France Issues 173,000 Visas to Russians Despite Tightening Schengen Passport Rules

173,000 Russian Visas: Why France Is Still Letting Russians In

Four more Schengen states will stop accepting Russian non-biometric passports as of October 1, 2026. For anyone routing through Europe en route to or from Russia, the document you carry just became a go-or-no-go variable. Arbiterz reports that France alone processed 173,000 Russian visas recently — a figure that underscores how much Schengen access still hinges on passport type and issuing state, even as the bloc narrows the door.

The October 1 Cutoff: Who, What, No Transition

Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg have confirmed they will cease recognition of Russian non-biometric travel passports effective October 1, 2026, per the European Commission announcement. Sweden is the only one offering a buffer: holders of non-biometric passports who already possess a valid Schengen visa or EU residence permit may enter through December 31, 2026. Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands have announced no such grace period. Non-biometric passports — five-year validity, lower cost, shorter processing time — are the document a significant share of Russian travelers still carry.

With these four additions, the count of European states refusing non-biometric Russian passports reaches fifteen. The roster already includes France, Germany, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

France's Contradictory Position: Refuse the Passport, Issue the Visa

France refuses to recognize non-biometric Russian passports. France also issued — per the Arbiterz report — 173,000 Russian visas. The implication: Schengen visa issuance to Russian nationals continues at volume, but entry requires a biometric passport. The two facts are not in conflict from a compliance standpoint; they are a procedural filter. Hold a valid biometric passport plus a Schengen visa, and the French corridor remains functional. Hold only a non-biometric passport, and the visa itself becomes insufficient documentation at the border.

Pre-Departure Checklist for Travelers

• Verify passport type. Biometric (ten-year validity, chip-enabled) vs. non-biometric (five-year). If you hold non-biometric, confirm whether your carrier and transit states still accept it. The list now numbers fifteen refusals.
• Check Sweden if transiting through Stockholm. The transition period runs through end of 2026, but only if you already hold a valid Schengen visa or residence permit. No visa, no exception.
• Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg: no transition. If your itinerary touches Brussels, Amsterdam, or Luxembourg City after October 1, a non-biometric passport will not clear border control.
• France and Germany remain Schengen options for visa issuance, but biometric passport is mandatory for entry.
• Renew early. Non-biometric passport holders should factor in biometric passport issuance timelines before booking any route with a Schengen layover. Processing delays compound during peak season.

Failsafe: Route Around the Schengen Gap

If biometric passport renewal cannot be completed before your travel date, reroute through non-Schengen transit points — Turkey, the UAE, or direct flights from remaining visa-friendly corridors. Do not rely on airline check-in staff to interpret the fine print on passport recognition; carry printed confirmation of your document validity for each border crossing on your itinerary.