Finland proposes EU ban on Russian tourist visas

Estonia, following Finland, called on the EU to ban the issuance of tourist visas to Russians. Estonia supports Finland's initiative for a complete ban on issuing tourist visas to Russians in European Union countries, said the foreign minister of the Baltic republic, Margus Tsahkna.

Consensus

Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will propose at the upcoming EU summit to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens.
The proposal is based on concerns about potential sabotage by Russia in Europe.
Finland stopped issuing tourist visas to Russians and closed its border crossings with Russia in September 2022 and December 2023, respectively.
The EU summit where the proposal will be discussed is scheduled for October 15–16.
Orpo made the statement in interviews with Yle.

Points of divergence

8 October, visa centers in Cyprus temporarily stopped accepting applications in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Novosibirsk due to technical issues. — vm
Armenian media reported in September that Western countries are demanding Armenia introduce a visa regime with Russia as a precondition for future visa liberalization with the EU. — vm
Finland has not issued tourist visas to Russians since September 2022, and land border crossings have been closed since December 2023. — riamo
Finland passed a law in 2025 banning citizens of countries 'waging aggressive war and threatening Finland's security,' including Russians, from buying real estate in Finland. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
The EU summit is scheduled for October 15–16. — tg_dwglavnoe
Orpo described the Russia-US agreement on diesel fuel supplies as an 'enormous disappointment' and questioned whether Russia would fully deliver the agreed volume. — tg_currenttime
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in September that the number of visas for Russians should be reduced due to a suspect in a drone incident at Leipzig airport entering via an Italian tourist visa. — vedomosti
The number of visas issued to Russians increased to 680,000 in 2025 from 560,000 the previous year. — vedomosti
In June, 11 European countries including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Iceland called on the European Commission to impose additional restrictions on issuing Schengen visas to Russians. — novaya_eu
Germany proposed stricter restrictions on Russian tourist visas after the drone attack in Leipzig in early September. — novaya_eu
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) called in a resolution on September 30 to limit tourist visas for Russians and restrict movement of Russian diplomats, while protecting Russian emigrants and supporting democratic forces in Russia. — novaya_eu
In November 2025, the European Commission effectively stopped issuing most multiple-entry Schengen visas to Russian citizens, requiring them to reapply for each trip. — novaya_eu

Coverage (20 sources)

Estonia, following Finland, calls on EU to ban tourist visa issuance to Russians — The Moscow Times
Finland's Foreign Minister Elin Juntunen Called on EU Countries to Stop Issuing Tourist Visas to Russians While Russia Continues... — DW Главное
ERR: Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on EU to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians — Москва 24
In the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed to ban visas for Putin's entourage and Russian athletes — Дождь (Telegram)
Finland proposed EU introduce total ban on issuing tourist visas to Russians until end of war — The Moscow Times
Finland called on the European Commission to ban tourist visas for Russian citizens — Вести
Finland intends to propose a ban on issuing tourist visas to Russians for trips to the EU Prime Minister of Finland Petteri... — SOTAvision
Prime Minister of Finland Called to Completely Stop Issuing Tourist Visas to Russians in Europe Petteri Orpo Plans to Present... — Дождь (Telegram)
Prime Minister of Finland proposes EU stop issuing tourist visas to Russians, — Yle Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo proposed... — ASTRA
Finnish Prime Minister demands stop issuing visas to Russians for Europe — Вечерняя Москва
Finland proposes EU ban tourist visas for Russians — РИАМО
Finland proposes EU ban on Russian tourism in Europe due to risk of sabotage — The Moscow Times
Finland proposes EU ban on issuing tourist visas to Russians — DW Главное
Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo proposes to the European Council to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians — Настоящее Время
Prime Minister of Finland proposed stopping issuing visas for trips to the EU for Russians — Ведомости
Finland intends to propose a ban on issuing tourist visas to Russians for travel to the EU — SOTAvision
Prime Minister of Finland proposed completely stopping the issuance of tourist visas to Russians in the EU — Новая газета Европа
Prime Minister of Finland proposed completely stopping issuance of tourist visas to Russians in Europe — ЭХО / Новости
Prime Minister of Finland Called to Completely Stop Issuing Tourist Visas to Russians in Europe — Дождь (Telegram)
Finland's Prime Minister will propose to the European Council to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians — The Insider

Finland proposes EU ban on Russian tourist visas

Consensus

Points of divergence

Coverage (20 sources)

Key entities

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