page_title: Norway–Russia border
section_title: Crossing
hierarchical_section_title: Norway–Russia border / Crossing
caption_attribution_description: English: The Russian border checkpoint, as seen from Storskog, Norway
context_page_description: The border between Norway and Russia consists of a 195.7-kilometer land border between Sør-Varanger, Norway, and Pechengsky District, Russia, and a 23.2-kilometer marine border in the Varangerfjord. It further consists of a border between the two countries' exclusive economic zones in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Between 1944 and 1991 the border was between Norway and the Soviet Union. There is a single border crossing, on E105, located at Storskog in Norway and Borisoglebsky in Russia. The Norwegian side is patrolled by the Garrison of Sør-Varanger and is under the jurisdiction of the Norwegian Border Commissioner, while the Russian side is patrolled by the Border Guard Service of Russia. Two-thirds of the border follows two rivers, the Pasvikelva and Jakobselva.
  The border was defined as a march in a treaty in 1326 and separated which parts of the Sami could be taxed by Norway and Russia. The border line was defined by a treaty in 1826 and essentially remains the same border today. In 1920 Petsamo was ceded to Finland and the border became part of the Finland–Norway border. Petsamo was ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944 and the Norway–Soviet Union border was established.
context_section_description: There is one legal border crossing point, with stations on both sides, at Storskog in Norway and Borisoglebsky in Russia, located on the E105 highway some 15 km east of Kirkenes. Crossing time at both stations is unpredictable and depends of the amount of traffic. The crossing is open between 07:00 and 21:00 Norwegian time. Immigration control at Storskog is carried out by Eastern Finnmark Police District, while customs are carried out by the Norwegian Customs and Excise Authorities. The Norwegian Border Commissioner also has representatives at the checkpoint. It is the only of Norway's land border crossings which does not border the Schengen Area and thus the only one manned by the police.
  The Border Guard Service of Russia operates the border crossing at Borisoglebsky. It consists of a customs area and a border control area, both with independent checks. Once past Borisoglebsky travelers enter the Border Security Zone, a twenty-minute transit-only area. The road is located outside the barbed-wire fence which stretches along Russia's entire Norway and Finland border. Upon reaching the end of the transit zone there is another checkpoint at which there is performed a check of passports. Previously there was also another checkpoint located at Titovka, between Nikel and Murmansk. There are more border checkpoints today than during the Cold War.
  Since 29 September 2017, a new bridge has been opened passing the Pasvik river, with the Storskog-Borisoglebsk customs stations still handling the travels between the two countries.
  As of 2010 there were 140,855 border crossings, of which 19,000 were by Norwegians and the rest by Russians. There are five main motivations for trans-border traffic: shopping in border towns, business, vacation and leisure, visiting friends and relatives, and transfer to other destinations via Kirkenes Airport, Høybuktmoen. Russian residents of Murmansk Oblast, Arkhangelsk Oblast and Nenets Autonomous Okrug can obtain Pomor visas, a multi-entry Schengen visa, without an invitation. In 2010, the Russian Consulate General in Kirkenes issued 8,000 visas to Norwegians.
  There is a special (almost) visa-free arrangement for a designated area of between 30 and 50 kilometres (19 and 31 mi) surrounding the border, based on a clause in the Schengen Agreement. It is only available for residents of the zone for the past three years and requires that a special ID-card be acquired from the consulate of the country to visit (a kind of multiple-journey visa). Stay is limited to 15 days. Towns within the area include Kirkenes in Norway and Nikel, Pechenga and Zapolyarny in Russia. 9,000 Norwegians and 45,000 Russians are eligible for this arrangement. After a similar agreement on border between Poland and Kaliningrad Oblast it is the second time such a visa-free border agreement has been made between Russia and part of the Schengen Area. The distance 30 km is calculated as straight distances on the map, so local Norwegians can visit Zapolyarny which is the largest city in the border area, located 11 km (7 mi) from the border, but 50 km (31 mi) from the border station by road.
  There are more roads which cross the border and connect to the road network of both countries. They are not open to public. These are the two Paatsjoki river hydroelectric plants: Hevoskoski and Skogfoss. Also the historic border crossing at Skafferhullet has such a road, and there is one over the upper part of Jakobselva river.
  As Norway grants the right to travel right up to the border, it is also permitted for residents of Norway to operate boats in the two border rivers and fish. All boats must be registered with the Norwegian Border Commission and registration plates must be mounted on both sides of the vessel. Boating is only permitted in daylight. Fishing and boating is only permitted on the Norwegian side of the river; however in the narrow passages of Pasvikelva it is permitted to travel through on the Russian side on the condition that the boat does not stop, except in emergencies. Parts of Pasvikelva is marked with yellow buoys along the 
caption: The Russian border checkpoint, as seen from Storskog, Norway
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