EU begins work on visa restrictions for Russian war participants

September 29, 2026 at 09:58 PM2 min

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The European Union has begun work on practical application of visa restrictions against Russian participants in the war against Ukraine, including former ones, a senior EU official said on Tuesday, September 29, in Brussels. The legal basis was laid in the 21st sanctions package, but member states concluded that the implementation mechanism needed further elaboration. The European Commission is to prepare recommendations on how to apply the restrictions.

Key Facts

The legal basis for visa restrictions on Russian war participants was laid in the EU's 21st sanctions package against Russia.
The European Commission is to prepare recommendations on how to apply the visa restrictions for war participants.
The EU is separately discussing broader restrictions on tourist and short-term visas for Russian citizens, with a proposal to revise the Visa Code expected in early 2027.
Since October 2025, Russian diplomats traveling outside their country of accreditation must notify the destination country in advance.

Visa Restrictions for War Participants

A senior EU official announced at a briefing in Brussels on September 29 that work has begun on the practical application of visa restrictions against Russian participants in the war against Ukraine, including former ones. The legal basis for these restrictions was established in the 21st sanctions package against Russia. During negotiations, EU member states concluded that the implementation mechanism required further elaboration. The European Commission is to prepare recommendations on how to apply the restrictions, which are considered under the EU sanctions regime requiring unanimous decisions.

Broader Visa Restrictions for Russians

The EU is separately discussing broader restrictions on issuing tourist and short-term visas to Russian citizens. This initiative is not directly linked to the sanctions mechanism for war participants. The EU is considering legislative changes that would allow restricting visas for entire categories of applicants, such as citizens of a particular country or persons making non-essential trips. Under the current EU Visa Code, each application must generally be considered individually. The European Commission is expected to present a proposal to revise the Visa Code in early 2027, which would require agreement from the European Parliament and the EU Council, with the Council deciding by qualified majority.

Diplomatic Movement Restrictions

Since October 2025, a Russian diplomat traveling outside their country of accreditation to another EU country must notify the destination country in advance. The destination country may also require prior permission for entry if the diplomat uses a visa or residence permit issued by another EU state. The EU representative did not specify what additional measures are currently being proposed.