Agreement between the European Union and the Russian Federation on facilitation of issuance of visas

15.06.2007

On 1 June 2007 the Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Russian Federation (RF) entered into force , the aim of which is the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation in order to promote economic, cultural and scientific relations.

The visa facilitations provided in this Agreement shall apply only to the citizens of the European Union (excluding United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark) and of the Russian Federation. 

Schengen rules/national law continue to apply to all issues not covered by the Agreement such as the refusal to issue a visa, recognition of travel documents, proof of sufficient means of subsistence and the refusal of entry. Only „B” and „C” types of visas are covered by the Agreement.

• Agreement shortens the time for visa application
• Simplifies the justification of documentary evidence regarding
• the purpose of the journey
  
• establishes a common visa fee
• simplifies the application of multiple-entry visas.

1. Deadline of the proceeding of visa applications

In general a visa is issued within 10 calendar days – if so decided by a consular officer, this deadline can be shortened or prolonged.

2. Documentary evidence regarding the purpose of the journey

All visa applicants shall present:

• visa application 
• photo
• travel document
• insurance
• power of attorney, if the application is presented by an authorised representative
• documentary evidence regarding the purpose of the journey

If so desired the one who invites – both physical as well as private legal person – may still present visa invitation to be approved by the Citizen and Migration Board. In approving the visa invitation in the Citizen and Migration Board the present requirements and order shall continue to be applied.

As far as the documentary evidence regarding the purpose of the journey, the facilitations have been made to the following categories:

a) members of official delegations;

b) business people and representatives of business organizations;

c) drivers conducting international cargo and passenger transportation services;

d) members of train, refrigerator and locomotive crews in international trains;

e) journalists;

f) persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic activities including university and other exchange programmes;

g) pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purposes of study or educational training;

h) for participants in international sports events and persons accompanying them in a professional capacity;

i) the representations in official exchange programmes organised by twin cities;

j) close relatives (spouses, children, parents, grandparents and grandchildren)

k) Visitors of burial grounds

NB! If the visa invitation has not been confirmed by the Citizen and Migration Board, the foreign mission should be presented the original invitation. In that case the consular officer has the right to require additional documents, since the invitation proves only the purpose of the journey.

3. A visa fee

A visa fee of all RF citizens disregarding the purpose of their journey is in case of single as well as multiple entry and transit visas 28 Pounds (except D-type visa).  The agreement provides the increase in visa fee (55 Pounds) regarding urgent visas and waive the visa fee for certain categories of visa applicants, such as close relatives, members of official delegations, members of national and regional governments, parliaments and courts, pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers, disabled persons and the person accompanying them, persons who travel on humanitarian grounds, participants in youth international sports events, persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic activities and participants in official exchange programmes organised by twin cities

4. The facilitated criteria of the issuance of multiple entry visas

Agreement foresees the facilitated criteria of the issuance of multiple entry visas to the following applicant categories:

• VIP-s, spouses and children who visit EU/RF citizens may apply for up to five year visa; 
• the issuance of up to one year visas has been foreseen to the following categories: members of official delegations, businessmen, journalists, drivers and train crews;
• after the issuance of two multiple entry visas up to one year, the visas will be given for minimum two and maximum five years.