EU commissioner raises concerns over Hungary's new visa rules

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson on Thursday has raised concerns about a new Hungarian visa rule for foreign workers from Russia and Belarus.

It must be ensured that "Russian nationals who could pose espionage or other security threats face the highest level of scrutiny," Johansson wrote in a letter to the Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pintér, which she shared on social media platform X.

Johansson wrote that the scheme threatens to undermine the protection of Europe's passport-free Schengen travel area and called on the Hungarian government to explain itself.

Hungary has previously operated a special visa regime for foreign workers from Ukraine and Serbia. Budapest expanded the rules in July to eight countries, including visitors from Russia and Belarus.

According to the visa regulations, foreign workers may stay for two years and then have their stay extended for three years at a time - for as often as they wish.

Foreign workers may also work in any profession. However, in order to benefit from the regulation, they must prove that they have a job, accommodation and health insurance in Hungary.

The regulations have sparked outrage in the EU in recent days. European People's Party's (EPP) Chairman Manfred Weber warned European Council President Charles Michel in a letter that the visa liberalization move could pose a "serious risk" to EU security.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government is viewed as close to Russia by other EU member states.

Orbán came under fierce criticism from other EU countries for recent visits to Kiev, Moscow and Beijing on a self-proclaimed "peace mission" to end the Ukraine war.