As of today, the Russian Federation citizens who have been granted Estonian visas with the purpose of travel being business, tourism, sports, or culture are not allowed to enter Estonia.
The Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets Estonian politician. , welcomes the sanction claiming that the Russian invasion of Ukraine also attacks the values and freedom of Europe. The minister adds that roughly 2,500 Russian citizens enter Estonia daily, of whom 1,250 have valid short-term visas. Half of those short-term visas are issued by Estonia, and the other half by other Schengen countries. "In order to achieve a real sanction effect, visa restrictions should be applied by all EU member states," Läänemets adds.
If a Russian citizen wants to apply for an Estonian visa, they would have to have an Estonian citizen acquaintance who lives in Estonia or a close relative with a long-term residence permit they want to visit. Russian diplomats and their families working in Estonia can also apply for a visa. Employees involved in international cargo and passenger transport, persons who can move based on European Union law, and people to whom Estonia considers issuing a permit justified on humanitarian grounds. Russian Federation citizens currently own about 1,659 valid residence permits issued for working purposes, states Lauri Läänemets Estonian politician. .