France is officially tightening visa issuance for Russian citizens, joining a number of other European countries that have recently introduced similar measures.
France has become the fourth European Union country—after Italy, Spain, and Hungary—to significantly tighten visa rules for Russian nationals in recent days. According to official data from the Russian Association of Tour Operators, from July 15 the French visa centre in Moscow will completely stop accepting applications for Schengen visas submitted under a notarized power of attorney, reports Atorus.
Under the new stricter rules, applications can now only be submitted by the applicant in person, by parents or legal guardians acting on behalf of minors under 18, or by close relatives, including spouses, children, and parents.
When applications are submitted by relatives, visa centres will require original documents confirming close family ties. At the same time, applicants must have provided biometric data within the past 59 months before applying for a French visa. The completed visa application form must now be signed personally by the applicant, and biometric data collection remains mandatory for all applicants over the age of 12.
This decision by Paris to tighten visa procedures comes amid a broader crisis in travel documentation processing for Russian citizens.
