Three days processing of visa-applications is history. “Always apply at least 15 days prior to scheduled departure. Our processing time is 10 days,” says Marit Egholm Jacobsen, head of the visa section at Norway’s Consulate General in Murmansk.
KALININGRAD. The European Parliament will on 14 December vote on the establishment of a multi-million people visa-free zone between Kaliningrad and Poland.
There can be no true partnership between Russia and the EU without the abolishment of the current visa regime, President Vladimir Putin underlines to EU leaders.
Janne-Pekka Piispanen and Julia Bobina believe the Barents Region could be the first place with full visa-freedom between EU and Russia. Their suggestion is now posted to the Prime Ministers that will meet in Kirkenes next spring to sign a new Barents declaration.
Russia will start collecting fingerprints from foreigners applying for visa. For Barents travelers, personal appearance to the nearest diplomatic mission can be too expensive.
With a new visa-centre in Petrozavodsk, Karelians will no longer need to travel to St. Petersburg to apply for visa to Norway. Next year, Arkhangelsk probably gets the same.
Norwegians living in Eastern Finnmark have access to cheaper petrol than any other places in Western Europe. 36 rubel per litre, or 4,4 kroner. That is 10 kroner cheaper than in Kirkenes.
People participating in culture-, sport and Barents cooperation projects can from October apply for visa to Norway without paying a single ruble, says Marit Egholm Jacobsen with the Norwegian Consulate General in Murmansk.
Russian customs officials in the Russian border town of Svetogorsk are calling for additional insurance and security escorts for vehicles carrying cargo valued at more than 50,000 USD. The new rule spurs cross-border traffic problems on the Russian-Finnish border.
