Revolut began blocking the accounts of Russians with long-term EU visas, citing the 19th package of EU sanctions. The bank requires a residence permit - “Mediazona”

Updated: Revolut has also started blocking the accounts of Belarusian citizens who do not have a residence permit or citizenship of one of the European countries, Reform.news reports . This also affected those who have a residence permit, but are in the process of renewal. Such users received two emails - with a requirement to provide up-to-date documents confirming the right to reside in the EU, and almost immediately - with a message that the account was blocked.

The online bank Revolut has begun freezing and closing accounts of Russian citizens living in European Union countries, citing the provisions of the 19th package of EU sanctions, Mediazona reports , citing service clients. The publication is aware of five similar cases.

Last night, users who registered accounts under a long-term visa category D (this includes a humanitarian visa, issued, for example, due to political persecution in their home country), received two notifications in a row: first, with a requirement to upload a valid residence permit, and shortly after that, a message about blocking the account. The letter that clients received states:

“In accordance with the 19th package of EU sanctions, credit institutions are prohibited from providing payment services or electronic money services to citizens of Russia and Belarus unless they have one of the following documents:

• Valid temporary or permanent residence permit in an EU member state, EEA country or Switzerland
• Proof of citizenship of an EU member state, an EEA country or Switzerland.”

In the second letter regarding account blocking, Revolut notified customers that the service agreement would be terminated on December 31, 2025. Until this date, users are prohibited from topping up their account, paying for purchases with a card, withdrawing cash from ATMs and transferring funds to other Revolut accounts.

Two Revolut users from Latvia reported that their D visa accounts were frozen, despite the fact that they were waiting for their residence permit to be approved and notified the bank in advance. Another client told Mediazona that she had a valid residence permit, which she had previously provided to Revolut, but did not have time to re-upload the document for a new request and also faced blocking of her account.

Revolut is also blocking the accounts of those who registered an account on the basis of a European residence permit, but is currently waiting for its renewal. The Insider learned of five cases of such blocking. The bank also refers in the letter to the requirements of the 19th package of EU sanctions, although there are known cases when Revolut has previously blocked the accounts of people who are waiting for a residence permit renewal.

In response to the BBC, Revolut's press office said: "As a globally regulated financial institution, Revolut must comply with the sanctions laws and regulations of the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and all other applicable laws and regulations in all jurisdictions in which Revolut operates."

What is a D visa?

A national visa (visa category D) gives the right to entry and continuous stay in the territory of any EU country or several consecutive stays with a total duration of more than 3 months. The validity of a national visa cannot exceed 1 year. The duration of stay on the basis of a national visa is determined in accordance with the purpose of stay indicated by the foreigner.

Category D visa is also issued for humanitarian reasons. For example, due to political persecution in one’s home country. After the D visa, the foreigner has the right to apply for a residence permit.