Germany says it hasn’t changed student visa rules for Russians after rejecting applicant over ‘security concerns’
The German embassy in Moscow said Germany continues to issue student visas to Russian citizens, with each application reviewed on an individual basis. The embassy was responding to the case of a Higher School of Economics (HSE) student who was denied a study visa over “security concerns.”
The German embassy in Moscow has stated that it has not altered its student visa policies for Russian citizens, despite the rejection of a visa application for a Russian student at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) who was denied entry due to "security concerns". The embassy clarified that each visa application is individually assessed in accordance with established procedures and legal rules governing foreign national presence in Germany.
A recent rejection of a visa for a HSE University design graduate who had been admitted to a German art university was cited as an example. The embassy asserted that such individuals could misuse their knowledge for purposes potentially harmful to national security. In September 2026, Germany had accused Russia of plotting sabotage at Leipzig Airport, leading to calls for stricter controls on Russian citizen entry.
The German Foreign Ministry expressed a desire to reduce the number of visas issued to ensure that only individuals posing no threat to national security are granted entry. The specific methods for implementing these controls have not been detailed by German officials.
Written by urgent.news from Meduza (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
