Poland Teams Up with Sweden, Estonia and Other Nations to Slam the Door on Russian Tourist Visas

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The European Union is set to tighten the visa rules for Russian visitors to Poland, Sweden, Estonia and many other European countries, with the European Commission set to make formal proposals in January 2027. These proposals may include changes in tourist visas, multiple-entry visas, and vetting that would change how Russians visit Europe. The proposals will form part of the discussions at the Foreign Affairs Council scheduled for 12th October 2026. This is following the security fears expressed by European states concerning espionage, sabotage and Russian-sponsored hybrid operations in Europe. Even though these rules are yet to be implemented, they may signal some changes in the way Russians process their travel applications in Europe.

Poland, Sweden and Estonia Push for Stricter Visa Controls

Poland, Sweden and Estonia are amongst the countries advocating more restrictive arrangements for Russian nationals entering the European Union. Their position centres on strengthening the Schengen visa framework and establishing more consistent screening procedures across member states.

Estonia and other countries bordering Russia have called for particular attention to applicants with former military backgrounds, including Russian combat veterans who served in the war against Ukraine. Their governments have raised concerns about the possibility of individuals with military or security-service connections entering European territory under ordinary visitor visas.

Sweden has also called for tighter controls. Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer has highlighted potential security vulnerabilities arising from the Schengen system, under which a valid short-stay visa issued by one participating country generally allows its holder to travel throughout the Schengen area, subject to applicable entry and stay conditions.

For tourism, this arrangement has traditionally allowed international visitors to combine several European destinations within a single itinerary. A traveller holding an appropriate Schengen visa can, for example, plan visits to France, Italy, Spain and other participating countries without applying separately for a conventional short-stay visa for each destination.

However, the proposed reforms could introduce more stringent conditions for Russian applicants, with individual member states expected to follow a more harmonised approach to assessing potential security risks.

Multiple-Entry Schengen Visas Under Review

One of the principal areas under consideration is the issuance of multiple-entry Schengen visas to Russian citizens.

These permits allow eligible travellers to enter and leave the Schengen area several times during the validity period of their visa, provided they comply with the authorised duration of stay and other conditions.

Multiple-entry permits are particularly useful for visitors undertaking repeated business trips, visiting family members or planning several European holidays within a specified period. They also provide flexibility for travellers arranging itineraries that involve destinations both inside and outside the Schengen area.

However, the EU’s suspension of its Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia in 2022 has already resulted in more demanding application procedures and higher visa fees for Russian citizens.

Despite those changes, consular figures cited in the supplied policy reporting indicate that Russian nationals received approximately 478,000 Schengen visas during the previous year. A considerable proportion were multiple-entry permits, allowing repeated visits to participating European countries.

Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner has acknowledged that the initial decline in visa issuance to Russian citizens has subsequently stabilised. The European Commission is therefore considering further measures to reduce approvals and introduce more consistent background checks across member states.

Proposed Restrictions Could Affect European Holiday Planning

The proposed changes could influence several aspects of international travel from Russia to Europe.

Tourist visa quotas are among the measures being discussed, with restrictions potentially applying across all 29 Schengen countries. However, the final scope and legal mechanism of any quota system will depend on the Commission’s formal proposals and subsequent decisions by EU institutions.

Multiple-entry visas could also face additional restrictions, with authorities considering a greater emphasis on single-entry permits for applicants who do not meet stricter eligibility requirements.

For Russian travellers planning holidays in European cities, this could mean submitting more frequent applications, providing additional documentation and arranging travel dates more carefully. Visitors intending to undertake multi-country itineraries may also need to consider the permitted number of entries when planning journeys that involve leaving and re-entering the Schengen area.

The proposals could also affect travel agencies, tour operators and accommodation providers that organise European holidays for Russian customers. Any reduction in visa approvals or longer application procedures could influence booking schedules, cancellation arrangements and demand for organised tours.

Diplomatic Travel Also Forms Part of the Review

Beyond tourist visas, several EU delegations are advocating restrictions on the movement of accredited Russian diplomats within the bloc.

Under the proposals being discussed, diplomatic representatives could face limitations requiring them to remain within the member state where they are officially posted, rather than travelling freely across other participating countries.

This issue forms part of the wider security discussions surrounding the Schengen framework, although diplomatic travel restrictions would operate separately from ordinary tourist visa arrangements.

What Russian Travellers Need to Know

As of now, Russian citizens can keep on relying on the current visa requirements while arranging trips to Europe. The aforementioned rules do not represent the implementation of a new EU-wide tourist visa policy. Potential travellers need to pay attention to the current requirements listed by the relevant consulate or embassy, such as the list of documents required, appointment scheduling, visa processing time and the terms and conditions of a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry one. In case of a visit to several Schengen destinations, one is to mention the destination country during the visa application process and arrange the trip in accordance with the visa received. The recommendations of the European Commission to be made in January 2027 are the ones that will define the results of the discussions.