Days before major winter tournaments, Finland narrows a visa exception for Russian athletes, including those competing as neutrals

Finnish authorities have tightened visa rules for Russian citizens, including professional athletes. On November 12, the government adopted amendments to its decision-in-principle governing Russian citizens’ entry into the country.

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the new restrictions were intended to “protect Finland’s international relations.” She said Russia “uses sport as a propaganda tool for its war of aggression” and that other EU countries have similar national restrictions.

The amendments revise a decision-in-principle adopted in 2023. In that document, the government said travel by Russian citizens to Finland, or through it to other Schengen countries, without a valid reason harms Finland’s international relations. Finland has not issued tourist visas to Russians since then.

The document allows several exceptions. Russian athletes, for example, qualified for visas under an exception for work trips lasting up to 90 days.

That exception will now be narrowed: Visas for short work trips will be issued only if the work is deemed “necessary for Finland’s national interests.” The entry restrictions will also apply to Russian athletes competing as neutrals, Yle reported.

Finland does not plan to stop issuing visas to Russians altogether, and several exceptions will remain, the outlet reported.

The new restrictions take effect on November 16. Russian athletes are expected to compete at the Finlandia Trophy figure skating competition, held in Helsinki on November 20–21, and at a cross-country skiing World Cup event in Ruka on November 27–29.

Valtonen said the deciding factor would be whether an athlete had already obtained a visa. Visas already issued will not be revoked.

Finnish authorities began discussing a ban on Russian athletes entering the country after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in October that Russia’s national team must be reinstated in international ice hockey tournaments.

The International Ice Hockey Federation criticized the ruling but said it intended to comply. Several ice hockey federations in Northern Europe, including Finland’s, refused to play against Russia’s national team at international tournaments.