EU Agrees on Strengthened Rules for Suspending Visa-Free Travel
Jun 20, 2025
Category: Border and Security Border Security Schengen Visa
On 17 June 2025, the European Union (EU) Council and the European Parliament agreed to tighten rules for suspending visa-free travel for third-country citizens.
The visa-free travel suspension mechanism was first introduced in 2013. The Council first submitted a draft of the new rules in March 2024.
The updated policy aims to better protect the EU’s borders and ensure that visa-free access is not abused.
The reform broadens the grounds for visa-free travel suspension, giving the EU more power to act swiftly in these cases.
This is especially crucial if a country’s visa-free regime poses risks related to security, migration, or human rights.
“Visa-free travel to the EU benefits foreign citizens and the EU alike,” Radosław Sikorski, Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.
He added, “If citizens of third countries abuse this advantage, the EU must have all necessary tools in place to correct the situation.”
This reform is part of a broader EU effort to modernize its migration and border management.
It works in conjunction with the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and the updated Schengen Border Code rules.
Why the EU made the change
Magnus Brunner, EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, stated in a press release that the EU’s visa policy is crucial for preserving the integrity of the Schengen area.
This makes the case for a stronger visa-free travel suspension mechanism necessary.
The Council of the European Union said the reform aims to enhance the bloc’s capacity to combat visa-free travel abuse and respond more effectively to related challenges.
The EU currently permits visa-free short-term travel to the Schengen Area for citizens from 61 countries.
Travelers with passports issued by these countries can visit the EU for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without needing a visa.
Under the new rules, the EU can suspend the visa-free travel privilege more quickly and for longer periods.
It also enables the EU to take action not only in response to current issues but also proactively, if trends indicate potential problems.
The move aims to ensure that the EU can manage access to visa-free travel more responsibly.
EU Member States had raised concerns about issues that could be exploited to bypass EU border controls.
This includes irregular migration, security threats, and countries offering “golden passports” or citizenship in exchange for investment.
Visa-free travel is crucial for the EU’s external relations. Still, the updated policy emphasizes striking a balance between openness and oversight.
New rules for suspending visa-free travel
The revised rules allow the EU to suspend visa-free travel for third-country nationals under specific conditions.
These include:
- Security or Public Order Threats: If a third country becomes a source of serious security or public order concerns.
- Increased Irregular Migration: If there is a sudden increase in irregular stays, people overstaying their allowed stay or being denied entry, as well as asylum claims from nationals of a third country.
- Investor Citizenship Programs: Where countries grant citizenship to individuals without requiring a real connection to the country, which can pose “security and public policy risks.”
- Hybrid Threats: If a third country uses irregular migration as a form of political pressure.
- Human Rights Deterioration: If there’s a severe and persistent decline in fundamental rights and freedoms.
- Visa Policy Misalignment: If a country allows visa-free entry to nationals of countries that require visas to enter the EU, or if its visa rules are not aligned with the EU’s visa system.
One of the most significant changes is the enhanced speed and flexibility of the suspension process.
On these revised grounds, the European Commission can act faster to suspend visa-free access temporarily for up to nine months.
If problems persist, the Council may extend the suspension up to 18 months or impose it permanently.
The updated mechanism now also features an automatic trigger. If a country is suspended twice within five years, a third qualifying incident will automatically reactivate the suspension procedure.
The European Parliament also secured a stronger oversight role in the final agreement.
“The revised mechanism includes more democratic oversight, particularly by strengthening the role of the Parliament,” Matjaž Nemec, Member of the European Parliament and lead negotiator on the issue, said in a news release.
Potentially affected countries
Countries that benefit from visa-free travel must now ensure their policies are in line with EU expectations.
The EU has previously warned about misalignments, such as allowing visa-free access to countries that are considered high-risk.
These situations could facilitate the indirect entry of migrants into the EU, thereby increasing security and migration pressures.
Countries that may be affected include EU candidate countries, such as Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, which are part of the Eastern Partnership.
It may impact Western Balkan countries like Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the EU has seen an increase in irregular migration and asylum claims.
Latin American and Caribbean countries, such as Dominica and Saint Kitts and Nevis, with investor citizenship programs, could also be affected.
While the rules strengthen the EU’s ability to control its borders, they also come with oversight.
The European Parliament stressed that the use of the visa-free travel suspension mechanism must be proportionate and transparent.
It should not be a tool for arbitrarily punishing other countries, but to uphold the integrity of the EU’s travel system.
To maintain balance, the agreement includes reviews and reporting obligations to monitor visa-free travel suspensions.
The rules also allow for the reinstatement of visa-free travel privileges depending on a country’s compliance.
The future of the EU’s visa-free travel system
This reform marks a significant step in ensuring that visa-free travel to the EU remains secure and properly regulated.
While the EU continues to value open travel arrangements, the new rules offer enhanced security, better migration control, and policy alignment.
The provisional agreement now awaits formal adoption by both the European Parliament and the Council.
Once approved, the new regulations will be published in the EU’s Official Journal and will take effect 20 days later.
The European Commission will continue to monitor and regularly assess all visa-free third countries, reporting annually on its findings.
The EU will assess visa-free travel suspension cases individually, based on data and consultations with EU Member States.