EU Visa Policy Shift: EU Ministers Move to Suspend Russia Visa Facilitation

EU diplomat Josep Borrell announced at a press conference following an informal gathering that the foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states decided to fully suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia. This move would cut the number of visas issued and complicate the application process. The announcement came during discussions in Prague. Hungary, Belgium and several other EU members previously blocked an attempt to entirely deprive Russians of European visas.

“A political decision has been made to completely suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia. This means significantly fewer visas will be issued, and the process will be longer and more difficult,” Borrell stated. The decision was described as a hardening of policy by the EU, with emphasis on risk management and national security.

Despite the suspension, EU governments agreed that visas should still be issued in certain cases. “Certain groups of Russians” may still receive visas, though the criteria were not specified. Borrell noted that since mid-July there has been a substantial influx of Russian citizens into neighboring EU states, a trend deemed a security concern by many officials.

Visas will continue to be issued on a case-by-case basis for specific individuals. The aim is not to isolate Russian civil society, particularly those who oppose the war in Ukraine, but to impose tighter controls on travel for broader segments of the population.

As a consequence, many Russians will receive far fewer Schengen visas. The suspension of the simplified visa regime will raise the visa fee from 35 euros to 80 euros and slow the processing of documents. The simplified regime allows for unilateral suspensions by each party in the name of protecting national security.

there was no consensus

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto argued that Hungary, Belgium and several other EU states oppose a total halt to visa issuance for Russians.

“The EU will not impose a complete ban on issuing visas to Russians,” Szijjártó said. He added that the EU will cancel the visa facilitation agreement, signaling a shift in policy rather than a total ban on entry for Russian nationals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed barring Russians from entering Europe, arguing that such isolation could exert leverage over the Russian population and the leadership. Other EU members such as Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland, the Netherlands and several others supported a full or partial visa ban. France and Germany did not join the restrictions, while Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and Luxembourg did not back the decision at that time.

EU Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer expressed skepticism that a visa ban would swiftly end the military conflict in Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the need to consider consequences that might push Russia away from the EU rather than toward it. The aim was to avoid creating a situation where visa restrictions would turn Russian public opinion against the EU instead of toward a peaceful resolution.

The European Commission noted that EU visa law does not authorize stopping visa issuance altogether, but individual member states retain the right to take measures on their own to address security concerns.

“Best Answer”

Following the meeting, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, described the visa suspension as a compromised approach for Russian citizens. He framed it as a middle ground between hardline members seeking a full stop to all Russian visas and those advocating continued sanctions, though still in favor of limiting travel for Moscow’s leadership and its supporters.

Before the EU decision, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that if Russians encounter difficulties with visas, Europeans could face reciprocal measures. He referred to the proposed suspension of the simplified visa regime as another inflammatory move in the current climate of tensions, calling it a reactionary cycle of Russophobia.

Attention to the situation remained high, with Peskov signaling readiness to respond if Western states altered visa policies. The Kremlin stressed that diplomacy in the West appeared to be eroding and that Moscow would adapt to changing realities while pursuing further engagement on broader issues. A parallel stance was observed in discussions about how similar dynamics play out across contexts beyond Russia and the EU, highlighting a broader pattern in international relations.