Italy's visa service cut its stated visa processing period for tourist applications from Russian citizens from 60 days to 45 days, a notice first reported by the Kyiv Post on October 18, 2026.
The website notice said the period had been reduced. It also advised applicants to factor the updated timing into travel plans.
“We hereby inform you that the processing time for tourist visa applications has been reduced from 60 to 45 days”
The change applies to tourist applications. The wider European debate over Russian travel restrictions remains unresolved.
Tourist applicants should plan around the revised period
The notice concerns tourist visa applications and asks applicants to account for the updated processing time when planning travel. It does not describe a separate application procedure.
Visa totals show rising issuances but count different things
European Commission figures show that Italian issuances to Russian nationals rose from 63,894 in 2021 to 161,121 in 2025. Another measure, cited by Commission spokesman Markus Lammert, counted 680,000 Russians receiving visas to the EU in 2025, up 20% from 560,000 in 2024.
Other totals track applications or narrower visa categories. Russian nationals filed more than 670,000 Schengen applications in 2025, nearly 8% more than in 2024. EU countries issued almost 620,000 short-stay visas, a 10.2% year-over-year increase. Finnish government figures separately counted nearly 500,000 tourist visas.
These are not interchangeable counts. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia says tourist traffic from Russia to EU countries remains more than tenfold below its pre-pandemic level.
National restrictions have produced sharp differences. Applications in Poland fell from 9,483 to 103 after restrictions were introduced by Poland, Estonia and Finland. Meanwhile, Italian visas issued to Belarusians climbed from 2,968 to 50,709; 98.9 per cent were multiple-entry visas.
The EU suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Moscow in September 2022. The measure applied to Minsk only for regime officials.
EU governments are weighing travel limits, checks and quotas
A full ban on tourist visas is not under consideration in the proposals now being discussed. Governments are weighing tighter checks, annual reporting, quotas and a “Schengen Barometer” to track visa data, as well as limiting Russian travelers to the country that issued their visas. No final decision has been made.
Germany proposed Limited Territorial Validity visas for nonessential travel. They would confine holders to the issuing country rather than permit travel across the wider Schengen area. Tourism industry experts have warned the documents could complicate multi-country trips, lengthen processing and reduce availability.
A European Council working group discussed the proposal, but its outcome was not made public. EU leaders were due to take up the issue at a Brussels summit beginning October 15, with a political discussion expected and no decision anticipated.
Security concerns are driving calls for tighter controls. On August 4, a drone carrying an explosive device was found at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany near Ukrainian cargo planes. It did not explode because its detonator was faulty. On September 1, the German government said Russia was responsible and announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Bonn and a ban on construction of the Russian House in Berlin.
A Belarusian suspect holding a Russian passport allegedly entered the EU on an Italian tourist visa issued by the Italian embassy in Minsk. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Dublin that “this type of tourist visa is being used to carry out acts of sabotage.”
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called for “progress on targeted visa restrictions.” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said: “We fear that Russia will attempt to organize acts of sabotage in Europe. Why then are we letting Russians come here as tourists and allowing them to move freely?” He planned to propose a complete halt to tourist visas at the summit.
Rome resists a broad ban as officials clash over security
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the government was prepared to coordinate with other European countries. “We will look into this together with the other countries,” he said, adding that officials should prevent entry by people who meet visa requirements but are not of good character. He also said measures could reduce visa numbers.
Stefano Candiani, a Lega member of parliament, opposed tightening tourist visas. He said banning entry to combatants and former combatants was “A matter of common sense.” Candiani also rejected the idea that the country risked becoming Schengen’s weak link, pointing instead to Spain and Morocco. The PD and Italia Viva announced two urgent questions to Tajani, while Copasir was to request a briefing.
Rome was among the governments that slowed a proposed ban on veterans in June, preferring to “work on the visa regime.” In July, Paris and Rome opposed a broader proposal; the resulting version covered short-stay visas and people directly involved in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Anastasia Burakova, founder of the Russian exile support organisation The Ark, said nationality-based restrictions could disproportionately affect activists, journalists and people fleeing persecution. Kremlin-linked figures, she said, may have alternative ways to travel.
Finland has urged five measures, while member states retain control
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen set out five proposals in a letter dated October 12. She called for ending Schengen visas for nonessential travel, including tourism, while Russia continues its invasion. “As long as Russia continues its invasion, Russian citizens should not be issued tourist visas,” she said.
Her other proposals would create a binding visa ban for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle and EU-sanctioned people or entities; reject applications from athletes and team members with close government ties; bar former Russian combatants; and amend the EU Visa Code to let the bloc impose restrictions swiftly when relations with another country deteriorate severely. Valtonen supported Germany’s territorial-validity proposal as an interim step.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu backed restrictions during foreign ministers’ discussions. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna warned that former combatants could have Russian secret-service support. Glenn Micallef, the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, attended the October 12 meeting for the first time to discuss possible measures.
The European Commission does not set visa policy directly; decisions rest with member states. The Commission is expected to present revised visa legislation in January, while a proposal for targeted restrictions is expected in early 2027.
