Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko announced that the mechanism for electronic visas for tourists planning to visit Russia will be launched in the fall of 2023.
«We expect that in the near future we will see the operation of this mechanism in our closest neighbors in friendly countries, primarily with the PRC, India. I think this should happen in the fall
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova also spoke on this topic, and there is more specifics in her words: electronic visas will be launched in Russia from August 1, 2023, and will also be valid for citizens of unfriendly countries.
We consider it inappropriate, as a response to the unfriendly actions of the official authorities of states, to exclude the possibility for their citizens to obtain a single electronic visa for short-term trips to our country. Maintaining simplified entry to Russia for citizens of these countries for tourism purposes, for participation in scientific, sports, cultural events, as well as for maintaining business contacts in the context of sanctions restrictions, will primarily meet the interests of our state.
In 2020, a law was adopted in Russia, according to which the issuance of electronic visas online for citizens of 52 countries, including EU countries, was to begin on January 1, 2021. In January 2021, the launch of the electronic visa system was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. In November 2022, Vladimir Putin instructed the government, together with other departments, to prepare proposals for resuming the single electronic visa for trips to Russia by foreigners from those states that are not included in the list of unfriendly ones.
