The visa center, which will have its first working day on March 28, is run by the company Invisa Fiduciary Services AS, who runs 46 Russian visa centers in 15 countries.
“Outsourcing of visa services is now common all over the world”, General Consul Mikhail Noskov says. “We believe the visa center will make it easier and more convenient for people to apply for visas to Russia”.
The visa center will be open for eight hours every weekday, and will also be open on Russian holidays. The center plans to open a web portal for online applications later this year.
The visa center will give costumers free advice on how to fill out applications and will also accept applications via e-mail and mail. In this way, applicants will not have to show up in person or use a travel agency to get their visas. The visa center will charge €30 for every visa and €15 for every border citizen
In 2012 the Russian General Consulate in Kirkenes issued nearly 7000 visas. This is approximately the same number as in 2011, but when you include the number of
Some 2200 permissions to enter Russia without a visa have been issued to Norwegians since the agreement on visa-free border-crossing for locals came into force in May 2012.
According to the agreement, people who have lived within 30 kilometers from the border for more than three years can visit the other country’s border area without a visa.
