BRUSSELS, September 30 – Novosti. The European Commission recommended that EU countries not accept applications from Russian citizens for visas submitted in third countries.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson presented updated instructions to EU countries on issuing visas to Russians and border control. These instructions do not cover the issues of applying for asylum in the EU.
“Many Russians have left the Russian Federation for neighboring countries, where they can apply to the consulates of EU states to process visa requests. In the instructions, we say that EU countries should not accept applications for Schengen visas from Russian citizens located in third countries” , she said.
Johansson clarified that “they should do it in their own country – in Russia.”
“Exceptions are visas for humanitarian or family reasons, visas for journalists. For such categories, the opportunity to apply for a visa should be preserved,” the European Commissioner said.
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