EU Countries Split Over Rising Russian Schengen Visa Issuance in 2025
EU countries are divided over a significant rise in Schengen visa issuance to Russian nationals in 2025, with over 620,000 visas granted. This increase, particularly by France, Italy, and Spain, has caused tensions among diplomats, contrasting with the EU's sanctions against Moscow and concerns from Eastern European states.
Confidential figures reveal a rise in Schengen visa issuance to Russian nationals in 2025, sparking tensions among EU diplomats. Over 670,000 applications were submitted, an 8% increase from 2024, with more than 620,000 visas issued, up 10.2%. Tourist visas accounted for 77% of these, totaling over 477,000.
France, Italy, and Spain processed nearly three-quarters of all applications. France saw a 23% jump in visa grants to Russian citizens in 2025 compared to 2024. This trend highlights a divide between countries like France, Italy, and Spain, which are less threatened by Russia, and eastern flank nations like Poland and the Baltic states, which view the war as an existential struggle.
The EU Commission advised national governments in 2022 to deprioritize Russian visa applications and fully suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Moscow. New rules in 2025 ended multiple-entry visas for Russians, requiring a new application for each trip. The internal “Schengen Barometer” tracking these figures caused friction, particularly when data on Russian visa issuance was temporarily removed, then reinstated in a separate document after eight EU countries raised concerns. The EU is also considering a ban on Russian nationals with combat experience in Ukraine.