Finland urges EU-wide halt to tourist visas for Russians over Ukraine war
Finland has urged all European Union countries to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens until Moscow ends its invasion of Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen called on the European Commission on Monday, October 12, to strengthen visa-processing guidelines and propose legislative changes allowing an EU-wide ban.
Valtonen said Russian tourists should not be able to enjoy Europe’s freedoms while their country continues attacking Ukrainian homes.
Finland seeks broader visa restrictions
Finland also asked other EU countries to support a joint letter seeking visa bans for President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, restrictions on Russian athletes and effective enforcement of measures against Russian current and former combatants.
The initiative is a proposal for broader European restrictions, rather than an announcement that an EU-wide tourist visa ban has taken effect.
More than 470,000 visas issued in 2025
Finland halted visas for non-essential Russian travel in 2022. The country shares a roughly 1,340-kilometre border with Russia.
According to a joint letter cited in the AFP report, Russian citizens received more than 470,000 tourist visas for the Schengen area in 2025, including many permitting multiple entries.
Baltic and Nordic countries have supported tighter restrictions. Estonia has also advocated a Europe-wide entry ban targeting Russian veterans of the war in Ukraine.
