Finland’s foreign minister has urged all European Union member states to halt issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens until the war in Ukraine concludes, according to RMF24 – fakty. Elina Valtonen’s appeal comes as Russian aggression enters its fifth year.
In an official statement, Finland’s foreign ministry emphasised that allowing Russians to travel freely across Europe remains unjust while Ukrainian homes continue to face bombardment. The Nordic country implemented its own ban on non-essential travel visas for Russian nationals back in 2022 and now seeks to expand similar measures across the entire bloc.
Proposed restrictions and enforcement
Helsinki is pressing for stricter guidelines on visa procedures and amendments to EU legislation that would enable implementation of a comprehensive ban. The Finnish government has also called for Schengen visa restrictions targeting individuals in Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, Russian athletes and war veterans. Some of these measures were already agreed upon by EU member states this summer.
The push for tighter controls comes despite a rise in Schengen visas granted to Russian nationals in recent years. Last year alone, countries within the Schengen zone issued nearly 500,000 visas to Russians. France, Italy and Spain account for the highest numbers of visas issued.
Limited territorial visas under consideration
Among the options due to be discussed in coming days is the introduction of territorially restricted visas. Such permits would allow Russian citizens to stay only in specific countries, with travel beyond those borders constituting a visa violation. Minister Valtonen has expressed support for this approach as an interim measure.
Finland’s initiative has found backing among several EU members concerned about Russia’s increasingly aggressive actions towards the bloc. Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has also called for stricter regulations, arguing that the sight of Russian tourists in Europe during wartime provokes objection. Sweden and Estonia have similarly voiced support for radical tightening of visa rules.
What this means for Poles in the UK
For Poles living in Britain, any EU-wide visa restrictions on Russian nationals would not directly affect UK border policy, as the United Kingdom is no longer part of the Schengen zone following Brexit. However, the proposed measures could influence travel patterns across Europe and potentially impact Poles who maintain family ties or business interests in EU countries.
Those planning to visit Poland or other EU member states should be aware that tighter Schengen visa controls may lead to increased scrutiny at borders, particularly for travellers arriving from regions with significant Russian transit. British residents of Polish origin who hold dual nationality and travel on Polish passports will not be affected by restrictions aimed at Russian citizens.
The debate over visa policy also reflects broader security concerns across the EU, including Poland’s eastern border. Poles in the UK who follow developments in their home country may see stricter visa enforcement as part of wider measures to counter Russian influence and hybrid threats in the region. Any final decisions will require agreement among all EU member states and could take several months to implement through changes to Schengen legislation.