Visa News

Norway Consulate will speed the visa procedure :

On the eve of summer season Norway has come to the conclusion that the most prospective tourist market for the Kingdom now is Russia and China. For the last three year there was marked increase in the interest of Russians to visit Norway as well as from China. The country's authority has decided to invest 4,2 million Norwegian Krones (€.535,000) to stimulate the outbound markets from Russia and China - 50% for each. The onewill be used for organizing promotional tours, workshops, seminars and other events. Such an attention of Norway to Russia caused an important question among travel professionals of lightening visa regime for Russian citizens. They have mentioned that Norway consulate works efficiently, but visa procedure takes two weeks, which is quite long. This request has been considered and visa procedure reduced to1 week at least till new tourist season. "However, the visa regime is common for all countries in the Schengen zone, and one single country is not authorized to solve an issue dedicated to visa procedure",-stated trade counselor of the Kingdom of Norway in Moscow. But, there is some positive move on that direction. The Norwegian Consulate anticipating increase of tourist stream is intended to ask for extra premises in the Swedish Consulate for visa purposes.

Foreign Office of Greece propose a lightening of visa procedure to Russian Government :

Greek officials are anticipating response from Foreign Office of Russia. Bilateral agreement will be sign on results of negotiations providing lightening of visa regime for precise group of citizens by analogy with agreement between Russia and some EU countries (Germany, Italy). The agreement stipulates increasing the number of multiple visas for diplomats, students, businessman, scientists and journalists.

EU simplification

During the summit Russia - EU an agreement could be reached on simplifying the visa regime for Russian citizens visiting Europe, claimed special representative of the President of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sergey Yastrezhembsky after meeting of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin with the Head of Euro commission Jose Manuel Barrozy. "We believe and our European colleges agreed with us that we couldwork to reducing many difficulties", said Mr. Yastrezhembsk

Spain will simplify visa procedure for Russians

"Spain intends to try to simplify visa procedure for Russians citizens" claimed recently ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Spain to Moscow, Francisco Cavengt. "We believe that benign visa procedure should be introduced not only for diplomats, officials but for businessmen, tourists and all Russians who want to visit Spain", said the ambassador. Simplifying visa procedure is one of our government priority task. The ambassador has underlined that there are no queues in Spanish consulate to Moscow. Additional a special telephone service has been launched that facilitates the visa procedure for Russian citizens.

Bulgaria Extends Russian Tourism Visas

Bulgaria has made it possible for Russian tourists to receive three-month entry visas.

The prolongation opportunity is valid immediately, the Bulgarian foreign minister, Solomon Passy, announced.

Usually 10% of Russia's visa applying tourists call for a prolonged stay in Bulgaria, according to officials. The issuing of one-month visas takes one day and costs EUR 20. The price for business visas is EUR 50.