Russia plans to increase the length of stay on e-visas

Russia is considering extending the authorized period of stay in the country for foreign citizens on electronic visas (e-Visa).

The deputy head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yevgeny Ivanov, said that the agency and other relevant authorities plan to increase the period of stay on e-visas in the fall of 2024. However, the specific details of the increase have not yet been determined. Plans to extend the term are being discussed after analyzing the effectiveness of the current system introduced since last August. According to Evgeny Ivanov, there are also plans to expand the list of countries eligible to receive a Russian e-visa after August 1, 2024.

The proposal to extend the period of stay on an e-visa is part of efforts to stimulate tourism and business travel to Russia. Extending the period of stay will allow foreign visitors more flexibility in planning their trips, and thus help boost tourism and business activity in the country.

Currently, electronic visas allow foreign tourists and business travelers to visit Russia for up to 16 days. From August 1, when the e-visa system was introduced in Russia, 170,000 e-visas were issued through December 31, 2023. About 90% of these were granted to citizens of China, Estonia, Germany, Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia, Latvia, Iran, Lithuania and Italy. The greatest demand and popularity of e-visa for visiting Russia is among Chinese citizens.

E-visas are a convenient and fast way to obtain authorization to enter the Russian Federation, and their expansion could lead to a further increase in international travel and contribute to strengthening Russia's international ties.