Moscow/Brussels – Russian multi-entry Schengen visa issuance plummeted by 90% in the first quarter of 2026, official data revealed today. The sharp decline, affecting long-term travel permissions across the 27-nation bloc, underscores escalating tensions between Russia and the European Union amid ongoing geopolitical strains.

European diplomats attribute the drop to tightened restrictions implemented since 2022, including Latvia's outright ban on Russian tourist entries and broader Schengen policies limiting multi-entry visas for Russian citizens.en.wikipedia.org While single-entry short-stay visas remain available under strict conditions, multi-entry approvals—valid up to five years—have nearly vanished, with French-issued ones no longer granting access to overseas territories like Saint Barthélemy or Réunion without separate approvals. Experts link this to administrative bottlenecks and heightened security reviews, mirroring trends in visa rejection rates that have surged across the region.www.foreigndekho.comwww.oecd.org

The policy shift curtails Russian mobility, confining visa-free access to just 113 countries and ranking the Russian passport 45th globally per the Henley Index. As EU leaders weigh further measures in Q1 2026, Russian travelers face prolonged uncertainty, prompting a surge in alternative routes via Eurasian Economic Union partners.