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EU officials discussed a German proposal to issue Russians traveling for tourism limited-territorial-validity visas, which restrict travel to the countries listed on the visa. The proposal is not a confirmed EU policy: its document is not public, Ireland has criticized it, and the criteria and possible scale remain unknown.
EU officials discussed a German proposal to restrict where some Russian citizens can travel on a Schengen visa, according to a report by Meduza citing the outlet Rapporteur. The proposal, considered by the Council of the EU’s visa policy working group on October 14, would use limited-territorial-validity visas for Russians traveling for tourism. It is not an adopted EU rule, and the proposal’s details have not been made public.
Limited-territorial-validity, or LTV, visas do not grant travel throughout the Schengen area. They permit entry only to the country or countries named on the visa sticker. The proposal would apply this type of visa to Russian citizens traveling for what officials describe as nonessential purposes, including tourism. Meduza reported that Rapporteur cited a document reviewed by its correspondent; that document is not publicly available.
The proposal has already drawn criticism within the EU. Meduza reported that Ireland objected, though the source material does not provide the Irish government’s full response or explain its grounds. It is not known how many applicants might receive LTV visas under the proposal, how eligibility would be decided, or whether the measure would be adopted at all.
LTV visas are not new, and Russian citizens have received them for years. Meduza reported that 12,000 Russians received LTV visas in 2025. The human rights organization The Ark says these visas are most commonly issued to holders of Russia’s five-year nonbiometric international passports, after 15 Schengen countries stopped recognizing those passports. That existing practice is separate from the German proposal.
Limits on Travel Within Schengen
If adopted, the proposal could make a Schengen tourist visa less useful for Russian travelers by restricting them to the specific participating countries named on the visa. Under existing LTV rules, traveling to an unlisted Schengen country, including in transit, is not permitted. A traveler with a visa limited to Italy, for example, could not use it to visit Switzerland.
The debate also reflects a wider disagreement among European governments over how to respond to security concerns while keeping some form of tourist travel available. The Ark founder and lawyer Anastasia Burakova told Meduza that limited visas could be acceptable to countries opposed to a complete tourism ban. That is her assessment of the proposal’s political role, not an official EU explanation of the measure.
For travelers, the practical consequences would depend on details that have not been disclosed: which countries would issue the visas, what destinations could be listed, and how applications would be handled. The reported proposal should not be treated as an immediate change to current visa rules.
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A Wider EU Visa Debate
The discussion comes amid broader calls for tighter visa policy. According to Meduza, in January 2026 the European Commission proposed developing restrictions for citizens of countries engaged in what it called “hostile activities against the EU.” The commission’s work could include amendments to the EU Visa Code, though the source material does not say that such changes have been adopted.
Security has been given as a reason for considering tougher rules. The commission had previously promised to tighten visa rules for Russians following a request from a group of Schengen countries, citing concerns including espionage, property damage and sabotage. On October 11, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo proposed a complete halt to tourist visas for Russians, according to the report. Germany’s reported approach would be narrower than a blanket ban, if it were put into effect.
Burakova disputed the security case for limiting tourist visas. She told Meduza that the measure was intended to reassure people in countries under greater pressure but would not improve security. The Ark also argued that sabotage has been carried out by EU citizens, people whose passports allow visa-free entry, and Russians who moved to the EU before February 2022 and later obtained residence permits. These are the organization’s claims and analysis, not findings established by the reported proposal.
Proposal Details Remain Unpublished
The reported document is not public, so key elements remain unknown: which travelers would be affected, what criteria would apply, how many visas might be limited, and which destinations could be listed. The source material also does not establish whether the discussion produced a formal decision or what further steps member states would need to take.
It is also unclear how the proposal would be enforced in practice or whether existing visa systems could handle wider use of LTV visas without additional resources. Burakova told Meduza that large-scale issuance could be managed under the current system, but that is her view; no public administrative assessment is provided in the report. The reported proposal does not itself establish new rules or a start date.
EU Review and Policy Decisions
The next step is for EU governments and relevant institutions to decide whether the idea proceeds beyond discussion. Until a formal decision and public guidance are issued, travelers should distinguish the reported German proposal from current visa requirements. Any adopted measure would need to clarify its scope, eligibility, participating countries and effective date.
Further reporting may also reveal the contents of the document cited by Rapporteur and the position of Ireland and other governments. For now, no timetable for a decision is available, and it remains possible that the proposal will be revised, rejected or not implemented.
Key Questions
Has Germany’s proposal become an EU rule?
No. The report says officials discussed the proposal on October 14. It does not report an adopted rule, and the proposal’s details are not public.
What does a limited-territorial-validity Schengen visa allow?
An LTV visa permits travel only to the country or countries specified on the visa. Under the rules described by Meduza, holders cannot visit or transit through other Schengen countries.
How many Russians received LTV visas in 2025?
Meduza reported that 12,000 Russian citizens received LTV visas in 2025. That figure describes visas issued that year; it does not show how many would be affected by Germany’s proposal.
Why are European officials discussing tighter visa rules?
The European Commission has cited security concerns, including espionage, property damage and sabotage. The Ark’s founder, Anastasia Burakova, disputes that restricting tourist visas would improve security.
When could any new restriction take effect?
No start date has been reported. The proposal’s status, timetable, criteria and possible scope remain unclear.
Source: rss
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