Introducción de visas electrónicas para turistas extranjeros en el Cáucaso Norte

At a meeting of the governmental commission for socio-economic development of the North Caucasus Federal District held in Yessentuki on March 10, 2017, the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev requested the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider the issuing of e-visas to foreign tourists entering the territory of the North Caucasus. This issue is assumed to be resolved by the Ministry together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Security Service, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry for North Caucasus Affairs until June 1, 2017.

The introduction of electronic visas aims to simplify the visa regime in the region due to the possibility of registration in a single electronic window that significantly reduces the time required for submission of documents. An electronic visa has the form of a sticker or a stamp indicating the period of its validity which small size saves space on passport pages.

According to the experts, the introduction of electronic visas for foreign tourists coming to the North Caucasus will contribute to the increase in the tourist flow. Currently, the number of tourists visiting the region is not large and mainly consists of travelers coming to ski resorts and for treatment.

The introduction of electronic visas is considered to be a positive and important step in the development of tourist infrastructure of the North Caucasus.