According to the European Commission, more than half a million Russians were granted Schengen visas in 2024, a sharp increase compared to the previous year but still far below pre-crisis levels. In 2019, Russian citizens received over 4 million visas.

Brussels is now preparing to tighten its stance. A Commission spokesperson told Politico that new recommendations for member states are expected to be published by the end of the year.

The EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in September 2022, making applications more expensive and complicated. However, visa issuance remains under the authority of individual member states, which means the European Commission cannot impose a full entry ban on Russian nationals.

As a result, national policies differ widely. Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania have blocked or heavily restricted visas for Russian citizens except in special cases, while others — including Hungary, France, Spain, and Italy — continue to take a more lenient approach.

In Latvia, tourist visas for Russians have not been issued for three years. Commenting on the upcoming EU guidelines, Latvian foreign minister Baiba Braže stressed the need for a “unified and consistent approach across the EU” when it comes to handling Russian visa applications.