Indians, Filipinos, Omanis, Iranians, Qataris, Kuwaitis are among the 53 nationalities that can now obtain a free e-visa to visit certain cities in Russia as per new visa regulations announced by the Russian government that will be effective from 1 October, 2019.
However, there are certain restrictions.
- Firstly, the e-visa will be valid for visits to the Russian city of St Petersburg only. However, if you get an e-visa you will be allowed to visit the neighbouring Leningrad region too.
- Secondly, the e-visa is currently available only for for those arriving through Pulkovo Airport, which is St. Petersburg's main international airport.
- Thirdly, the e-visa is only valid for a stay not exceeding 8 days and is valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
The new visa regulations are aimed at boosting tourism to the port city of St Petersburg, also known as Russia's cultural centre located on the Baltic Sea. The simplified free e-visa is expected to attract 12 million tourists each year, up from the 8.2 million who visited St. Petersburg last year.
Free Visa
Travellers do not have to pay for anything to obtain the e-visa and it will be issued within four calendar days, which also includes weekends and bank holidays. All you need to do is visit the e-visa website and fill in your details. In fact, you do not even need to show any documents such as proof of accommodation or a hotel bookings. It is clearly stated on Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that "invitations, hotel booking confirmations or any other documents that confirm the purpose of your journey to the Russian Federation are not required for an e-visa."
To get your free e-visa to visit Russia APPLY HERE.
Saint Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city after Moscow, with over 6 million inhabitants. The city is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as an area with 36 historical architectural complexes and around 4,000 outstanding individual monuments of architecture, history and culture. New tourist initiatives and sightseeing tours have been developed for those wishing to see Saint Petersburg's cultural heritage.
Art lovers will love Saint Petersburg as the city has 221 museums, 2,000 libraries, more than 80 theatres, 100 concert organisations, 45 galleries and exhibition halls, 62 cinemas and around 80 other cultural establishments. Every year the city hosts around 100 festivals and various competitions of art and culture, including more than 50 international ones.
The city is also known the world over for its unique “White Nights,” (from June 11 to July 2), when daylight extends to nearly 19 hours – another good reason to visit the city during the summer months.
* A return air ticket from Dubai to St. Petersburg currently costs around AED1,250 to AED2,350.
