China News Agency, Moscow, June 23 (Reporter Wang Xiujun) Deputy Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivanov said at the meeting of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) on the 23rd that Russia will implement electronic control on citizens of 53 countries from 2021 Visa system.
Ivanov said that after the implementation of electronic visas, citizens of 53 countries can enter from any Russian border port equipped with corresponding inspection equipment. At present, Russia and 60 countries are mutually exempt from visas. Therefore, from January 2021, citizens of 113 countries will be able to enter Russia without a paper visa. The total population of these countries is nearly 4 billion people.
According to RIA Novosti, the forthcoming electronic visa can be applied for travel, business, humanitarian and other purposes. The new e-visa is valid for 60 days. Foreign citizens with e-visas can enter Russia for a single stay and stay for up to 16 days.
In 2017, Russia has opened e-visa to India, Iran, Qatar, China, North Korea, UAE, Japan and other countries in the Far East. In 2019, Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast, Leningrad Oblast, and St. Petersburg have also begun to implement electronic visa systems. (Finish)