EU tightens travel rules for Russians

European Union countries have agreed to make it more expensive and complex for Russians to enter the 27-member bloc, but stopped short of imposing an outright visa ban over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine


Blanket ban
Demanded by Ukraine and EU countries sharing land borders with Russia – Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland

Opposed
Western countries such as France and Germany say visa ban would punish ordinary Russians


Norway
8,052

Estonia
281,957

Latvia
54,618

Lithuania
275,150

GERMANY
FRANCE

Poland
49,123

Finland
329,185

RUSSIA
UKRAINE
Crimea


EU: Looking at ways to tackle 12 million Russian visas already issued to travel in 26-country Schengen area

EU/Schengen area 
Schengen only
EU only

Number of legal entries of Russian nationals in EU* 
Almost one million Russians entered via land borders since start of Ukraine invasion


*Data from Feb 24 to Aug 22, 2022


Sources: Frontex, Reuters, Schengen Visa  
© GRAPHIC NEWS