An immigration bulletin issued on 13 November 2025 by Crown World Mobility confirms that the European Commission has stopped issuing multi-entry Schengen visas to the majority of Russian nationals, effective 7 November. Switzerland, as a Schengen-associated state, is obligated to implement the measure simultaneously, and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has instructed all Swiss missions abroad to adopt the new policy without transition period.
Under the rule, Russian travellers will have to apply for a fresh short-stay visa for every trip. Only close family members of EU or Swiss citizens residing in the Schengen area — spouses, dependent children and parents — and Russians already holding legal residence permits in Europe may still qualify for a one-year multiple-entry visa, provided they have used three Schengen visas within the last 24 months.
![EU Bans Multi-Entry Schengen Visas for Most Russian Citizens — Swiss Consulates to Apply Rule Immediately]()
For multinationals managing Russian assignees who transit through Zurich or Geneva, the change adds administrative friction. HR teams should build in an extra 15–20 days to secure individual-trip visas and budget roughly CHF 90 per application. Frequent-traveller programmes such as Lufthansa Group’s Corporate Value customers will not override the new cap, as visa issuance is a governmental prerogative.
Swiss business chambers have voiced concern that tighter visa cycling could dampen trade missions to Russia’s remaining open sectors (pharma, machinery, specialty chemicals). Compliance advisers, meanwhile, point out that the ban reduces reputational risk, aligning Switzerland more closely with EU sanctions and limiting opportunities for sanctioned individuals to use Swiss territory as a transit point.
Companies should audit their travel-approval workflows immediately: if Russian employees hold valid multi-entry visas issued before 7 November, those visas remain valid until expiry, but any renewal will be single-entry only. The SEM has indicated that future exemptions will be reviewed quarterly in coordination with Brussels.
Under the rule, Russian travellers will have to apply for a fresh short-stay visa for every trip. Only close family members of EU or Swiss citizens residing in the Schengen area — spouses, dependent children and parents — and Russians already holding legal residence permits in Europe may still qualify for a one-year multiple-entry visa, provided they have used three Schengen visas within the last 24 months.
For multinationals managing Russian assignees who transit through Zurich or Geneva, the change adds administrative friction. HR teams should build in an extra 15–20 days to secure individual-trip visas and budget roughly CHF 90 per application. Frequent-traveller programmes such as Lufthansa Group’s Corporate Value customers will not override the new cap, as visa issuance is a governmental prerogative.
Swiss business chambers have voiced concern that tighter visa cycling could dampen trade missions to Russia’s remaining open sectors (pharma, machinery, specialty chemicals). Compliance advisers, meanwhile, point out that the ban reduces reputational risk, aligning Switzerland more closely with EU sanctions and limiting opportunities for sanctioned individuals to use Swiss territory as a transit point.
Companies should audit their travel-approval workflows immediately: if Russian employees hold valid multi-entry visas issued before 7 November, those visas remain valid until expiry, but any renewal will be single-entry only. The SEM has indicated that future exemptions will be reviewed quarterly in coordination with Brussels.
