Russia is preparing to increase visa fees and cancel visa benefits for those entering the country. This idea was proposed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government approved it, writes RBC.
Thus, the initiative provides for an increase in visa fees and the abolition of visa benefits for citizens of the EU, Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland entering Russia. The decision was a retaliatory measure, since the mentioned countries and the EU had previously unilaterally completely suspended the operation of international agreements with Russia on the mutual simplification of visa issuance, including switching to the use of increased rates of visa fees.
So, now the cost of Russian visas will increase depending on the urgency and frequency in the range of $50–$300. The document also proposes to cancel benefits for a number of categories of citizens exempt from paying visa fees (these are close relatives, members of official delegations, officials, schoolchildren, students, graduate students, persons who confirmed the need for a humanitarian trip, participants in international youth sporting events and persons accompanying them , persons participating in scientific, cultural or creative activities, participants in official exchange programs between related cities).
An agreement between Russia and the European Union to simplify the mutual issuance of visas to citizens was signed on May 25, 2006. Russia ratified the document on March 7, 2007. It provides for simplification of the procedure for issuing single-entry visas valid for up to three months, as well as multiple-entry visas for certain categories of citizens.
After the start of the SVO in Ukraine, the foreign ministers of 27 EU countries decided to freeze the visa facilitation agreement with Russia from September 12, 2022 – the cost of a visa increased from €35 to €80, and the list of documents expanded significantly.
To restore the foreign tourist flow to Russia, a new mechanism was launched this year – an electronic visa was launched on August 1, which can be obtained by citizens of 55 countries, including European ones. This visa is single-entry valid for 60 days from the date of issue with a permitted period of stay in Russia of no more than 16 days. The cost of a Russian e-visa with all expenses will not exceed $52.
Source: Rosbalt
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