Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in the Nordic countries could face a more coordinated approach to visa applications following a meeting of migration ministers in Stockholm on 22–23 October. The ministers agreed to seek a common position, but announced neither a joint ban nor changes to national visa rules.
According to the Swedish government, representatives of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden discussed ways to further restrict non-essential travel by Russian nationals in response to the security situation. A joint statement issued by Sweden’s Ministry of Justice says the countries also want to identify a shared approach to visas for Russian and Belarusian competitors at international events hosted in the region.
Visa scrutiny for Russian and Belarusian athletes
The Nordic position remains to be developed. The statement does not set a timetable, common criteria for refusing visas or an immediate change in entry requirements.
The issue is particularly relevant to Sweden, which is preparing to host the 2027 Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun. On 21 October, Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell told public broadcaster SVT that the government was examining whether existing legislation could allow it to deny visas to Russian skiers.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has granted neutral status to several Russian athletes. Reuters reported that Swedish skiing and sporting organisations oppose Russian and Belarusian participation, while acknowledging that visa and entry decisions belong to the authorities. Permission to compete under international sporting rules does not itself determine whether an athlete can enter a host country.
The wider Nordic migration agenda
The Stockholm talks took place within the High-Level Nordic Cooperation on Refugee Issues (Nordisk samrådsgrupp på hög nivå i flyktingfrågor, NSHF), a forum chaired by Sweden in 2026. The meeting also covered implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, cooperation on returns and readmission, relations with non-EU countries and continued support for people displaced from Ukraine.
Ministers discussed exploring a joint Nordic return and reintegration hub in a safe third country and agreed to revisit that proposal during an EU justice and home affairs meeting in December, according to the joint statement. On athletes’ visas, the next step is still to establish what a common approach would involve and how it could be applied in practice.
