A coalition of eleven European nations—including Finland—submitted a joint letter to the European Commission on 23 June 2026 calling for “new restrictive and binding measures” to limit leisure travel by Russian citizens while Moscow’s war against Ukraine continues. The move, first reported by AFP and Belgian daily *The Brussels Times*, is spearheaded by Sweden and backed by Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Norway and Iceland. The signatories argue that nearly half a million Schengen visas issued to Russians in 2025 undermine EU sanctions and pose security risks because active or former military personnel can enter the bloc undetected.
![Finland Joins 10 European Countries Urging Brussels to Curb Russian Tourist Flows]()
Amid the uncertainty such changes create, travellers and companies can simplify their planning by using VisaHQ’s services, which provide up-to-date guidance on Finnish and wider Schengen visa rules (https://www.visahq.com/finland/). The platform monitors new EU restrictions, pre-screens documents and arranges consular appointments, helping applicants stay compliant even as requirements tighten.
The letter urges the Commission to develop screening mechanisms that identify Russian soldiers and veterans and—if necessary—suspend short-stay visa issuance altogether. Finland’s support is unsurprising: Helsinki closed its eastern land border to non-essential traffic in December 2023 after accusing Russia of “instrumentalising migration” and, earlier this month, began refusing all non-biometric Russian passports. Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the latest initiative “complements national measures by seeking an EU-wide standard that prevents visa-shopping and closes loopholes.” Tourism operators in Lapland and the south-east fear further restrictions will depress visitor numbers, but business associations largely back the move, noting that Russian tourist spending accounted for less than 2 % of Finland’s total travel receipts in 2025. Travel-management companies meanwhile warn that legitimate business travellers might be caught in a broader freeze, urging the EU to include clear humanitarian and corporate-sponsorship exemptions. The Commission is expected to reply before the Justice-and-Home-Affairs Council in October. Even if no immediate regulation follows, mobility managers should anticipate tighter security interviews and longer appointment lead-times for Russian nationals at Finnish and other Schengen consulates.
Amid the uncertainty such changes create, travellers and companies can simplify their planning by using VisaHQ’s services, which provide up-to-date guidance on Finnish and wider Schengen visa rules (https://www.visahq.com/finland/). The platform monitors new EU restrictions, pre-screens documents and arranges consular appointments, helping applicants stay compliant even as requirements tighten.
The letter urges the Commission to develop screening mechanisms that identify Russian soldiers and veterans and—if necessary—suspend short-stay visa issuance altogether. Finland’s support is unsurprising: Helsinki closed its eastern land border to non-essential traffic in December 2023 after accusing Russia of “instrumentalising migration” and, earlier this month, began refusing all non-biometric Russian passports. Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the latest initiative “complements national measures by seeking an EU-wide standard that prevents visa-shopping and closes loopholes.” Tourism operators in Lapland and the south-east fear further restrictions will depress visitor numbers, but business associations largely back the move, noting that Russian tourist spending accounted for less than 2 % of Finland’s total travel receipts in 2025. Travel-management companies meanwhile warn that legitimate business travellers might be caught in a broader freeze, urging the EU to include clear humanitarian and corporate-sponsorship exemptions. The Commission is expected to reply before the Justice-and-Home-Affairs Council in October. Even if no immediate regulation follows, mobility managers should anticipate tighter security interviews and longer appointment lead-times for Russian nationals at Finnish and other Schengen consulates.
