Simplified Electronic Visa for St. Petersburg

It was officially announced that starting from 01 October 2019, simplified Electronic Visa for foreigners visiting St. Petersburg will be implemented!

Tourists and business travellers will be able to visit St. Petersburg on a simplified electronic visa starting this October under President Vladimir Putin’s new orders.

Putin has promised to offer e-visas to foreign visitors in 2021 as he vies to collect $15.5 billion in annual tourism revenue by the end of his presidential term in 2024. Tourists around the world have frequently cited difficulties with obtaining visas as a barrier to visiting Russia.

Potential tourists are directed to apply for electronic visas on the Russian Foreign Ministry website no later than four days before their arrival, the decree states. Applicants will not be charged a consular fee.

The offer will be open to citizens from a list of countries which will be announced at a later date, the decree says. 

It’ll be electronic single-entry visa and will allow visitors will be able to stay in Russia for eight days out of the 30-day validity period. 

The move is expected to attract 12 million tourists each year, up from the 8.2 million who visited St. Petersburg last year.

Since 2017, passport holders from 18 countries have been able to obtain free single-entry e-visas to visit Russia’s Far East Federal District. E-visa is already available for Kaliningrad and Vladivostok and now St. Petersburg is coming!

This is a positive development that Russia is opening its doors to and making it simpler to visit and experience our country.