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Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that an Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation signed on 25 May 2006 in Sochi comes into force on 1 June 2007.

The Agreement aims at facilitation of travelling of EU citizens to Russia and Russian citizens to the EU. The Agreement introduces changes to Lithuanian citizens’ travelling to Russia.

The EU-Russia Agreement provides the same order of visa issuance for all citizens of the European Union.

According to the Agreement, visa fees for single-entry or multiple-entry visas will be 35 €. For visa applicants a decision on whether or not to issue a visa will have to be taken within 10 calendar days. Higher fee of 70 € will be charged in case of unjustifiable urgent requests, where the visa application and supporting documents are submitted by the visa applicant only three days or less before the departure. In case of refusal to issue a visa the money will not be returned.

The Agreement also provides simplified procedure (without an invitation confirmed by migration institutions etc.) of single-entry or multiple-entry visa issuance for businessmen, drivers conducting international cargo, journalists, pupils, students, sportsmen, close relatives of Russian citizens etc.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs draws attention to the fact that from 1 June 2007 Lithuanian citizens will not be able to receive cost-free visas for traveling to Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation without an invitation.

The EU-Russia Agreement does not provide exceptions for inhabitants of border regions. In order to ensure maintaining and strengthening of relations between the border region inhabitants Lithuania plans to sign a separate agreement with the Russian Federation on local border crossing that would allow Lithuanian citizens living close to the border with Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation and inhabitants of border zone of Kaliningrad Region enter the neighbour state with special permits through special simplified local border crossing points.

The enactment of the EU-Russia Agreement will not impact the implementation of Special Program of Kaliningrad Transit. The citizens of the Russian Federation travelling to the Kaliningrad Region and back will receive Facilitated Rail Transit Documents free of charge.

Lithuanian citizens may ask for additional information at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Lithuania.

The Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation can be found on the Foreign Ministry website http://www.urm.lt/index.php?332512519.

Citizens of the Russian Federation can receive information about Lithuanian visa issuance conditions in Lithuanian diplomatic representations in Russia.