La entrada sin visado a la Federación de Rusia para los aficionados extranjeros de la Copa FIFA Confederaciones 2017 y la Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2018 se ha introducido

The Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law on visa-free entry to the Russian Federation for foreign fans of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The full text of the law has been published on the official portal of legal information.

According to the new federal law, in order to be admitted to Russia without a visa foreign visitors must have a personalized card of the spectator (also known as a “Fan ID”) issued in electronic form when purchasing an entrance ticket for the match. Entry is also allowed on valid identity documents recognized as such by the Russian Federation. Visa-free entry is available during the period that starts 72 hours before the date of the first match of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup or the 2018 FIFA World Cup and lasts till the last day of the competitions. All participants of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be granted multiple-entry ordinary humanitarian visas and all organizers of the events will get multiple-entry ordinary business or work visas.

According to the expert of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) for transport Dmitry Gorin, this simplification of the visa regime allows expecting an increase in the tourist flow to Russia. Travel companies and hotels are now preparing for the start of the Confederation Cup and are ready to offer package tours including hotels and flights booking, transfers and other additional services.

Professionals of the tourist business note that such events contribute to the development of domestic and inbound tourism. As visa formalities have been canceled, and transport logistics and hotel facilities allow organizing trips between cities, a large number of visitors can be expected to enter the country during this period.

It should be recalled that the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup will be held from June 17 to July 2, 2017 in the cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan. The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held from June 14 to July 15, 2018 at 12 stadiums in 11 cities of Russia.