Visa-free access to the Schengen area is one of the main reasons people choose a second passport. But this access is not a permanent guarantee. The European Union has a tool called the "suspension mechanism", which was broadened in 2025. The information in this article comes from the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and EUR-Lex, checked on 24 October 2026.
What the suspension mechanism is
The European Union keeps a list of countries whose nationals need no visa for a short stay in Schengen. The suspension mechanism lets the Union stop this exemption for a country, temporarily or eventually permanently.
The 2025 revision
- The European Parliament adopted the revision on 7 October 2025 with 518 votes in favour, 96 against and 24 abstentions.
- The Council of the European Union adopted it in November 2025.
- The final text, Regulation (EU) 2025/2441, is published on EUR-Lex.
The new grounds for suspension
According to the European Parliament, the new grounds are:
- hybrid threats;
- investor citizenship schemes that raise security concerns; Parliament also calls them "golden passports";
- lack of alignment with the EU's visa policy;
- violations of the UN Charter or of international human rights and humanitarian law;
- failure to comply with decisions of international courts.
The thresholds
According to the European Parliament, a 30 per cent increase in overstayers or in serious crimes counts as "substantial"; the Commission may depart from these thresholds in justified cases. A suspension is temporary at first and can become permanent if the problem continues. The Union can also apply a suspension only to the government officials responsible.
The background: Vanuatu
The suspension mechanism had already been used before this revision, including for Vanuatu because of its citizenship programme. In December 2024 the Council of the European Union fully ended the visa exemption for Vanuatu nationals.
For holders of a second passport
- Today's visa-free access is not a guarantee for tomorrow. Countries with citizenship programmes are under closer watch.
- A programme with serious due diligence is less exposed to this risk; the article "Due diligence in Dominica's programme" explains this part.
- If visa-free travel to Europe is your main goal, check the current position and official news before deciding.
This article is general information and not legal advice.
Sources
- European Parliament, "More flexible visa suspension mechanism" (7 October 2025) — https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20251003IPR30660/more-flexible-visa-suspension-mechanism (checked on 24 October 2026)
- EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2025/2441 — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32025R2441 (via the search index; checked on 24 October 2026)
- Council of the European Union, adoption of the new suspension rules (17 November 2025) — https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/11/17/council-greenlights-new-eu-rules-for-the-suspension-of-visa-free-travel-for-third-countries/ (via the search index; checked on 24 October 2026)
- Council of the European Union, "Vanuatu: Council ends visa exemption" (12 December 2024) — https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/12/12/vanuatu-council-ends-visa-exemption/ (checked on 24 October 2026)