The Ministry of Communications is considering the issue of issuing electronic visas to foreigners
Head of the Ministry of Communications Konstantin Noskov at a meeting with the President of the Russian Federation proposed to introduce permanent electronic visas for all foreign citizens. Such information on July 20 was published on the official website of the head of Russia.
“In a few months, almost 1 million 840 thousand foreign citizens received a FAN ID and, accordingly, the right to enter our country literally online, in a few minutes,” Noskov said. This technology cannot be lost. By the end of the year, he proposed to work out organizational mechanisms that will allow fans of the World Cup to enter the country, as well as make decisions online for all foreigners.
The head of the Ministry of Communications said that now for issuing visas to foreigners need to pay. K. Noskov believes that the cost of registration of electronic documents can be reduced. Vladimir Putin instructed the department to work out this mechanism together with the Foreign Ministry. A solution must be found before the end of the year.
Tourists are optimistic about visa exemptions, as this can be a breakthrough in the development of inbound tourism. Difficulties in the process of obtaining a Russian visa seriously constrain tourist flows. Registration terms (10-15 days) do not allow travelers to buy last minute tours, and this also negatively affects the number of trips to Russia.
The cost of documents is another obstacle for foreigners: a Russian visa costs them much more than a Schengen visa for Russians. According to experts, the reduction of tariffs can stimulate the interest of tourists to Russia. Tour operators engaged in the field of inbound tourism hope that the scheme will be available to foreign guests as early as 2019.