Estonia has tightened its visa regulations for people from Russia and restricted their entry. As of this Thursday, Russian citizens will no longer be able to enter the Baltic country from the EU and NATO with a Schengen visa issued by Estonia. According to an Interior Ministry spokesperson in Tallinn, additional visa controls must take place at the three border crossings into Russia at Narva, Luhamaa and Koidula.
In response to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, Estonia had already largely suspended the issuance of visas and residence permits for Russians. With a valid visa, however, it was still possible to enter the Schengen area via the Estonian border by bus or car. This is no longer possible in the future. However, some exceptions apply, for example, to Russians who are resident, have the right to remain or have relatives in Estonia.
exceptions
Russian citizens with visas issued by other EU members, which apply to the entire Schengen area with its 26 European countries, can also enter the country. Along with its neighboring countries Finland and Latvia, which also border Russia, Estonia is therefore campaigning for a fundamental ban on tourist visas. Germany and the EU Commission in Brussels reject this.
According to Estonian border and law enforcement authorities, around 2,500 Russian citizens crossed the border into Estonia every day – nearly half of them on tourist visas. These were issued to the same extent by Estonia and other Schengen countries, said a spokesperson for the German Press Agency in Tallinn.