A draft law on extending the validity period of an electronic visa is developed

As part of its strategy to develop inbound tourism and strengthen international ties, the Russian government is preparing a large-scale liberalization of its visa regime. The approved draft law significantly expands opportunities for foreign citizens visiting Russia on e-visas.

Key changes include:

• increasing the validity period of e-visas from 60 to 120 days
• extending the maximum continuous stay from 16 to 30 days.

These reforms come amid the active development of the e-visa system, which was launched in August 2023. In its first year, the system demonstrated impressive results: over 540,000 e-visas were issued, accounting for about 70% of all entry permits granted by Russia. The new system proved particularly popular among Chinese citizens, who topped the list with over 250,000 visas issued. Other top users included Saudi Arabia (43,400), Germany (42,600), Turkey (32,800), and Estonia (28,600).

Tourism analysts note that the current 16-day stay limit is often insufficient for a full exploration of Russia. Extending the permitted stay to 30 days will allow foreign visitors to:

• Take longer trips across the country

• Visit remote regions and tourist routes

• Combine business trips with tourism programs

• Participate in extended cultural and sporting events

Recent statistics confirm the effectiveness of visa liberalization measures. In 2024, the number of foreign tourists visiting Russia more than doubled compared to the previous period, reaching a record 1.6 million visits. Experts predict that the new rules could boost tourist arrivals by an additional 25-30% over the next two years.

The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasizes that simplifying visa procedures does not mean weakening migration control. All existing mechanisms for screening foreign entrants remain in place, including interagency verification systems and biometric registration.

Alongside extending visa validity, other measures to develop tourism infrastructure are being considered:

• Streamlining visa procedures for organized tourist groups

• Expanding digital services for tourists

• Improving regional transport accessibility

• Enhancing the quality of tourist services

The draft law will soon be submitted to the State Duma for review. Its adoption will not only increase tourist inflows but also strengthen Russia’s international standing as a country open to business and cultural cooperation.