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.
Head of County Council in Finnmark, Runar Sjåstad, urges money on the table so Norway could match Russia’s funding to construct new border check-point.
NIKEL: A €26 million investment at the Russian border checkpoint to Norway will eliminate all queues on the Russian side. The reconstruction of the checkpoint is planned to be finished by 2015.
The cross-border cooperation between Norway and Russia has had huge impact on local business in the border towns of Nikel and Kirkenes, especially since the introduction of visa-free border crossings.
STORSKOG: Queues are getting longer as traffic between Russia and Norway is now twice the capacity at the old border check-point. Chief of Police in Eastern Finnmark, Ellen Kathrine Hætta, urges funding to new facilities.
If the Norwegian Government does not allocate money for a new border crossing station soon, the situation at the Storskog border crossing could become chaotic, local police in Kirkenes warns.
Norway’s new conservative government presented its political platform on Monday promising extended opening hours and better capacity at Storskog border check-point to Russia.
MURMANSK: A €26 million construction project is in pipeline for increasing the capacity by six times at Russia’s Borisoglebsk border check-point. Still no funding for replacing the outdated Norwegian Storskog check-point.
KIRKENES: A group of Russian border guards last week conducted a live-fire exercise and weapons inspection at a Norwegian army post during an annual border guard exchange between the two countries.
SALMIJERVI: Contrary to earlier plans, FSB border guards reinforce the physical protection along Russia’s border to Norway. A brand new, and partly double barbed wire fence is now under construction.
Companies trading with Russia are increasingly at unease as Russian Customs introduce a series of enhanced control measures along several of the country`s borders. In December, cross-border trade could face chaos as Russia exits international regulations on cross-border trucks traffic.
ARKHANGELSK: Norway’s Honorary Consul Andrey Shalyov has busy days as the number of cross-border travelers from the White Sea region beat all previous records.
