The Decree of the Government of Russia dated 18.03.2023 No. 421 "On Amendments to the Regulation on establishing the form of a visa, the procedure and conditions for its issuance, extending its validity, restoring it in case of loss, as well as the procedure for cancelling a visa" has been published.
By this decree, the restriction under which a foreigner can obtain a visa only in the country of citizenship or where he has the right to stay for more than 90 days, is lifted in respect of close relatives of citizens of Russia.
Previously, foreign citizens who are not in the country of their citizenship, could obtain a visa to Russia only if they had the right to stay in this country for more than 90 days. As an exception, foreigners who do not live in their country and have the right to stay in it for less than 90 days could obtain a visa to Russia in two cases:
- by decision of the Head of the diplomatic mission or consular office of Russia in connection with the need to enter Russia to participate in international and domestic official, economic, socio-political, scientific, cultural, sports and religious events, or for emergency treatment, or due to a serious illness or death of a close relative living in Russia;
- by decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia based on the international principle of reciprocity.
Now close relatives of Russian citizens have also been added to these exceptions.
Close relatives are a spouse, parents or adoptive parents, children (including adopted ones) and their spouses, brothers, sisters, grandfathers, grandmothers and grandchildren.
The decree also changes the rules for filling out the visa form if the visa is issued based on booking several hotels - now it is necessary to indicate only the place of accommodation in which the tourist plans to stay in the first place.
For more information, please contact the consultants of the Confidence Group company.
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