Die Einführung von elektronischen Visa in Kaliningrad

According to the Chairman of the Expert Council for Tourism under the Federation Council Social Policy Committee Igor Fomin, on November 29, 2017, the Federation Council unanimously approved the Federal Law “On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation on the Issues of Social and Economic Development of the Kaliningrad Region”.

According to the approved bill, a simplified procedure for issuing electronic visas is being introduced in the Kaliningrad region. Single-entry ordinary business, tourist and humanitarian visas valid for up to 30 days and allowing up to 8-day stay in the country are now issued in the form of electronic documents. Issuance of such visas takes several days and is completely free without the need to pay consular fees and appeal to the embassies.

According to Igor Fomin, the experiment on the introduction of electronic visa system launched in the Free port of Vladivostok on August 1, 2017 showed that a large number of foreign citizens are interested in obtaining such visas. “We are consistently in favor of extending this modern and technological system to other regions of Russia at the end of this experiment. Today we unanimously approved the introduction of electronic visas to the Kaliningrad region. The list of countries for which this entry opportunity will be available will be approved by the government. I hope that European countries will also be on this list,” Igor Fomin said.