European Commission to Propose Visa Restrictions on Schengen Tourist Visas for Russians in January

The European Commission is expected to propose tighter visa rules for Russian citizens in January 2027, as several EU governments press for a coordinated response to suspected security threats. January is the target.

No new EU-wide restriction has taken effect. The proposal’s scope, legal form and start date remain undecided, and the current discussion does not amount to an adopted blanket ban.

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer said the plan should reach the table in January, though Sweden wants action sooner. He described weaknesses in the existing system.

“It’s obvious I think for everyone that we have vulnerabilities in our system that can be used by our enemies.”

Strömmer also said: “From a Swedish point of view, we would love to see it even earlier.” Poland, Sweden and Estonia are among the governments seeking EU-wide rules, rather than separate national responses.

Officials say the current visa system leaves security gaps

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said the number of visas issued to Russians first fell, but “the numbers are not going down anymore.” He urged member states “to do a better job and to give less visas … to Russian citizens.”

Brunner argued for stronger scrutiny of visitors. “You never know who these tourists actually are,” he said.

Russian citizens received approximately 478,000 Schengen tourist visas in 2025. A separate total, citing Eurostat, counted 620,000 Schengen visas issued to Russians that year, up 10.2% from 2024. That broader figure also includes family reunification and other travel purposes.

The two figures measure different categories. The higher total is not a count of tourist visas alone.

Governments backing tighter rules cite espionage, sabotage, arson and other alleged Russian hybrid operations. They argue that ordinary travel can also create opportunities for intelligence gathering, logistical support or recruitment. The initiative is framed as a security response, not a measure already in force.

Estonia wants former combatants assessed one by one

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has called for an EU-wide measure targeting former members of Russia’s armed forces who fought in Ukraine. He estimates that approximately 650,000 former combatants could fall within the group considered for restrictions.

Tsahkna has argued for individual assessments rather than an automatic rule against every person in that category. He warned that former combatants might arrive with Russian intelligence support and become involved in organized crime or attacks.

“I think a large number of these ex-combatants will come, supported by the Russian secret services, to Europe. And they will take over our organised crime and they will be heavily weaponised and supported by Russia to commit terror attacks or attacks against our societies. So this is very serious.”

The possible approach would apply restrictions “person by person.” Estonia’s case for a shared policy rests in part on the risk that a person refused entry by one Schengen country could seek another route through the area.

A wider package could reach visas, consulates and diplomats

Officials and governments have discussed more than one kind of measure. Options include issuing fewer tourist visas to Russian citizens, increasing scrutiny of applicants and coordinating restrictions on former military personnel who served in Ukraine.

The package could also involve individual entry bans and closer cooperation among consulates. Under the coordination proposal, a refusal by one member state should not be easily circumvented by applying through another.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has previously supported reducing Russian tourist visas and barring former combatants. She has also advocated tighter limits on Russian diplomats’ movement within the Schengen Area, potentially requiring them to stay in the member state that accredited them.

Those strands reflect different concerns. The tourist-visa proposals focus on screening and the volume of travel; the combatant proposal would target a defined group, while diplomat rules concern movement after accreditation.

Ministers are due to discuss the issue before January

EU foreign ministers were expected to take up the issue at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on October 12, 2026. Possible limits on Russian diplomats’ movement between member states were also on the agenda.

In June 2026, ministers from nine EU countries, along with Iceland and Norway, called for “a more uniform and coordinated approach” to Russian visas. They said: “A restrictive visa policy towards Russian citizens is essential to safeguard the security and integrity of the Schengen area.”

The ministers also warned that “a divided approach risks undermining and even counteracting the pressure we seek to uphold against the Russian Federation.” Their call gives the January proposal a wider political backdrop: governments want a shared approach, while the details remain under preparation.

Member states still control issuance under common rules

EU member states administer visa issuance under common Schengen rules. The Commission can propose changes or coordinate action, but binding measures generally need approval through the EU decision-making process.

The proposed package has not yet been defined as a binding legislative proposal, revised visa guidance, a Council measure or another Schengen-related instrument. Until the relevant process produces an approved measure, the discussed restrictions remain proposals.

The current initiative is also distinct from a ban covering every Russian citizen. In June 2026, the Commission reportedly said it was not preparing a complete ban on tourist visas for all Russians; the measures now under discussion instead include reductions and targeted restrictions.

January 2027 remains the expected presentation window, not an implementation deadline. The precise date and the final legal instrument are still unsettled.