Talk about the global economy being in a limbo, and everyone is now trying to voo the money to come and visit their country. Forget if Snap, Inc. CEO thinks India is a poor country, the people who want tourism don’t think so. Over the months, Qatar, Singapore and UAE have made overtures to India to provide slightly easier Visa regimes for those on transit at least.
Yesterday, the Russian PM signed off on a decree that allows citizens of 18 countries visa-free travel to the Russian Far East starting August 2017. Per this report.
RF Government has approved the list of 18 countries whose citizens can obtain electronic single entry business, tourist or humanitarian visas when entering the Russian Federation through checkpoints at the Free Port of Vladivostok (Order No 692-r dated 14 April 2017).
It has been established that the Russian Government shall determine the countries whose nationals are to be granted e-visas when entering Russia through checkpoints at the Free Port of Vladivostok.
The signed directive contains an approved list of 18 countries: Algeria, Bahrein, Brunei, India, Qatar, People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey and Japan.
The citizens of these countries shall benefit from simplified procedures when obtaining visas of up to 30 days with a period of stay in the Russian Federation not exceeding eight days. These visas can be executed as e-documents.
How to get there? Clearly Vladivostok is a free trade zone and must be having an airport of its own, but this would mean going to the far east to come to the Centre of Russia if you are a tourist and are interested in the history of Russia.
I’m still scratching my head on this one about how to get there. If you have any ideas, do let me know too!
This is good news for those who are planning to visit Russia, however, if the entry point is at the far east Russia, will the visa also be valid if you plan to go on to the central part of Russia?
Easiest way to head there is head to Mongolia and enjoy lovely trans-Siberian express or you can easily get a ticket on Aeroflot, Korean Airlines and many Chinese carriers.
There are flights from Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing to Russian Far East cities.
There is a reason why it is the Russian Far East which sees least number of tourists. Unless one wishes to visit Siberia from Vladivostok airport which way out in the east. And Putin’s push towards Asia.
Else getting a Russian Visa for Indian’s is not seamless and takes 15 working days. In addition to the usual Visa-related requirements one has to obtain invitation letters from each hotel / AirBnB one wishes to stay. And Visa is only granted based on nights one stays not the flight arrival / departure (a challenged during red-eye flights arrival / departure).