Since 12 September 2022, the European Council Decision 2022/1500 of 9 September 2022 suspended the implementation between the EU and Russia of their agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the EU and the Russian Federation.
The same decision also repealed Council Decision (EU) 2022/333 of 25 February on the partial suspension of the implementation of the same agreement. This agreement, in short, allowed privileged access to the EU.
The full suspension of the agreement meant the end of the benefits in terms of issuing visas between the two parties. Consequently, from 12 September, Russian citizens wanting a visa to travel to the EU should follow the general procedure contained in Regulation (EC) No. 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).
Among the new changes are:
- An increase in the application fee from 35 to 80 euros.
- Submission of additional documentation.
- Increased processing times.
- More restrictive rules for the issuance of multiple-entry visas.
These new “restrictions” apply to travellers wishing to travel to the EU for a short-term stay.
Moreover, the Commission is expected to present additional guidelines to ensure that this suspension does not adversely affect certain persons for whom it is essential to travel to the EU such as journalists, Russian dissidents or representatives of civil society.
The only exceptions will then be visas for dissidents, humanitarian cases, family members, residence permit holders, carriers, diplomats, and travellers in transit to and from Kaliningrad (Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea).
Apart from the new EU rules, several member states, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, have decided to go still further restricting the entry of Russian citizens holders of visas for the Schengen area for tourism, cultural, sporting and commercial purposes.
Prepared by: International Departament
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