Russia to launch electronic visas and payment cards for foreign tourists in 2023
In Russia, in 2023, electronic visas will be launched to stimulate inbound tourism and the problem of payments will be solved by creating special cards for foreign tourists. This is with reference to the head of the Department of Tourism Development of the Ministry of Economic Development Tatiana Sharshavitskaya
“Electronic visas do not work yet. But we are working with this and we have an understanding that this year e-visas will work,” Sharshavitskaya said. She also noted that the arrival of foreign tourists to Russia is also constrained by the lack of payment instruments after the withdrawal of Visa and MasterCard systems.
The head of the tourism development department said that the problem of payments is currently being resolved at the final stage. “A draft law on the remote identification of a citizen is entering the spring session, and a foreign citizen, regardless of the country, friendly or unfriendly, will be able to get a card at the place of his main residence,” she specified.
Earlier it was reported that Russia is preparing visa facilitation agreements on a reciprocal basis with six countries. This was told by the State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Evgeny Ivanov. The draft documents are being worked out with India, Angola, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria and the Philippines.
