Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of visas to the citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation
Date: 2006-05-25
Institutions: European Community, Russia
Subjects: EU visa policy, Russia, Schengen Agreement, agreement (EU), external border of the EU, foreign national

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between the European Community and the Russian Federation on the facilitation of the issuance of
visas to the citizens of the European Union and the Russian Federation

AGREEMENT

THE PARTIES,

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Community’,

and

THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION,

DESIRING to facilitate people-to-people contacts as an important condition for a steady development of economic,
humanitarian, cultural, scientific and other ties, by facilitating the issuing of visas to the citizens of the European
Union and the Russian Federation on the basis of reciprocity,

HAVING REGARD to the Joint Statement agreed on the occasion of the St Petersburg Summit held on 31 May 2003
stating that the European Union and the Russian Federation agree to examine the conditions for visa-free travel as a long
term perspective,

REAFFIRMING the intention to establish the visa-free travel regime between the Russian Federation and the European
Union,

BEARING IN MIND the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation of 24 June 1994 establishing a Partnership between
the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part,

HAVING REGARD to the Joint Statement on EU Enlargement and EU–Russia Relations agreed on 27 April 2004
confirming the intention of the European Union and the Russian Federation to facilitate visa issuance for the citizens
of the European Union and the Russian Federation on a reciprocal basis and to launch negotiations with a view to
concluding an agreement,

RECOGNISING that this facilitation should not lead to illegal migration and paying special attention to security and
readmission,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and
Ireland and the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union, annexed to the
Treaty on European Union of 7 February 1992 and the Treaty establishing the European Community of 25 March 1957
and confirming that the provisions of this Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and Ireland,

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union of
7 February 1992 and the Treaty establishing the European Community of 25 March 1957 and confirming that the
provisions of this Agreement do not apply to the Kingdom of Denmark,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Purpose and scope of application

The purpose of this Agreement is to facilitate, on the basis of
reciprocity, the issuance of visas for an intended stay of no
more than 90 days per period of 180 days to the citizens of
the European Union and the Russian Federation.

Federation only insofar as they are not exempted from the visa
the Russian
requirement by the laws and regulations of
Federation, of
the
the Community or
present agreement or other international agreements.

the Member States,

Article 2

General Clause

1.
The visa facilitations provided in this Agreement shall
apply to citizens of the European Union and of the Russian

The national

law of the Russian Federation, or of the
2.
Member States or Community law shall apply to issues not
covered by the provisions of
this Agreement, such as the
refusal to issue a visa, recognition of travel documents, proof
of sufficient means of subsistence and the refusal of entry and
expulsion measures.

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Article 3

Definitions

For the purpose of this Agreement:

(a)

shall mean any Member State of

‘Member State’
the
European Union, with the exception of the Kingdom of
Denmark,
Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland;

(b) ‘Citizen of the European Union’ shall mean a national of a

Member State as defined in point (a);

consultations, negotiations or

European Union or the Russian Federation, shall participate
in meetings,
exchange
programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of
the Russian Federation or one of the Member States by
intergovernmental organisations:

— a letter issued by a competent authority of a Member
State or of the Russian Federation, or by a European
institution confirming that the applicant is a member
of its delegation travelling to the territory of the other
Party to participate in the aforementioned events,
accompanied by a copy of the official invitation;

(c)

‘Citizen of the Russian Federation’ shall mean a person who
possesses or has acquired citizenship of
the Russian
Federation in accordance with its national legislation;

(b) for business people and representatives of business organi-

sations:

(d) ‘Visa’ shall mean an authorisation/permission issued or a
decision taken by a Member State or by the Russian
Federation which is required with a view to:

— entry for an intended stay of no more than 90 days in
total in that Member State or in several Member States
or in the Russian Federation,

— entry for transit through the territory of that Member
the Russian
several Member States or of

State or
Federation.

(e)

‘legally residing person’ shall mean:

— for the Russian Federation, a citizen of the European
temporary
Union who acquired a permission for
residing, a residence permit or an educational or
working visa for a period of more than 90 days in
the Russian Federation,

— for

the European Union, a citizen of

the Russian
Federation authorised or entitled to stay for more than
90 days in the territory of a Member State, on the basis
of Community or national legislation.

Article 4

Documentary evidence regarding the purpose of

the

journey

1.
For the following categories of citizens of the European
Union and of the Russian Federation, the following documents
are sufficient for justifying the purpose of the journey to the
other Party:

(a)

for members of official delegations who,
official

invitation addressed to the Member States,

following an
the

— a written request from a host legal person or company,
organisation, or an office or their branches, state and
the Russian Federation and the
local authorities of
Member States or organising committees of trade and
industrial exhibitions, conferences and symposia held in
the territories of the Russian Federation or one of the
Member States;

(c)

for drivers conducting international cargo and passenger
the
transportation services between the
in vehicles
Russian Federation and the Member States
registered in the Member States or
in the Russian
Federation:

territories of

— a written request from the national association (union)
of carriers of the Russian Federation or the national
associations of carriers of the Member States providing
the
road
for
purpose, duration and frequency of the trips;

transportation,

international

stating

(d) for members of train, refrigerator and locomotive crews in
international trains, travelling between the territories of the
Member States and the Russian Federation:

— a written request from the competent railway company
of the Russian Federation or the Member States stating
the purpose, duration and frequency of the trips;

(e)

for journalists:

— a certificate or other document issued by a professional
organisation proving that
the person concerned is a
qualified journalist and a document issued by his/her
employer stating that the purpose of the journey is to
carry out journalistic work;

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(f)

for persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic
activities,
exchange
programmes:

university

including

other

and

(a)

for the invited person — name and surname, date of birth,
sex, citizenship, number of the identity document, time and
purpose of the journey, number of entries and name of
minor children accompanying the invited person;

— a written request from the host organisation to parti-

cipate in those activities;

(b) for the inviting person — name, surname and address; or

(g) for pupils, students, post-graduate students and accom-
panying teachers who undertake trips for the purposes of
study or educational training, including in the framework of
exchange programmes as well as other
related
activities:

school

— a written request or a certificate of enrolment from the
host university, academy, institute, college or school or
student cards or certificates of
to be
attended;

the courses

(h) for participants in international sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity:

— a written request from the host organisation: competent
authorities, national sport Federations of the Member
States or the Russian Federation and National Olympic
Committee of
the Russian Federation or National
Olympic Committees of the Member States;

(i)

for participants in official exchange programmes organised
by twin cities:

— a written request of the head of administration/mayor of

these cities;

(c)

for the inviting legal person, company or organisation —
full name and address: and

— if the request is issued by an organisation, the name and

position of the person who signs the request,

— if the inviting person is a legal person or company or an
office or their branch established in the territory of a
Member State, the registration number as required by
the national law of the Member State concerned,

— if the inviting person is a legal person or company or an
office or their branch established in the territory of the
Russian Federation, the tax identification number.

3.
For the categories of citizens mentioned in paragraph 1 of
this Article, all categories of visas are issued according to the
simplified procedure without requiring any other justification,
invitation or validation concerning the purpose of the journey,
provided for by the legislation of the Parties.

Article 5

Issuance of multiple-entry visas

(j)

for close relatives — spouses, children (including adopted),
parents
(including custodians), grandparents and grand-
children — visiting citizens of the European Union or the
Russian Federation legally residing in the territory of the
Russian Federation or the Member States:

1.
Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
States and of the Russian Federation shall issue multiple-entry
visas with the term of validity of up to five years to the
following categories of citizens:

— a written request from the host person;

(k) for visiting military and civil burial grounds:

(a) members of national

and regional Governments

and
Parliaments, Constitutional Courts and Supreme Courts,
if
they are not exempted from the visa requirement by the
present Agreement,
in the exercise of their duties, with a
term of validity limited to their term of office if this is less
than five years;

— an official document confirming the existence and
preservation of the grave as well as family or other
relationship between the applicant and the buried.

The written request mentioned in paragraph 1 of this

2.
Article shall contain the following items:

(b) spouses and children (including adopted), who are under the
age of 21 or are dependant, visiting citizens of the European
Union and the Russian Federation legally residing in the
territory of the Russian Federation or the Member States,
with the term of validity limited to the duration of the
validity of their authorisation for legal residence.

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Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
2.
States and of the Russian Federation shall issue multiple-entry
visas with the term of validity of up to one year to the
following categories of citizens, provided that during the
previous year they have obtained at least one visa, have made
use of it in accordance with the laws on entry and stay in the
territory of the visited State and that there are reasons for
requesting a multiple-entry visa:

(a)

invitation addressed to the Member States,

following an
for members of official delegations who,
official
the
European Union or the Russian Federation, shall participate
in official meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange
programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of the
Russian Federation or one of the Member States by inter-
governmental organisations;

(b) business people and representatives of business organi-
sations who regularly travel to the Russian Federation or
the Member States;

(c) drivers conducting international cargo and passenger trans-
the Russian
portation services between the territories of
Federation and the Member States in vehicles registered in
the Member States or the Russian Federation;

(d) members of
international
the Russian Federation and the Member States;

train, refrigerator and locomotive crews in
travelling between the territories of
trains,

(e) persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic
activities,
exchange
university
programmes, who regularly travel to the Russian Federation
or the Member States;

including

other

and

(f) participants

in international

sports events and persons

accompanying them in a professional capacity;

(g)

journalists;

(h) participants in official exchange programmes organised by

twin cities.

3.
Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
States and of the Russian Federation shall issue multiple-entry
visas with the term of validity of a minimum of two years and a
maximum of five years to the categories of citizens referred to
in paragraph 2 of this Article, provided that during the previous

two years they have made use of the one year multiple-entry
visas in accordance with the laws on entry and stay in the
territory of the visited State and that the reasons for requesting
a multiple-entry visa are still valid.

4.
The total period of stay of persons referred to in para-
graphs 1 to 3 of this Article shall not exceed 90 days per period
of 180 days in the territory of the Member States or in the
Russian Federation.

Article 6

Fees for processing visa applications

The fee for processing visa applications shall amount to

1.
EUR 35.

The aforementioned amount may be reviewed in accordance
with the procedure provided for in Article 15(4).

2.
The Parties shall charge a fee of EUR 70 for processing
visas in cases where the visa application and the supporting
documents have been submitted by the visa applicant within
three days before his/her envisaged date of departure. This will
not apply to cases pursuant to Article 6(3), (b), (e) and (f) and
Article 7(3).

Fees for processing the visa application are waived for the

3.
following categories of persons:

(a)

for close relatives — spouses, children (including adopted)
parents
(including custodians), grandparents and grand-
children — of citizens of the European Union and of the
Russian Federation legally residing in the territory of the
Russian Federation or the Member States;

(b) for members of official delegations who,

invitation addressed to the Member States,

following an
official
the
European Union or the Russian Federation, shall participate
in meetings,
exchange
programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of
the Russian Federation or one of the Member States by
intergovernmental organisations;

consultations, negotiations or

(c) members of national

and
Parliaments, Constitutional Courts and Supreme Courts,
if
they are not exempted from the visa requirement by the
present Agreement;

and regional Governments

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(d) pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying
teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or
educational training;

(e) disabled persons and the person accompanying them,

if

necessary;

(f) persons who have presented documents proving the
travel on humanitarian grounds,
necessity of
including to receive urgent medical
treatment and the
person accompanying such person, or to attend a funeral
of a close relative, or to visit a seriously ill close relative;

their

(g) participants in youth international sports events and persons

accompanying them;

(h) persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic
exchange
university

including

other

and

activities
programmes;

Article 9

Extension of visa in exceptional circumstances

the European Union and of

The citizens of
the Russian
Federation who do not have the possibility to leave the
territory of the Russian Federation and of the Member States
by the time stated in their visas for reasons of force majeure shall
have the term of
their visas extended free of charge in
accordance with the legislation applied by the receiving State
for the period required for their return to the State of their
residence.

Article 10

Registration procedures

The Parties agree to undertake measures as soon as possible to
simplify the procedures of registration, with the view to entitle
the citizens of
the
European Union to the equal treatment regarding registration
procedures while staying in the territory of
the Russian
Federation or of the Member States, respectively.

the Russian Federation and citizens of

(i) participants in official exchange programmes organised by

twin cities.

Article 11

Diplomatic passports

Article 7

Length of procedures for processing visa applications

1.
Diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Member
States and the Russian Federation shall take a decision on the
request to issue a visa within 10 calendar days of the date of the
receipt of the application and documents required for issuing
the visa.

2.
The period of time for taking a decision on a visa appli-
cation may be extended up to 30 calendar days in individual
cases, notably when further scrutiny of
the application is
needed.

3.
The period of time for taking a decision on a visa appli-
cation may be reduced to three working days or less in urgent
cases.

Citizens of the Russian Federation or the Member States,
leave and
the Member States or the

1.
holders of valid diplomatic passports may enter,
through the territories of
transit
Russian Federation without visas.

Citizens mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article may stay
2.
in the territories of the Russian Federation or the Member States
for a period not exceeding 90 days per period of 180 days.

Article 12

Territorial validity of visas

the Russian Federation and of

to the national
security of

rules and regulations concerning
Subject
national
the
Member States and subject to EU rules on visas with limited
territorial validity, the citizens of the Russian Federation and of
the European Union shall be entitled to travel within the
territory of the Member States and of the Russian Federation
on equal basis with European Union and Russian citizens.

Article 8

Departure in case of lost or stolen documents

Article 13

Citizens of the European Union and of the Russian Federation
who have lost their identity documents, or from whom these
documents have been stolen while staying in the territory of the
Russian Federation or
the Member States, may leave that
territory on the grounds of valid identity documents entitling
to cross the border issued by diplomatic missions or consular
posts of
the Russian Federation
without any visa or other authorisation.

the Member States or of

Joint Committee for management of the Agreement

The

shall

Parties

Joint Committee

for
set up a
1.
management of the Agreement (hereinafter referred to as ‘the
Committee’), composed by representatives of
the European
Community and of the Russian Federation. The Community
shall be represented by the European Commission, assisted by
experts from the Member States.

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The Committee shall,

in particular, have the following

2.
tasks:

(a) monitoring the implementation of the present Agreement;

(b) suggesting
Agreement;

amendments or

additions

to the present

(c)

to examine and, if deemed necessary, propose amendments
to this agreement in case of new accessions to the European
Union.

The Committee shall meet whenever necessary at

3.
request of one of the Parties and at least once a year.

the

4.

The Committee shall establish its rules of procedure.

Article 14

Relation of

this Agreement with Agreements between

Member States and the Russian Federation

this Agreement

from its entry into force,

As
take
precedence over provisions of any bilateral or multilateral
agreements or
concluded between Member
States and the Russian Federation, insofar as the provisions of
the latter agreements or arrangements cover issues that are dealt
with by the present Agreement.

arrangements

shall

Article 15

Final clauses

This Agreement shall be ratified or approved by the
1.
Parties in accordance with their
respective procedures and
shall enter into force on the first day of the second month
following the date on which the Parties notify each other that
the procedures referred to above have been completed.

By way of derogation to paragraph 1 of this Article, the
2.
present Agreement shall only enter into force at the date of the
entry into force of
the agreement between the Russian
Federation and the European Community on readmission if
this date is after the date provided for in paragraph 1 of this
Article.

3.
This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of
time, unless terminated in accordance with paragraph 6 of this
Article.

4.
This Agreement may be amended by written agreement of
the Parties. Amendments shall enter into force after the Parties
have notified each other of the completion of their internal
procedures necessary for this purpose.

in part

Each Party may suspend in whole or

this
5.
Agreement for reasons of public order, protection of national
security or protection of public health. The decision on
suspension shall be notified to the other Party not later than
48 hours before its entry into force. The Party that has
suspended the application of this Agreement shall immediately
inform the other Party once the reasons for the suspension no
longer apply.

Each Party may terminate this Agreement by giving
6.
written notice to the other Party. This Agreement shall cease
to be in force 90 days after the date of receipt of such notifi-
cation.

Done at Sochi on the twenty fifth day of May in the year two
thousand and six,
in duplicate each in the Czech, Danish,
Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek,
Polish,
Hungarian,
Portuguese, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Russian
languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

Lithuanian, Maltese,

Latvian,

Italian,

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Hecho en Sochi, el veinticinco de mayo del dos mil seis.
V Soči dne dvacátého pátého května dva tisíce šest.
Udfærdiget i Sotji den femogtyvende maj to tusind og seks.
Geschehen zu Sotschi am fünfundzwanzigsten Mai zweitausendsechs.
Kahe tuhande kuuenda aasta maikuu kahekümne viiendal päeval Sotšis.
'Εγινε στο Σότσι, στις είκοσι πέντε Μαΐου δύο χιλιάδες έξι.
Done at Sochi on the twenty fifth day of May in the year two thousand and six.
Fait à Sotchi, le vingt cinq mai deux mille six.
Fatto a Soci, addì venticinque maggio duemilasei.
Sočos, divtūkstoš sestā gada divdesmit piektajā maijā.
Priimta du tūkstančiai šeštų metų gegužės dvidešimt penktą dieną Sočyje.
Kelt Szocsiban, a kettőezer hatodik év május huszonötödik napján.
Magħmul f'Sochi, fil-ħamsa u għoxrin jum ta' Mejju tas-sena elfejn u sitta.
Gedaan te Sotsji, de vijfentwintigste mei tweeduizend zes.
Sporządzono w Soczi dnia dwudziestego piątego maja roku dwutysięcznego szóstego.
Feito em Sotchi, em vinte e cinco de Maio de dois mil e seis.
V Soči dňa dvadsiateho piateho mája dvetisícšesť.
V Soči, petindvajsetega maja leta dva tisoč šest.
Tehty Sotšissa kahdentenakymmenentenäviidentenä päivänä toukokuuta vuonna kaksituhattakuusi.
Som skedde i Sotji den tjugofemte maj tjugohundrasex.
Adoptată la Sochi, la douăzeci și cinci mai două mii șase.
Совершено в г. Сочи двадцать пятого мая две тысячи шестого года.

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Por la Comunidad Europea
Za Evropské společenství
For Det Europæiske Fællesskab
Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft
Euroopa Ühenduse nimel
Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα

For the European Community
Pour la Communauté européenne
Per la Comunità europea
Eiropas Kopienas vārdā
Europos bendrijos vardu
Az Európai Közösség részéről
Għall-Komunità Ewropea
Voor de Europese Gemeenschap
W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej
Pela Comunidade Europeia
Za Európske spoločenstvo
Za Evropsko skupnost
Euroopan yhteisön puolesta
På Europeiska gemenskapens vägnar
Pentru Comunitatea Europeană
За Европейское сообщество

Por la Federación de Rusia
Za Ruskou federaci
For Den Russiske Føderation
Für die Russische Föderation
Venemaa Föderatsiooni nimel
Για τη Ρωσική Ομοσπονδία

For the Russian Federation
Pour la Fédération de Russie
Per la Federazione russa
Krievijas Federācijas vārdā
Rusijos Federacijos vardu
Az Orosz Föderáció részéről
Għall-Federazzjoni Russa
Voor de Russische Federatie
W imieniu Federacji Rosyjskiej
Pela Federação da Rússia
Za Ruskú federáciu
Za Rusko federacijo
Venäjän federaation puolesta
På ryska federationen vägnar
Pentru Federația Rusă
За Российскую Федерацию