Germany tightens visa control for Russians and calls for joint EU position
Illustrative photo: Schengen visa for Russians (Getty Images)
Germany has announced stricter visa rules for Russian citizens and urged EU countries to develop a joint position on restrictions within the Schengen area, according to DW.
According to German diplomats, the need for tougher rules arose amid Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine and the Kremlin’s ongoing attempts to exploit its citizens’ mobility for political purposes. Berlin stresses that the EU’s sanctions and visa policy must be coordinated, since differing approaches by member states undermine the effectiveness of such measures.
"We have tightened national visa rules for Russian citizens, but a real impact is only possible if all EU countries act together," Germany’s Foreign Ministry stated.
The new restrictions include stricter screening of applicants and reducing the categories of Russians eligible for visas. At the same time, Berlin emphasized that humanitarian cases, such as opposition figures or those facing persecution in Russia, will remain a priority.
In this way, Germany aims not only to reduce the flow of Russian tourists to Europe but also to increase political pressure on the Kremlin by urging EU partners to take consolidated action within the Schengen zone.
Restrictions for Russians in Schengen area
The Schengen Area is the world’s largest zone of free movement, currently covering 29 countries (25 out of 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) and home to 420 million people.
Earlier, several Schengen countries introduced border controls in response to rising migration and Russian espionage. Interior ministers of the Baltic and Nordic states, along with Poland, also agreed to ban entry to Russian citizens who participated in the aggression against Ukraine.
