A simplified entry regime in the Russian Federation from 2021 will be valid for 4 billion people

A simplified entry regime into the Russian Federation from 2021 will be valid for almost half of the people living in the world. This will make Russia one of the most opened countries in the world, reported the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Since 2021, the most liberal entry regime in Russia (eliminating the need of paper visas in a passport) will be available to almost half of the world population - about 4 billion people," the department informed.

The possibility of obtaining electronic visas will be received by citizens of foreign states, which will be included in the list approved by the government of the Russian Federation. To visit the pilot areas of the project (the Far Eastern Federal District, the Kaliningrad Region, as well as St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region) citizens of 53 foreign countries can apply for electronic visas. And citizens of another 60 countries have the opportunity to enter Russia without visas on the basis of bilateral international agreements.

“Thus, Russia will become one of the most opened countries in terms of visas. The Russian Federation’s visa openness ratio will be 37,5. For comparison: the average ratio for Europe is 24, for North America - 15, Africa - 31, and the Asia-Pacific region -42,” the department notes.

The cost of an electronic visa to Russia from January 2021 will not exceed $ 50. The applicant will receive it no later than 4 calendar days from the date of application on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be able to use it for a trip to Russia over the next 60 days. At the same time, the duration of the trip cannot exceed 16 days. The visa will apply to the entire territory of the Russian Federation.