The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the possibility of issuing five-year visas to foreigners

The Russian Foreign Ministry said there were no objections to issuing tourist visas up to five years.

This was stated by the Deputy head of the department, State Secretary Yevgeny Ivanov.

“As for the proposal of Rostourism on multiple-entry tourist visas, I can tell you that since the end of last year, the Russian Foreign Ministry has been working on a draft law that provides for the possibility of issuing multiple-entry tourist visas to all foreigners for a period of up to six months on the basis of confirmation of hotel reservations for the period of the first trip,” Ivanov said.

According to him, the Ministry sees no obstacles to increasing the validity of such a visa to one year, and later to five years.

In an interview, Ivanov said that from 2021, citizens of 113 countries will be able to enter Russia without a paper visa.

The e-visa will be used by citizens of those countries, the list of which will be approved by the government of the Russian Federation. The list includes 53 countries, including EU member states, China, Japan, India, Turkey and so on. Currently, on the basis of international treaties concluded with foreign countries, visa-free entry to Russia is valid for citizens of another 60 foreign countries.

Approximately 1.5 million single and double-entry visas are issued at consular posts each year.

Source: iz