From October 1 onwards you can travel to Russia on e-Visa and stay there up to eight days.
The move comes intending to increase the number of entry points for foreign visitors, including Indians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has finally signed a decree that reads: “Foreign citizens can enter and leave Russia through checkpoints… in St Petersburg and Leningrad region… on the basis of single-entry business, tourist and humanitarian visas (on) electronic documents,” as per reports by TOI.
An e-Visa is an alternative to the usual paper-based visa issued by the embassy and an e-Visa serves as an official document issued online by the Immigration Department that allows a foreigner to enter and travel. It is easier to obtain and makes travel to foreign country hassle-free.
As per the press secretary of the Russian Embassy in Delhi, Vladimir Poluektov, the e-visas will be issued based on “a decision of the ministry of foreign affairs of Russia at the request of a foreign citizen, filled out on the ministry’s website.”
Russia’s ministry of foreign affairs lists the advantages of e-visa over the regular sticker visas: “An e-visa is issued within 4 calendar days, including weekends and bank holidays; there is no need for any invitations or confirmations. Just fill in the application form on the website; there is no need to waste your free time or working hours to visit the consular agency during its business hours. The website works 24/7; and you do not need to pay for anything to obtain an e-visa,” as per TOI.
Russia is increasing the number of places where people can enter on e-visa. From July 1, 2019, it had permitted nationals of 53 countries, including India, to do so through border crossing points in Kaliningrad region and the airport in Kaliningrad. It was started on August 8, 2017, when 18 nationalities like Indians and Japanese were allowed to enter and exit on e-visas through state border crossing points in the far East like Vladivostok airport. The checkpoints include notified airports, train stations, ports, and cities for those driving in.
India-Moscow-St Petersburg is the most popular circuit for Indian holidaymakers going to Russia, therefore, the biggest benefit of the e-visa for Indian visitors will come when the system is introduced in Moscow.
The head of Russian Information Center in India Paresh Navani said e-visa for Indian visitors is likely to be available at all major Russian cities, including Moscow and Sochi, by January 1, 2021. Indeed, Russia has as well offered India to mutually allow visa-free tourist group travel for up to 21 days.
“Tourism from India to Russia is growing annually at about 20 percent. This new system (e-visas) will surely increase the numbers as documentation will be further reduced,” Navani said.
