Slovakia Suspended Schengen Visa Issuance for Russians

The Slovak visa center in Russia has temporarily stopped accepting Schengen visa applications for most travel purposes. In July and August 2026, documents from Russian citizens will only be accepted for sports-related trips.

What visas does Slovakia issue?

The visa center explained that the temporary interruption is caused by technical reasons and recommended applicants follow further updates. Priority is given to applications for national category D visas for studies, family reunification and participation in special events.

Applications for category C Schengen visas for “Sport” purposes are also still accepted. At the same time, the processing period for applications has been extended and may take up to 30 days. Applicants are advised to plan their trips in advance and submit documents well ahead of time.

Russian citizens who have already booked appointments to submit documents for tourist, business or private visits will have their scheduled dates cancelled, TASS reports citing ATOR data. The paid service fee will be refunded in full. The funds will be automatically transferred to the bank card used for payment. The refund period will take from 7 to 15 days.

The Slovak visa center also emphasizes that Slovakia does not recognize passports issued by the Russian Federation to residents of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions if their holders were not Russian citizens before April 24, 2019.

Schengen visas for Russians in other countries

ATOR notes that the temporary suspension of visa issuance has not caused significant demand among tourists. Slovakia has traditionally not been among the most popular Schengen countries for Russian travelers.

In 2025, Slovakia issued 1,149 tourist visas to Russian citizens, of which 46% were multiple-entry visas. For comparison, during the same period Italy issued more than 161,000 visas, France more than 156,000, and Greece around 59,000.

At the same time, the decision follows the broader European trend toward stricter visa rules. Hungary had previously suspended document submissions at visa centers in Kazan, Samara and Ufa. The processing period for Italian visas may exceed 60 days. Spain increased application processing times to 45 days due to a rise in the number of applications.

The French visa center in Moscow stopped accepting Schengen visa applications by proxy from July 15, 2026. Applications can now only be submitted by the applicant personally, spouses or close relatives, provided they have supporting documents.

At the same time, EU countries issued around 620,000 visas to Russian citizens in 2025, which was 10.2% more than in 2024.

New rules for Russians in Europe

The EU continues discussions on possible restrictions on issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens. In early June 2026, 11 EU countries called for stricter entry rules for Russian travelers. There have also been proposals to completely ban Schengen visas for Russian citizens.

Estonia has already banned entry for Russians who participated in military operations on the territory of Ukraine. Representatives of many other countries are also leaning toward this approach, but they have not yet determined a mechanism for identifying such tourists.

The European Commission has not confirmed preparations for a complete ban. Brussels has stated that it is considering measures targeting certain categories of individuals linked to security threats.

Experts note that the most likely scenario is not a complete ban, but a gradual tightening of administrative requirements: longer processing times, additional checks and restrictions on the operation of some visa centers.

Tourists advised to plan trips in advance

According to tourism market experts, obtaining a Schengen visa for Russians is becoming more complicated and requires more time.

Mikhail Abasov, a representative of the Russian Union of Travel Industry, noted that trips to Schengen countries now need to be planned in advance, taking into account possible delays and changes in document submission rules.

Yegor Kail, an expert from the Visantium visa agency, also pointed to the continuing risk of further tightening. Tourists are advised to submit documents early, prepare a complete application package and consider that processing times may change even after an application has been submitted.

International Investment analysts note that tourism flows from Russia have already changed. Europe remains a niche destination with many challenges, including logistical and other difficulties. As a result, many Russian citizens prefer visa-free destinations, including Turkey, Georgia and several other countries.