From the MT:
“Russia to Offer Electronic Visas by 2021, Putin Says”
Russia will offer electronic visas to foreign visitors
starting in 2021, President Vladimir Putin has ordered in a decree. Tourists
around the world have frequently cited difficulties with obtaining visas as a
barrier to visiting Russia. In 2018, Russia offered visa-free entry for foreign
fans with Fan ID’s visiting Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, resulting in a
10 percent boost in tourism that year. Putin has signed a presidential order
instructing the prime minister, the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry and
the Federal Security Service (FSB) to implement the e-visas by Jan. 1, 2021. The
e-visa offer will apply to single-entry visas for visits of up to 16 days in
length, and can be used for any type of visa. Russia will approve the list of
countries eligible for the offer. So far, China, South Korea, Japan, European
countries and New Zealand are among the countries being considered, the
Kommersant business daily reported on Monday. The e-visas are expected to cost
around $50, Kommersant quoted Oleg Pak, the deputy head of the Communications
and Press Ministry, as saying. Since 2017, citizens of 18 countries have been
able to obtain free single-entry e-visas to visit the Far East Federal
District. Beginning July 1, 2019, the e-visa offer will apply to travelers
visiting the Western enclave of Kaliningrad. The new program, along with last
year’s Fan ID offer, will shape Russia’s e-visa program, Pak told Kommersant.
^ It would be nice if Russia entered the 21st
Century and make their visa system easier and more inviting for foreign
tourists, students and businessmen/women. I have applied for Russian visas
several times and each time it was a troublesome and time-consuming process. I
am curious to see how this new E-Visa program will work, if it will make things
really more easy and which nationalities will be allowed to apply for one. ^
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.