The European Union wants to stop issuing multiple-entry tourist visas to Russian citizens in most cases, Politico reported, citing European officials.
The European Union is preparing to further tighten visa rules for Russian citizens, effectively halting the issuance of multiple-entry Schengen visas in most cases.
According to the new rules, Russians will only be able to obtain single-entry visas for entry into the Schengen area. Exceptions will be made in limited cases – for example, for humanitarian reasons or for individuals who also hold EU citizenship, writes Politico.
According to the Commission, in 2024 more than half a million Russians received Schengen visas. This is a significant increase compared to 2023, although it is still far below pre-war levels: in 2019, more than 4 million visas were issued. Hungary, France, Spain, and Italy continue to generously issue tourist visas to Russian citizens.
The new, stricter rules, which are part of a package of measures aimed at reducing the number of Russians entering the countries of the bloc, are expected to be officially adopted and come into effect this week.
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