On November 12, 2026, the Finnish government adopted amendments to its fundamental decision regarding the entry of Russian citizens, significantly tightening visa issuance rules. The changes will primarily affect professional athletes: short-term work visas will now only be issued if the work is deemed «necessary from the standpoint of Finland's national interests». The new restrictions will take effect on November 16 and, according to Yle, will also apply to Russian athletes competing under a neutral status.
What Has Changed in Visa Rules
The changes refer to amendments to a document adopted in 2023, in which the government stated that travel by Russian citizens to or through Finland to other Schengen countries without a valid reason harms the country's international relations. Since then, Helsinki has not issued visas to Russian tourists; however, an exception remained for athletes: the opportunity to obtain a visa for a work trip lasting up to 90 days. This opportunity has now been significantly narrowed, while maintaining a number of other exceptions and not completely halting visa issuance to Russians.
Helsinki's Position
Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen stated that the new restrictions are being introduced to «protect Finland's international relations». According to her, Russia «uses sports as an instrument to propagate its aggressive war», and similar national restrictions, she claimed, are also in effect in other EU countries. Valtonen noted that the deciding factor for any specific athlete will be whether they managed to obtain a visa before the amendments took effect: visas already issued will not be revoked.
Sports Arbitration and the Hockey Trigger
According to sources, Finnish authorities began discussing a ban on the entry of Russian athletes after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in October to reinstate the Russian national team in international hockey tournaments. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) criticized the decision but stated its intention to comply with it. Several Nordic sports federations, including the Finnish one, refused to play against the Russian team in international competitions.
Upcoming Tournaments and Deadlines
The practical effect of the amendments will be visible in the coming days: Helsinki will host the Finlandia Trophy figure skating tournament on November 20–21, and a Cross-Country Skiing World Cup stage will take place in Ruka on November 27–29. Russian athletes scheduled to perform in these competitions must manage to obtain a visa before November 16, as short-term work visas after this date will be issued strictly according to national interest criteria. Thus, Helsinki's decision links visa policy with the specific sports calendar and calls into question the participation of Russian athletes in upcoming events in the country.
