Key points
- Slovakia has halted Schengen tourist visa processing for Russian nationals through the end of August 2026
- July and August appointments are canceled, with booking fees fully refunded
- Sports-category Schengen visas and long-stay national visas continue processing
- Slovakia issued only 1,149 visas to Russians in all of 2025
What is suspended
Slovakia has halted Schengen tourist visa processing for Russian nationals through the end of August 2026. All existing July and August appointments have been canceled, with booking fees fully refunded.
Russian nationals cannot apply for short-stay tourist visas until at least September. Both BLS International and VFS Global, which operate Slovakia’s visa centers, confirmed the suspension.
What remains available
VFS Global stated the centers “will exclusively accept Schengen visa applications under the ‘Sports’ travel category, alongside national visas for all eligible long-stay purposes.” Long-stay national visas for students, workers, and family members continue to be processed, though BLS International warned turnaround times may exceed one month.
A minor destination
The Association of Tour Operators of Russia noted that Slovakia issued only 1,149 visas to Russians throughout 2025, making it a minor destination. As a result, the suspension has limited practical significance for Russian travelers overall.
Broader context
The decision reflects wider EU restrictions on Russian citizens. The bloc suspended its visa facilitation agreement with Russia in 2022 and blocked multi-entry Schengen visas the previous November. According to the reporting, EU visas issued to Russian citizens have declined “from several million per year to just hundreds of thousands.”
