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.
Are you tired of filling out a bunch of documents every time you bring your car cross the Russian border? Now, new customs procedures might make your border-crossing a bit easier.
Moscow has still not decided on when, or if, Russia should change to daylight saving time. From Sunday, there will be three hour time difference on the border to Norway and two hours to Finland.
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 Still no funding for replacing the outdated Norwegian Storskog check-point.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin yesterday appointed Dmitrii Bezdelov, former official in the Ministry of Defence, as new head of the federal Border Development Agency. Mr. Bezdelov’s main task will be to increase efficiency and reduce red tape and corruption on the country’s border passes.
The members of the European Parliament last week approved a resolution which supports the introduction of visa-free travel with Russia. However, the parliament sees no hurry in the issue.
Oslo: Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre intends to work hard for the inclusion of the Varanger Peninsula in the visa-free travel zone with Russia.
