The State Duma adopted the law on the entry to the Free port of Vladivostok

In the third reading Russian State Duma adopted a bill about simplified entry of foreign tourists to the territory of the Free Port of Vladivostok. Foreign tourists will be able to enter to the Far East with the aid of electronic visa through special checkpoints.

According to the document, foreigners will be able to enter to the territory of Sakhalin region, Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk Krai, Chukotka and Kamchatka through special checkpoints with pre-executed electronic visa.

It is expected that a simplified scheme of entry to the port will facilitate the development of tourism in the Far East and will promote the investment to the region.

“We introduce a new mechanism – an electronic visa. It is a unique experience for Russia. Simplified visa regime will encourage business development. We hope that by the beginning of the third Eastern Economic Forum which will take place on the 6–7 of September, two checkpoints will be able to work in Vladivostok under the new procedure.”, – said the Minister for development of the Far East Alexandre Galushka.

According to the law, an electronic visa will be available for four days before the intended visit. It is necessary for it the next documents – an application, the copy of passport and electronical photos. The visa will be free. The document is strictly limited the period of stay in Russia – it is up to eight days without the possibility of extension. Tourists and businessmen will be able to travel only on the territory of the Free Port without the right to visit other regions of the country.

The Russian Foreign Ministry sets to develop the site, with the aid of which it will be possible to issue an electronic visa. It is noted that in order to obtain a visa it is necessary for foreign citizens to use the site and to fill in a questionnaire. Under an affirmative answer the visa will be put directly on the Russian border. The period of application’s consideration is 4 days.

It should be emphasized that some federal ministries and departments, which are responsible for the work of checkpoints and migration issues, will be involved to the work on the introduction of a new order.

Now we are preparing the list of countries whose citizens will be able to use the simplified procedure of entry.