EU Weighs Schengen Visa Restrictions for Russians Amid Sabotage Fears

Oct. 15, 2026 European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. REUTERS / Stephanie Lecocq EU officials are weighing tighter visa restrictions for Russians amid growing fears of hybrid attacks and sabotage across the bloc. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Thursday called on Brussels to press ahead with targeted restrictions while stepping up support for Ukraine. “We must also increase pressure on Russia, notably by making progress on targeted visa restrictions,” Metsola said at a press conference following a summit of EU leaders. The EU executive is expected to propose “planning” targeted visa restrictions in early 2027, according to the news outlet Rapporteur. The plans are being spearheaded by Poland, Sweden and Estonia, according to Politico Europe. The EU Council working group on visa policy met Wednesday to discuss issuing Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visas to Russian applicants that would restrict travelers to the borders of the issuing state rather than allow access to the wider Schengen zone. The outcome of those talks was not made public. Germany has proposed requiring member states that still issue visas for nonessential travel to switch to LTV visas, Rapporteur reported. Ireland, which holds the EU Council’s rotating presidency, reportedly warned that the measure could fail to prevent security threats from spreading across the bloc. The proposal follows an alleged drone plot in Germany in August involving a Russian passport holder who reportedly entered the Schengen zone on an Italian tourist visa. Tourism industry experts told the Russian Union of the Tourism Industry that LTV visas could complicate trips spanning several European countries, lengthen visa processing times and reduce visa availability. Meanwhile, Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said he planned to propose a complete halt to issuing tourist visas for Russian citizens at the ongoing European Council summit. “We fear that Russia will attempt to organize acts of sabotage in Europe. Why then are we letting Russians come here as tourists and allowing them to move freely?” Orpo said last week. Read more about: Europe , Visas , Sabotage Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more EU Unveils Stricter Visa Scrutiny for Russians The European Union Friday unveiled tighter visa requirements for Russians that would throw difficult — and, for some, impossible — hurdles... opinion Nigel Gould-Davies Visa Ban: The Sanction the West Should Impose If economic sanctions against Russia affect everyone, why shouldn't a visa ban? Russia Rules Out Retaliation to EU Visa Hurdles “We will remain a country committed to democracy and freedom of movement,” said Russia's outgoing EU ambassador. Poland, Baltics Agree EU Visa Ban Plan for Russians – Statement The restrictions will enter into force on Sept. 19.