Most Russian tourists will not be able to enter Norway from May 29, 2024. (Photo: Thomas Nilsen/The Barents Observer)

As of next Wednesday, most Russian tourists will not be able to enter Norway, which shares a 198km border with Russia in the Arctic, the government said in a statement.

Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl said that the decision to tighten the entry rules are in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in their reactions to Russia's conflict in Ukraine.

Norway, a member of NATO but not of the EU, stopped issuing most tourist visas to Russians in spring 2022, after the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. But holders of long-term visas that had been issued earlier and those who had visas from other Schengen countries could still cross via the Storskog-Boris Gleb border crossing. From May 29, they will no longer be able to do so, the statement said.

Exceptions will be made for work and study, and those visiting close family residing in Norway.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Norway’s move is discriminatory and Russia does not accept the decision.