In 2024, the total number of Schengen visas granted to Russian nationals surpassed 565,000, marking a 25% increase compared to 2023 figures. Of these visas, approximately 90% were issued for tourism purposes. Italy received the most visa applications and granted the most visas to Russians in 2023, with over 134,000 positive decisions. Despite these increases, stringent sanctions on Russian nationals persist, and security concerns remain high. At the Council of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the European Union meeting in Brussels, Latvia's Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis publicly called on EU member states to stop issuing visas to Russian citizens, citing the hybrid war context and risks to EU internal security. Latvia, alongside Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Czechia, has already ceased issuing Schengen tourist visas to Russians. The situation reflects tensions between maintaining visa policies and addressing security risks amid ongoing conflicts involving Russia.

In 2024, the total number of Schengen visas granted to Russian nationals surpassed 565,000, marking a 25% increase compared to 2023 figures. Of these visas, approximately 90% were issued for tourism purposes. Italy received the most visa applications and granted the most visas to Russians in 2023, with over 134,000 positive decisions. Despite these increases, stringent sanctions on Russian nationals persist, and security concerns remain high. At the Council of Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the European Union meeting in Brussels, Latvia's Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis publicly called on EU member states to stop issuing visas to Russian citizens, citing the hybrid war context and risks to EU internal security. Latvia, alongside Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Czechia, has already ceased issuing Schengen tourist visas to Russians. The situation reflects tensions between maintaining visa policies and addressing security risks amid ongoing conflicts involving Russia.