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EU officials discussed a German proposal to issue Russian citizens limited-territorial-validity visas for nonessential travel, according to reporting by Meduza, which cited the outlet Rapporteur. Such visas would restrict travel to the country or countries named on the visa, but the proposal’s criteria, scale and prospects are not known, and it has drawn criticism from Ireland.
Germany has proposed that Russian citizens traveling for nonessential reasons, including tourism, receive Schengen visas valid only for specific countries, rather than for travel throughout the zone, according to Meduza’s report of a proposal by the news outlet Rapporteur. EU officials discussed the idea at a visa policy working group meeting in Brussels on October 14; it is not clear whether the measure will be adopted.
The proposal would use limited territorial validity (LTV) visas. Unlike a standard Schengen visa, an LTV visa names the country or countries its holder may visit. A traveler with a visa valid only for Italy, for example, would not be allowed to travel to neighboring Switzerland, and the restrictions would also apply to transit through other Schengen countries, according to the report.
Meduza said Germany put forward the measure, citing a document reviewed by Rapporteur’s correspondent. The document is not publicly available. Ireland has criticized the proposal within the EU, but the report does not give further details of its objections. It also does not establish how many Russian travelers could be affected or what conditions consulates might use to issue the restricted visas.
LTV visas are not new, and Russian citizens have received them for years. The report, citing figures it provided, says 12,000 Russians received LTV visas in 2025. It also cites the human rights organization The Ark, which says such visas are most often issued to people holding Russia’s five-year, nonbiometric passports; 15 Schengen countries have stopped recognizing those passports.
How Restricted Visas Could Affect Travel
If adopted, the proposal could make travel more difficult for Russian visitors who currently rely on a Schengen visa to visit multiple participating countries during one trip. The key change would not simply be whether a visa is granted: it could also restrict where a traveler may go after entry. People would need to follow the countries listed on the visa, including when arranging transit.
The proposal also sits between calls for tighter restrictions and opposition to a broad halt on tourist visas. It may offer a more limited option than a complete ban, but the report provides no evidence that the measure has been approved or that it would meet its stated security aims. The impact on travelers and on EU policy will depend on rules that have not been disclosed.
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EU Pressure for Tighter Visa Rules
The discussion comes amid wider debate over restrictions on Russian travelers. According to the source report, the European Commission proposed in January 2026 developing visa restrictions for citizens of countries involved in what it called “hostile activities against the EU.” The Commission’s work could include changes to the EU Visa Code, although the report does not describe a specific adopted change arising from that proposal.
Several European countries have called for tougher measures. On October 11, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo proposed stopping tourist visas for Russians, according to Meduza. Germany’s reported LTV proposal would be narrower in form: instead of stopping visas altogether, it would limit travel for some visa holders. The available account does not provide the full text of Germany’s proposal or a complete record of member states’ positions.
The security rationale for stricter rules has been linked by the European Commission to concerns including espionage, property damage and sabotage, the report says. But the Ark’s founder, lawyer Anastasia Burakova, disputed whether tourist visa restrictions would improve security. Her assessment is an attributed opinion, not a finding established by the reported discussion.
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Proposal Details Remain Unpublished
The source report says the document describing Germany’s proposal is not public. It is therefore not possible to confirm who would qualify, how widely LTV visas might be issued, which destinations could be listed, or whether the plan would be part of a broader EU measure. The available material also does not say what legal or political steps would be required before the proposal could take effect.
It is also unclear whether the plan would introduce new enforcement arrangements. Burakova told Meduza that LTV visas could be issued through the existing system without major new infrastructure, but that is her assessment; no implementation plan or official cost estimate is included in the report. The possibility and timing of adoption remain unknown.
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EU Review and Implementation Questions
The immediate next step is further consideration within EU visa-policy discussions. The October 14 meeting was a discussion, not confirmation that the proposal had been approved. EU officials have not, in the material cited by Meduza, announced a timetable, final decision or public set of eligibility rules.
Any assessment of the proposal’s practical effect will depend on the document’s contents and on whether EU governments support it. Readers should watch for an official release or further reporting that clarifies the proposed visa categories, the countries covered, enforcement arrangements and the relationship between this plan and other efforts to tighten visa rules for Russian citizens.
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Key Questions
Has the EU approved Germany’s proposal?
No approval is reported. EU officials discussed the proposal on October 14; the available account does not say that they adopted it.
What would an LTV Schengen visa allow?
It would allow travel only to the country or countries named on the visa. According to the report, holders could not visit or transit through other Schengen countries unless those destinations were included.
How many Russian citizens received LTV visas recently?
The report says 12,000 Russian citizens received LTV visas in 2025. That is a reported count; the material does not provide a comparison baseline or explain how many were issued for tourism.
What is still unknown about the proposal?
The proposal document is not public, so its eligibility criteria, expected number of visas, covered destinations, enforcement plan and chances of adoption remain unclear.
Source: rss
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