Russia To Simplify Foreign Tourism Visa Access To The Russian Far East

The Russian government and relevant authorities should simplify the possibility for foreign tourists to enter regions of the Russian Far East, President Vladimir Putin has said, in assignments given at the conclusion of meetings with Russian officials during the recent Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

The Russian State Cabinet, together with the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service have been requested “to consider the possibility of simplifying the procedure of electronic visas issuance for entry of foreign citizens to the territory of the Far Eastern Federal Districts for tourist purposes” by April 15, 2025.

Russia’s Marine Board has also been called upon to “consider the issue of expanding the possibility for calls of foreign tourist ships to seaports” of the Far East during the same timeframe.

Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District is the largest of the eight federal districts of Russia, but the least populated, with a population of around 8 million. It lies entirely within the easternmost part of Russia and is coextensive with Asia. It includes Amur Oblast, the Republic of Buryatia, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Kamchatka Krai, Khabarovsk Krai, Magadan Oblast, Primorsky Krai, The Sakha Republic, Sakhalin Oblast, and Zabaykalsky Krai.

The Russian Far East Federal District

1: Amur Oblast, 2: Republic of Buryatia, 3: Jewish Autonomous Oblast,
4: Zabaykalsky Krai, 5: Kamchatka Krai, 6: Magadan Oblast,
7: Primorsky Krai, 8: Sakha Republic, 9: Sakhalin Oblast,
10: Khabarovsk Krai, 11: Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

The main beneficiaries of this scheme will be Chinese tourists, with the Chinese shipyards in Shanghai soon to launch the world’s largest cruise ship liners. President Putin will be looking to attract such vessels to the Russian Far East.