Good news for people who love travelling. From October onwards you can travel to Russia on an e-Visa! With an aim to increase the number of entry points for foreign visitors, including Indians, Russian President Vladimir Putin has finally signed a decree that says that travellers can visit St. Petersburg and the rest of Leningrad Oblast with an electronic visa aka e-Visa from Oct. 1 for upto eight days. The decree reads: "foreign citizens can enter and leave Russia through checkpoints… in St Petersburg and Leningrad region… on the basis of single-entry business, tourist and humanitarian visas (on) electronic documents," as per reports by TOI. For those who do not know, an e-Visa is an alternative to the usual paper-based visa issued by the embassy and an e-Visa serves as an official document issued online by the Immigration Department that allows a foreigner to enter and travel. It is easier to obtain and makes travel to foreign country hassle-free.

The rules are quite simple and for anyone who wants to visit the place for a maximum of eight days can opt for eVisas. As per the press secretary of the Russian Embassy in Delhi, Vladimir Poluektov, the e-visas will be issued on the basis of "a decision of the ministry of foreign affairs of Russia at the request of a foreign citizen, filled out on the ministry's website."

Things to know about the e-visas online:

  • You have to fill in the e-applications

  • They have to be filled at least four days before the intended date of visiting the country.

  • The e-application will accompany with a digital photo

  • The e-visa will be valid for 30 days

  • It can be used to stay there for 8 days

  • No other documents will be required to receive an e-visa.

While Russia is increasing the number of places for people can enter on an e-visa, however, Russia has allowed people from 53 countries that include India to do so through border crossing points in the Kaliningrad region and the airport in Kaliningrad From July 1, 2019. Russia’s ministry of foreign affairs lists the advantages of e-visa over the regular sticker visas: "An e-visa is issued within 4 calendar days, including weekends and bank holidays; there is no need for any invitations or confirmations. Just fill in the application form on the website; there is no need to waste your free time or working hours to visit the consular agency during its business hours. The website works 24/7; and you do not need to pay for anything to obtain an e-visa," as per TOI.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 21, 2019 01:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).