Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree according to which citizens of some countries will be able to receive an electronic visa to visit St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Foreigners will not need to go to the consulate of Russia. Visa will be available on the Internet. And that is also good, free.
An electronic visa to visit St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region will be available from October 1, 2019 (planned). Tourists will have the right to move within the territories of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region.
An electronic visa will be issued on the basis of the decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on the application of a foreign citizen, filled out on the website of the Ministry.
The application must be completed no later than four days before the expected date of entry into Russia (and not earlier than 30 days). The permitted period of stay in Russia is not more than eight days. Consular fees for issuing electronic visas do not need to pay.
Viisa website.
Lists of foreign countries whose citizens may enter the Russian Federation will be published later.
In fact, electronic visas are already applied in Russia. Tourists from some countries can visit some cities in the Far East of Russia, as well as the Kaliningrad region by e-visa.
Useful links for travelers.
24.08.2019.
The Ministry of Transport of Russia has prepared a draft resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation, which will approve a list of checkpoints in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, where foreigners can pass control and get to Russia by electronic visa.
The list includes the most popular border crossing points: Ivangorod, Torfyanovka, Brusnichnoe, Svetogorsk; Vysotsk, Passenger Port of St. Petersburg, Pulkovo Airport.
There is one important exception. There is no Finlandsky Station in St. Petersburg in the project. This means that if the list will be approved without changes, Allegro train passengers will not be able to cross the border with electronic visas.