa practices and policies, a concern voiced to Yle by the head of the consular service, Jussi Tanner.
According to Tanner, visas issued to a person who mainly uses them to reach other destinations may trigger a closer review by Helsinki. He noted that information about visa abuse is circulating quickly among Schengen states, raising collective scrutiny across member countries as they monitor how visas are used in practice.
A Russian applicant who previously used a Finnish visa solely for transit may face a rejection when applying for a new Finnish visa, reflecting a tightening stance on visa issuance and the desire to curb perceived misuse of the system.
Tanner further indicated that the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to tighten the visa issuance procedure following discussions with the government. While the exact timing remains unclear, officials cautioned that the total number of visas granted could decline in the near term as reforms take shape.
visa policy and consular access
It was also stated that the ministry may limit appointment opportunities at consulates and could extend processing times for visa applications submitted by Russian nationals, as part of a broader effort to recalibrate entry rules in light of evolving security and regional developments.
prime ministerial position
In related remarks, the Prime Minister highlighted a cautious stance toward issuing Finnish visas to Russian travelers. He observed that Helsinki lacks independent enforcement mechanisms to directly restrict travel by Russian tourists within the wider European Union, yet suggested that visa procedures could be slowed down to affect entry, even when visas remain technically accessible. The prime minister stressed that Russians have frequently used Finland as a transit hub before continuing to vacation hotspots in other European countries.
how Finland could limit visa issuance to Russians
Historic reporting by Yle on July 28, citing Jussi Tanner, outlined six potential strategies Finland was weighing to reduce the flow of Russian visitors amid ongoing tensions related to Ukraine. The first option would halt Finnish visa issuance for Russian travelers from Helsinki altogether, but such a move would conflict with both European Union rules and the Schengen Agreement, making it a legally delicate choice.
The second option would curtail the number of accepted visa applications. While this is technically straightforward to implement, it faces practical limits because around 100,000 Russians already hold Finnish tourist visas, which raises questions about the effectiveness of such a constraint in practice.
The third possibility would restrict entry to humanitarian cases, for instance in the event of a funeral or other urgent family need. A fourth option would involve canceling visas already issued to Russians, but that approach would clash with EU and national law. The fifth proposal contemplates closing border corridors to passenger traffic, a move that could provoke domestic dissatisfaction among Finns who rely on cross-border mobility. The sixth option aligns with broader EU policy by urging European authorities to debate a common approach to issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens across the bloc.
ministry of foreign affairs alert
The question of completely stopping Schengen visa issuance to Russian citizens is not off the table, according to Ivan Volynkin, who directs the consular office at the Russian Foreign Ministry. In conversations with TASS, Volynkin underscored that Europe’s calls to end visa issuance are being watched closely and noted that much of the rhetoric comes from public figures with strong positions on the matter.
He cautioned that even seemingly unlikely scenarios could arise if consular ties with Schengen member states deteriorate significantly. Moscow continues to advocate for preserving mutual travel arrangements between Russian citizens and Europe and hopes for pragmatic and common-sense responses from the European Union. At the same time, Volynkin suggested that if a complete halt to Schengen visa issuance for Russians were to become a reality, Russia would pursue visa cooperation with individual European countries on a bilateral basis through negotiations that reflect each nation’s priorities and interests.
Related posts:
Restricting Russian Tourism: European Moves Align Across Finland, Estonia, and Poland Preview of visas: Russia-EU travel policy and regional responses {“type”:”string””,value”:”Rewritten article on EU visa policy developments in Poland and broader bloc”} Schengen visa guidance for Russians with non-biometric passports: Denmark, Italy, and consular updates Finland Tightens Oversight of Schengen Visas Issued to Russian Residents How to get a Schengen visa and travel to Europe Finland Plans to Reduce Russian Tourist Visas and Align EU Policy EU Ministers Discuss Potential Schengen Visa Reductions for Russians in Prague Bulgaria to Issue Schengen Visas to Russians Through Moscow and St. Petersburg Consular Posts Hungary Keeps Schengen Visa Access Open for Russians, Official Says EU Visa Policy Shift: EU Ministers Move to Suspend Russia Visa Facilitation Strategic shifts in visa policy and border controls amid Russian mobility trends