The European Union has confirmed it is tightening visa rules for Russian citizens and will in most cases stop issuing multiple-entry permits. Starting November 7, Russians will no longer be eligible for multi-entry visas and will be required to apply for a new single-entry permit for each trip to EU countries. The European Commission said the change would “enable more thorough and regular screening of applicants to reduce potential security risks.”
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on social media: “It’s hard to justify starting a war and still expecting to travel freely across Europe.” She said the stricter rules are linked to “ongoing sabotage and drone attacks on European territory.” Kallas added: “Travel to the EU is a privilege, not a default right.”
Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the EU is introducing “enhanced screening procedures and a higher level of control” for Russians applying for visas. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the bloc has sharply reduced the number of visas issued—from four million a year to around half a million—after suspending the visa facilitation agreement.
Nevertheless, in 2024 the number of Russians entering the EU rose by about 10 percent compared to the previous year. Hungary, France, Spain, and Italy continue to issue a significant share of visas. However, visa issuance remains a national competence, and the European Commission cannot impose a blanket ban on Russians—the implementation of the new rules will depend on individual member states.
Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert clarified that the changes will not affect Russians who already hold multiple-entry visas. He said there will remain “limited exemptions” for those with close family members in the EU and for “individuals whose integrity and reliability are beyond doubt”—such as dissidents and independent journalists. These categories will still be eligible for multi-entry visas valid for up to one year.
As part of its 19th sanctions package, the European Union also plans to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats by requiring them to notify national authorities in advance of any travel within the Schengen area. Brussels said the measure is intended to counter “the increasingly hostile intelligence activities of the Kremlin.”
Exiled Russian opposition figures have spoken out against the measures. Yulia Navalnaya, widow of slain opposition leader Alexei Navalny, urged Kaja Kallas in an open letter to “clearly distinguish between the regime and Russian citizens.” In an interview, she voiced disappointment that the EU is punishing “ordinary Russians.” “The last thing I want is to defend Russian diplomats in Europe,” she said. “But I sincerely don’t understand how these measures could affect Putin, his regime, or the end of the war in Ukraine… Only a small fraction of Russians even travel to European countries.”
Former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky said Western countries should focus on steps that widen the gap between Russian society and the state. For Putin’s opponents, he added, “the most demoralizing message is that the West sees every Russian as an enemy.”