Russia Offers Free E-Visa to Filipinos Starting October
Good news, travelers!
Russia recently announced a free electronic visa for those who wish to travel to St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, effective starting October 1, 2019.
Also read: 32 Visa-Free Countries Filipinos Can Visit This 2019
The Government of the Russian Federation released a list of 53 countries whose nationals are eligible for the free e-visa, which can be viewed here. Fortunately, the Philippines is included, joined by other Asian countries such as Japan, China, Singapore, Indonesia, among others.
Said e-visa will be valid for 30 calendar days upon application, but tourists will only be allowed to stay in Russia for eight days. Those who fail to use their e-visa within the 30-day period will have to apply for a new one.
Note that the period of your stay in Russia always starts at midnight of the day of passage through passport control—regardless of your time of entry to the country.
Further, the e-visa is only valid for select categories. If the purpose of your trip is not of the following categories, you should apply for your visa at a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Russian Federation. The categories are as follows:
- Ordinary Business – the purpose of your journey is plain business.
- Ordinary Tourist – the purpose of your journey is tourism.
- Ordinary Humanitarian – the purpose of your journey is because of sports, cultural, scientific, and technological ties.
The e-visa can be applied for up to four days and not earlier than 20 days before your trip.
Those who are interested can apply online by filling out the application form. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date that you applied for the e-visa and must also have free space for border crossing stamps.
You may track your application status through the website Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Additionally, a PDF file will be sent to your e-mail regarding your application status, as well as detailed instructions for the next steps.
Remember to keep a copy of your e-visa for visual presentation to the representatives of a transport company when boarding a vehicle and to the passport control officers at a national border checkpoint when entering the Russian Federation.
You may apply for a visa at a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Russian Federation if you have not received a notification regarding your application within four days after application.
Note that the e-visa does not guarantee your entry into the Russian Federation. Your entry can be denied at their border crossing points should the circumstances be under the Federal Law No. 114 FZ “On the Procedure of Exit from the Russian Federation and Entry into the Russian Federation” of August 15, 1996.
Also read: Cambodia Extends Visa-Free Entry for Filipinos
Source: evisa.kdmid.ru
