Electronic tourist visas may be introduced in Russia

According to RIA Novosti, the senator Igor Chernyshev proposed a bill on the introduction of electronic visas issued to foreign citizens arriving to Russia.

The bill assumes the issuance of electronic tourist visas valid from one to six months to foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation as tourists. To obtain such a visa, tourists will be required to provide a confirmation from the inviting organization included in the Uniform Federal Register of Tour Operators.

According to the explanatory note, the bill aims to develop the incoming tourism by simplifying the process of issuing visas to foreign tourists coming from countries forming the main tourist flows, such as the European Union and the United States.

“Russia should not miss the chance to become one of the leading tourist centers. The introduction of electronic visas will facilitate this process. Especially, given that entry visas have long been issued in electronic forms, and modern technology allows creating secured documents using a digital signature”, – states the explanatory note.

According to Mr. Chernyshev, the introduction of electronic visas will increase the flow of incoming tourism; will contribute to the development of tourism and transport infrastructure and creation of new jobs in tourism and other related industries that will ensure the increasing flow of investment into the economy of the country.

According to the senator, the introduction of electronic visas will not require additional expenses from the federal budget and will be carried out while maintaining the principle of reciprocity.