As one of the largest countries on Earth, Russia is home to a lot of great natural and man-made destinations. Many tourists dream of seeing these sites. Unfortunately, they often fail because of the strict visa requirements in the country. But it seems this will be changing this October with the introduction of the Russian eVisa.

Russian eVisa Now Available

On Thursday, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced that 53 countries will now be able to visit St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast by applying for a Russian eVisa. The move follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree in July which opens travel to the two areas via eVisa starting October 1. The eVisa is valid for up to eight days and can be used for tourism, humanitarian and business reasons.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that an eVisa is much more practical than the usual sticker visa. The most notable reason why it is practical is the issuing time for eVisas. Applicants only need to wait 4 calendar days, including weekends and holidays, before they can get their visa. The application is also free and done online.

Countries Eligible for Russian eVisa

When the decree was signed in July, the Russian government did not detail which countries will be included. However, following the announcement on Thursday, the list was published the following day.

The countries eligible for the new visa are the following:
1. Austria
2. Andorra
3. Bahrain
4. Belgium
5. Bulgaria
6. Vatican
7. Hungary
8. Germany
9. Greece
10. Denmark
11. India
12. Indonesia
13. Iran
14. Ireland
15. Iceland
16. Spain
17. Italy
18. Qatar
19. Cyprus
20. China (including Taiwan)
21. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
22. Kuwait
23. Latvia
24. Lithuania
25. Liechtenstein
26. Luxembourg
27. Malaysia
28. Malta
29. Mexico
30. Monaco
31. Netherlands
32. Norway
33. Oman
34. Poland
35. Portugal
36. Romania
37. San Marino
38. Saudi Arabia
39. Northern Macedonia
40. Serbia
41. Singapore
42. Slovakia
43. Slovenia
44. Turkey
45. Philippines
46. Finland
47. France
48. Croatia
49. Czech Republic
50. Switzerland
51. Sweden
52. Estonia
53. Japan

This is not the first time Russia introduced the eVisa system for tourists. For instance, this July, the country opened the Far East and Kaliningrad Oblast to 53 countries. While the country invited all the European Union countries, the United Kingdom, sadly, is not included in the list.

Russia Travel Tips

Looking for ideas in your future Russia trip? Feel free to check out our articles on where to stay in Moscow or in Saint Petersburg to get some ideas. You can also check out our article on how to get prepaid internet during your trip. For those hoping to stay in Moscow, our salary guide is a good place to start.

You can also check out the official guide for Saint Petersburg for more information. To apply for an e-visa, check out this link.

The post Russian eVisa Allowed for 53 Countries from October appeared first on Check in Price.

Russia has always been a mystery for many travelers. While it is a part of Asia and Europe due to its vast land, getting a visa to the country is not very simple. The paperwork required is enormous and the processing time can take an age. There are also certain restrictions imposed to certain nationals.

On Wednesday, it was reported that Russia will be introducing an electronic visa system to make visa applications and arrivals faster. According to the report of Russia Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the plan this month.

This will not be the first time that Russia is changing its visa scheme. In last year’s World Cup, supporters of each team were allowed entry to Russia without a visa. They only need to apply for a “Fan ID” and present it with their passport.

What is included in Russia’s E-Visa Scheme?

Details about the E-Visa scheme are yet to be announced. However, experts suggest that it will be applicable to citizens from China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and the Schengen zone. British citizens may not be included in the list due to the ongoing Brexit talks, as well as Canada and the United States.

E-visa prices may also cost around $50 in comparison to today’s $129. Visa processing can be as fast as 16 days once the new system is in place.

What is Russia’s current Visa Scheme?

Currently, Russia is visa-free for certain countries. Tourists taking cruises can enter Russia without too much paperwork. They are allowed to stay up to 72 hours without a visa if they land in one of the seven major ports. Those travelling to the Far East Federal District are also allowed visa-free access. Others will need to file for a single-entry visa to get access to Russia.

A trial run of the e-visa system is also in place in the Far East. However, only 18 countries are eligible for the run.

The trial is expected to extend to Kaliningrad next week.

How to Reach Russia?

Visiting Russia’s major cities like Saint Petersburg or Moscow is very easy thanks to direct flights from Europe, US and Asia. There are also connecting flights passing by these cities. Nearby countries can enter the Russian border if they have shared borders and visa. Major cruises also pass by Russia’s major ports.

Looking for ideas in your future Russia trip? Feel free to check out our articles on where to stay in Moscow or in Saint Petersburg to get some ideas. You can also check out our article on how to get prepaid internet during your trip. For those hoping to stay in Moscow, our salary guide is a good place to start.

The post Russia to Introduce e-Visas from 2021 appeared first on Check in Price.