Finland’s push to ban Russian tourist visas across the European Union has gained renewed attention as Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen calls for binding restrictions on Russian citizens travelling to the Schengen area while Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.
Valtonen presented the proposal on October 12, urging the European Commission to introduce EU-wide measures preventing Russian nationals from obtaining tourist visas. Finland wants other member states to follow its approach, which has restricted visas for non-essential travel from Russia since 2022, after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“As long as Russia continues its invasion, Russian citizens should not be issued tourist visas,” Valtonen said in a statement published by Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. She also questioned the fairness of allowing Russian citizens to enjoy European freedoms while Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian homes.
Finland has advocated broader restrictions on Russian tourist visas since September 2022. At the time, it called on Schengen countries to revoke visas or impose entry bans on Russian nationals who had been refused entry at their borders. The latest proposal seeks a more consistent approach across the EU, rather than leaving individual countries to decide how far restrictions should go.
The debate comes amid a rise in Russian applications for short-stay visas. According to figures cited in the original report, Russian nationals submitted more than 670,000 Schengen visa applications in 2025, nearly 8 per cent more than in 2024. EU countries issued almost 620,000 short-stay visas to Russian applicants, an increase of 10.2 per cent year on year. Finnish government figures separately put the number of tourist visas issued to Russians at nearly 500,000.
Despite Finland’s appeal, several EU countries, including Greece, Spain, Italy and France, have opposed broader restrictions on Russian visitors. Their positions reflect continuing divisions over whether the bloc should impose a general ban or retain more discretion over individual visa decisions.
Valtonen has been seeking support from other EU governments for a joint appeal to the European Commission and the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. Beyond tourist visas, Finland wants binding restrictions targeting people close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, individuals already subject to EU sanctions and those assisting sanctioned figures. The proposals also include Russian athletes and sports teams with links to the Russian government.
Helsinki is also pressing for more consistent enforcement of restrictions on current and former Russian combatants. Finland has argued that an earlier EU agreement did not establish a common mechanism to ensure those restrictions are applied consistently across member states.
The proposal has also drawn attention to security concerns across Europe. Finland and other governments have raised questions about suspected Russian intelligence activities and sabotage, arguing that visa policy should account for the risks associated with travel by Russian nationals. Germany has separately sought tighter controls on Russian diplomats, including requirements for permission to travel beyond their host countries.
The issue is expected to feature in discussions among EU leaders at a summit in Brussels beginning on October 15. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo wants the summit conclusions to include a commitment to start preparing visa restrictions, according to Helsingin Sanomat. The European Commission has already tightened visa rules for Russian nationals, introducing measures in November 2025 that ended access to multiple-entry visas for Russian citizens. Under those rules, applicants must apply for a new visa for each planned trip.
However, a complete ban on tourist visas would go further than the restrictions currently in place. The EU continues to allow certain Russian citizens to apply for visas for essential reasons, including family visits, journalism and political dissidence. The European Commission has also stressed that member states retain discretion when assessing short-stay visa applications.
Critics of a blanket ban argue that restrictions based on nationality could affect people who oppose the Russian government as well as those connected to it. Anastasia Burakova, founder of the Russian exile support organisation The Ark, told EU Perspectives that a broad ban could disproportionately affect activists, journalists and people fleeing persecution, while individuals with links to the Kremlin may have alternative ways to travel.
Brad Blitz, a professor at University College London, has also argued in an analysis published by the Italian Institute for International Political Studies that a blanket visa ban could prevent Russian dissidents from seeking refuge in Europe. He warned that such restrictions could reinforce Kremlin messaging that portrays Western countries as hostile to ordinary Russians.
The debate therefore extends beyond whether Russian tourists should be allowed to visit Europe. EU governments must also consider how a common policy would be implemented, how it would interact with existing visa and asylum rules, and whether exceptions would be needed for people facing persecution. The Commission’s response to Finland’s proposal will help determine whether member states move towards a bloc-wide ban or retain the current system of national decisions under shared EU rules.
Valtonen has also criticised US President Donald Trump over his decision to ease sanctions affecting Russian diesel exports in an effort to reduce American fuel prices. In comments reported by Reuters on October 13, she argued that Washington should maintain its support for Ukraine rather than increase purchases of Russian energy. The criticism reflects Finland’s broader position that measures limiting Russia’s economic benefits should remain part of the international response to the war.
