EU Bans New Multi-Entry Schengen Visas for Russians

Overview

• Multiple-entry visas accounted for about 224,000 of roughly 540,000 Schengen visas issued to Russians in 2024, according to an expert cited by TASS.
• The expert estimates EU tourism receipts will drop by €90–270 million per year due to fewer repeat trips by Russian visitors.
• Italy, France, Spain and Greece are expected to feel the impact most, while Finland, Poland and the Baltic states are seen as largely unaffected after curbs introduced since 2022.
• Consulates will have to process more individual applications with a €90 fee, increasing paperwork without clear economic gain, the expert said.
• Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the restriction, characterizing it as severely damaging for Europe.