‘Not Right’: Finland Seeks EU Ban on Russian Tourist Visas

Finland has called for a complete EU ban on issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens while Moscow continues its war against Ukraine.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Monday, Oct. 12, that the European Commission should tighten its guidance on Russian visa applications and propose the legislative changes needed for an EU-wide ban.

“As long as Russia continues its invasion, Russian citizens should not be issued tourist visas,” Valtonen said.

“It is not right that Russians can travel to Europe to enjoy the way of life and freedoms here while their country bombs the homes of Ukrainians,” she added.

Finland stopped issuing visas to Russians for tourism and other non-essential travel under a government decision adopted in 2022. Valtonen said the same restriction should finally be introduced across the EU.

Nearly 500,000 visas issued in 2025

According to Finland’s Foreign Ministry, Schengen countries granted Russian citizens close to 500,000 tourist visas in 2025.

Finland argues that restrictions imposed by individual member states are insufficient because a Schengen visa issued by one country generally allows its holder to travel throughout most of the passport-free zone.

Valtonen has invited other EU governments to join a letter asking the European Commission to develop a common approach.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has also said he intends to raise the proposal at the next European Council meeting.

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“One concrete measure that I will present at next week’s European Council meeting is for Europe to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians,” Orpo told Finnish broadcaster Yle.

He linked the proposal to security concerns over alleged Russian sabotage operations inside Europe.

“Why on earth are we letting them into European territory as tourists, where they can move freely?” Orpo said.

The proposal concerns tourist and other non-essential travel. It would not automatically prohibit entry on humanitarian grounds, for family reasons, or for Russians seeking protection from political persecution.

Putin’s circle, athletes, and combatants also targeted

Finland’s proposal goes beyond ordinary tourist visas.

Helsinki is also seeking a ban on Schengen visas for members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle and people or organizations under EU sanctions.

The letter proposes restrictions on Russian athletes and members of sports teams with close ties to the Kremlin. Finland also wants the EU to effectively enforce an agreed entry ban covering current and former Russian combatants who participated in the war against Ukraine.

The European Commission previously proposed barring people who have served in the Russian Armed Forces since the invasion, arguing that Europe should remain inaccessible to those who joined Moscow’s war.

EU officials and several member states have described Russian veterans as a potential security threat, particularly amid allegations that Moscow is recruiting individuals to conduct sabotage, arson, and surveillance operations across Europe.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna earlier warned that the EU needed a coordinated system for identifying and blacklisting former combatants, declaring that there could be “no path from Bucha to Brussels.”

An EU-wide tourist visa ban has not yet been adopted and would require agreement among member states as well as changes to the bloc’s common visa rules.