Finland calls on EU states to stop issuing Russian tourist visas

Finland is asking other EU countries to stop issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens while Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen also wants the European Commission to adopt stricter guidelines for handling Russian visa applications. She argues that non-essential travel should not continue during the war.

The proposed policy would require changes in EU legislation to create a complete tourist visa ban. Finland has already banned non-essential visas for Russians through a government resolution adopted in 2022. Valtonen wants the same rule applied across the European Union, rather than only in Finland.

She invited EU member states to join a letter to the Commission. The letter also proposes restrictions on Putin’s inner circle, Russian athletes, and current and former Russian combatants. The next step depends on whether other member states support the initiative and whether EU-level rules are changed.

A tourist visa is permission to enter a country temporarily for leisure, sightseeing, or holidays. It usually does not authorize employment or permanent residence. Visa rules vary by destination, but the central idea is controlled, short-term entry for a stated purpose. The article discusses tourist visas for Russian citizens but does not define them.

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa for travel within the Schengen Area, whose participating countries generally allow internal travel without routine border checks. One Schengen visa can therefore cover several participating countries, subject to its conditions. An ordinary national visa is issued under one country’s national system and commonly supports longer stays, study, work, or residence.

The distinction matters because the proposed restrictions target Schengen tourist travel. The article says Schengen countries issued nearly half a million tourist visas to Russians in 2025. It does not say that every Russian visa category would be cancelled.

Nearly half a million tourist visas were issued to Russian citizens by Schengen countries in 2025. That is the latest figure given in the article. It shows the scale of Russian leisure travel to Europe even while Russia continues its war against Ukraine, which is why Finland is pressing for a common restriction.

The article does not provide a precise starting figure or a year-by-year series. Instead, Valtonen says the number of tourist visas issued by Schengen countries had risen in recent years. The available comparison is therefore directional: issuance increased, reaching nearly half a million in 2025.

The figure supports Finland’s argument that national policies have not produced a uniform EU response. Finland banned non-essential Russian visas in 2022, but other Schengen countries continued issuing them. A proposed EU-wide ban would replace that uneven situation with one common rule.

The proposed restrictions would affect several groups besides ordinary Russian tourists. Finland’s letter calls for Schengen visa bans on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. It also seeks visa restrictions for Russian athletes, extending the proposed response into sports and political networks.

The letter further calls for effective implementation of an EU visa ban on current and former Russian combatants. The article says EU member states agreed to that ban this summer, but it does not explain its detailed scope or enforcement process. The proposal therefore combines new restrictions with stronger implementation of an existing measure.

These measures would use visa access as a pressure tool connected to Russia’s war. They are aimed at people viewed as linked to the Russian leadership, military activity, or national representation. Whether they take effect depends on EU countries supporting the letter and applying the relevant rules effectively.

If adopted, the proposal would prevent Russian citizens from receiving tourist visas for non-essential travel to EU and Schengen countries. That would block ordinary leisure trips, such as holidays, under the targeted visa category. Finland’s stated position is categorical: Russian citizens should not receive tourist visas while the invasion continues.

The mechanism would be an EU-level rule backed by legislative changes. At present, Finland has its own 2022 government resolution banning non-essential Russian visas, while other Schengen countries have continued issuing tourist visas. A common ban would make the restriction apply across participating countries rather than through separate national decisions.

The article does not say that every type of Russian travel would end. It focuses on tourist visas and non-essential travel. It also does not list exemptions, appeal procedures, or effects on essential visits. The practical outcome would therefore depend on the final EU legislation and its detailed rules.

Finland is especially sensitive to Russia’s actions because it directly borders Russia for 1,343 kilometers, or 834 miles. The article identifies this as the longest border with Russia held by any European Union member state. A long shared border makes Russia’s military actions an immediate national concern rather than a distant foreign-policy issue.

The historical background deepens that concern. The Soviet Union invaded Finland in November 1939. That conflict became known as the Winter War and lasted for more than three months. Despite heavy losses, the Soviet Union won, according to the article. The memory links present security concerns with an earlier Soviet attack.

This context helps explain Finland’s strong position on Russian travel during the current war. Finland banned non-essential Russian visas in 2022 and now wants the same policy across the EU. Its border and history give particular weight to Valtonen’s call for common restrictions.

The EU and Schengen Area coordinate border and visa policies so participating countries can manage travel through common rules. Schengen cooperation generally removes routine internal border checks, while shared visa rules govern short visits from many countries. EU sanctions and related restrictions are adopted through EU institutions and member-state decisions. These general arrangements are not explained in detail in the article.

The article provides a concrete example of the coordination problem. Finland banned non-essential Russian visas through a national government resolution in 2022. Meanwhile, Schengen countries collectively issued nearly half a million Russian tourist visas in 2025. Valtonen therefore wants stricter Commission guidelines and legislative changes for an EU-wide ban.

The proposed letter would also address Putin’s inner circle, Russian athletes, and combatants. If member states support it, the Commission could pursue the necessary legal changes and implementation. The article does not specify the voting procedures, legal instruments, or exact institutions involved in adopting those measures.