EU bans multiple-entry visas for Russian nationals
The European Commission has confirmed it will ban Russian nationals from receiving multiple-entry visas, just a day after declining to acknowledge the move. The decision was announced during a briefing in Brussels on Friday.
"The Commission has adopted stricter rules on visas for Russian nationals. This is in view of the increased security risks stemming from Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, including the weaponisation of migration, acts of sabotage and the potential misuse of visas," said spokesperson Markus Lammert.
He confirmed the measure would take immediate effect but stressed that single-entry visas would not be affected.
"What I'm saying today is about a multiple-entry visa. That means a single-entry visa remains possible. There's stronger scrutiny, but I'm not going to speculate about any future actions," he added.
The move marks a tightening of EU travel restrictions on Russian citizens amid continuing tensions over the war in Ukraine.
On Thursday, the Commission said it could not prevent Russians from obtaining single-entry visas, as decisions on those applications rest with individual member states.
Multiple-entry Schengen visas allow holders to travel freely between countries in the Schengen zone, while single-entry visas limit travellers to one entry.
Moscow had not issued an official response at the time of publication.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
