Overview
- The European Commission adopted binding rules that end the issuance of multiple-entry visas to Russians, requiring a new application for each trip.
- The measures take immediate effect across all Schengen consulates following backing from member states in the Visa Committee.
- Limited exemptions apply for well‑founded cases such as independent journalists and human rights defenders, with all applications subject to tougher checks.
- The step builds on earlier actions that cut Russian visa numbers from over 4 million in 2019 to about 500,000 in 2023, with more than half a million in 2024.
- Brussels continues to warn about routes that could circumvent controls via Hungary and Serbia, while a separate 19th EU sanctions package targets Russian diplomats’ movement.