The Government of Finland on Thursday, November 12, decided to tighten restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens. The new rules will primarily affect professional athletes and Russians coming to the country for short-term work.
This is reported on the official website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
The new restrictions will begin to apply from November 16, 2026. From that date, Finnish authorities will take the decision into account when considering visa applications, checking grounds for entry and assessing the lawfulness of short-term stays of foreigners.
The government stated that the entry of Russian citizens into Finland for non-essential purposes, including short-term work on a visa, poses a threat to the country's international relations.
According to the EU Visa Code and the Schengen Borders Code, a visa or entry permit may be refused if the applicant poses a threat to the international relations of one of the Schengen states.
The new restrictions pay special attention to Russian athletes and other sports industry professionals. The prohibitive measures also apply to athletes competing in international competitions under neutral status, without Russian state symbols.
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen stated that Russian athletes have no place in the country as long as Russia continues its war against Ukraine.
“As long as Russia's war of aggression continues, Russian athletes have no business in Finland. Their entry would threaten Finland's international relations. The same applies to other short-term work on a visa that is not necessary for Finland's national interests,” — the minister emphasized.
The decision does not provide for a complete ban on any labour activity by Russian citizens in Finland.
In the future, Russians will be allowed to work on Schengen visas only in cases where the tasks performed are necessary for the country's national interests. As an example, the government cites activities related to ensuring security of supply and the functioning of critical systems.
The restrictions will apply regardless of which country a Russian citizen arrives in Finland from. They also apply to cases of transit through Finnish territory to other Schengen states.
Having a Schengen visa issued by another EU country does not guarantee the possibility of staying in Finland. If the grounds for entry or stay in the country conflict with Finnish restrictions, the foreigner may be refused entry or have their stay terminated in accordance with migration legislation.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finland's diplomatic missions will be responsible for applying the new rules when issuing visas. Checks directly at the border are assigned to the Border Guard, and compliance with the conditions of short-term stay will also be checked by police officers.
The Finnish government explains the tightening of policy by the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine. The country's authorities believe that Russia uses international sport as a tool of propaganda and promotion of the goals of the war.
The new decision supplements the restrictions on the entry of Russians approved by the Finnish government on July 6, 2023. Thus, Helsinki is expanding its current measures, primarily reducing opportunities for entry for short-term work and participation in sports events.
