Russian e-visa for 53 countries
Russian e-visa for 53 countries
Russia will introduce e-visas for nationals of fifty-three countries starting from 2021. Previously e-visas were only available for visits to St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and the Far East, but the new rules will permit travel anywhere within Russia.
Citizens of EU member states, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Singapore and Turkey, will be able to obtain 16-day, single-entry tourist visas online starting from January 1, 2021. The visa will cost US$50 and will be valid for 60 days from the date of issue. Applicants will be required to submit an online form at least 4 working days before the planned arrival date in Russia. This is to allow for sufficient processing time for the visa.
The introduction of the e-visa is intended to make it easier for tourists to visit Russia. It comes as part of the country’s effort boost post-coronavirus tourism and to generate US$15.5 billion in annual revenue by 2024.
The visa will not be available to United States, Canadian or British Passport holders. Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov said that these countries could be added later “if visa dialogue with these states normalises.”
Picture: Moscow River at night by Pavel Kazachkov via Wikimedia Commons