From October 1, enter Russia on free e-visa for up to 8 days from St Petersburg

NEW DELHI: The iron curtain is fast making way for a red carpet. Russia is increasing the number of entry points from where foreign visitors, including Indians, can enter the country on a free e-visa and stay there for up to eight days. From October 1, 2019, “foreign citizens can enter and leave Russia through checkpoints… in St Petersburg and Leningrad region… on the basis of single-entry business, tourist and humanitarian visas (on) electronic documents,” says a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin earlier this week.
Vladimir Poluektov, press secretary of the Russian Embassy in Delhi, said e-visas are issued “on the basis of a decision of the ministry of foreign affairs of Russia at the request of a foreign citizen, filled out on the ministry's website” at least four days before intended date of entry into the country.Once granted, the e-visa will be valid for 30 days and can be used to stay there up to 8 days. The e-application has to be accompanied with a digital photo and “no other documents will be required to receive an e-visa.”
Russia is increasing the number of places from where people can enter on e-visa. From July 1, 2019, it had allowed nationals of 53 countries, including India, to do so through border crossing points in Kaliningrad region and the airport in Kaliningrad. The start was made on August 8, 2017, when 18 nationalities like Indians and Japanese were allowed to enter and exit on e-visas through state border crossing points in the far East like Vladivostok airport. The check points include notified airports, ports, train stations and cities for those driving in.
Russia’s ministry of foreign affairs lists the advantages of e-visa over the regular sticker visas: “An e-visa is issued within 4 calendar days, including weekends and bank holidays; there is no need for any invitations or confirmations. Just fill in the application form on the website; there is no need to waste your free time or working hours to visit the consular agency during its business hours. The website works 24/7; and you do not need to pay for anything to obtain an e-visa.”
As of now, Russian carrier Aeroflot is the only one with direct flights between India and Russia. Aeroflot has a double daily on Delhi-Moscow route using the Airbus A-330 and is planning to start flights to Mumbai too from the Russian capital. Air India has discontinued the Delhi-Moscow route and IndiGo may start flights on this sector.
The most popular circuit for Indian holidayers going to Russia is India-Moscow-St Petersburg. The biggest benefit of the e-visa for Indian visitors will come when the system is introduced in Moscow.
Paresh Navani, Russian Information Center in India head, said e-visa for Indian visitors is likely to be available at all major Russian cities, including Moscow and Sochi, by January 1, 2021. In fact, Russia has even offered India to mutually allow visa-free tourist group travel for up to 21 days. “Tourism from India to Russia is growing annually at about 20%. This new system (e-visas) will surely increase the numbers as documentation will be further reduced,” Navani said.