Confidence Group is pleased to offer the reviews of our lawyers to the new Order of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Russia from 21.12.2020 № 23235 "On approval of the List of goals trips, used in preparation and issuance of visas to foreign citizens", which will come into force on 08.02.2021.
The format of the information has been changed in the list of "purpose of travel", there are no more notes to the purpose of the visits, the data about the categories, types, multiplicity and timing of visas and on the codes assigned to the visas. There is now only the information about the name of the purpose of the trip and about those who are issued the appropriate visas.
Significantly reduced the number of entry purposes (many combined) that can be specified in different visa categories.
In our opinion, the most resonant change may be a significant restriction on the number of persons who can enter the Russian Federation for the purpose of traveling "accompanying family member" on business and work visas as well as the total exclusion of this purpose of travel from the visa category "ordinstudy". Now as accompanying family members will be able to enter:
- for business visas - only those who accompany employees of foreign companies that have concluded an investment agreement on the implementation of an investment project in the Far Eastern Federal District;
- for work visas-only: family:
- HQS family members;
- family members of foreign citizens who have concluded an employment contract related to the implementation of an investment project with a resident of the Territories of Advanced and Economic Development (TADs) located in the Far Eastern Federal District, or with a resident of the free port of Vladivostok;
- family members of persons entering for the purpose of travel as a Media technician and a Media Correspondent.
Also, it is unlikely to go unnoticed that the purpose of the trip "aim tourism" is excluded from the "ordinary tourism" category of visas, previously it was possible to enter the Russian Federation for such a purpose to resolve commercial issues with Russian partners (participation in auctions, exhibitions, negotiations), as well as for medical consultations and medical examinations. Now this is not available under tourism visas.
Another significant change is the removal of the "maintenance service" travel purpose from the "ordinary business" category of visas and the addition of a new so called "maintenance of previously installed equipment" or "installation work" travel purpose to the "ordinary work" category of visas. It is assumed that the purpose of entry will be used by foreign citizens who are employees of foreign legal entities (producers or providers) performing installation (supervision) work, service and warranty and post-warranty repair of the delivered in the Russian Federation equipment.
A lot of questions arise because of with this change, to which at the moment there are no unambiguous answers in the current regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation. We have addressed these questions to the competent authorities and will be happy to share their answers with you.
In addition, we have prepared a detailed analysis of the risks associated with changes in the list of travel goals, and we invite you to take part in our webinar (we use the Zoom video conference and online meeting service) on the topic "Consequences of changes in the list of travel goals used in preparation and issuance visas to foreign citizens in the Russian Federation", which will be held on February 10, 2021, at 12:00. You can read the terms of participation in the webinar and register for participation in it by clicking on the link.
