Visa procedures for Russian citizens are again based on the usual rules of the Visa Code.
=”Following the EU, Switzerland has decided to suspend the visa facilitation agreement with the Russian Federation” />
Switzerland following the EU has decided to suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Russia. This is reported on the website of the Swiss government.
At its meeting on September 16, 2022, the Swiss Federal Council completely suspended the visa facilitation agreement with Russia. In particular, the usual visa procedure is expected again for citizens of the Russian Federation.
“Thus, the Federal Council makes the same decision as the EU, and thus contributes to a unified pan-European visa policy,” the message reads.
The Swiss government reminded that since Russia's illegal aggression against Ukraine continues, On September 9, 2022, the EU decided to completely suspend the agreement with Russia on the simplification of the visa regime. At the meeting, the Federal Council also decided to suspend the agreement between Switzerland and Russia.
Back in the spring, Switzerland canceled the visa regime for certain groups of people, in particular, some Russian businessmen, and the visa-free regime for Russian diplomats. In this case, the Federal Council was also guided by the decision of the EU.
“It is in the interests of Switzerland to maintain a common and coordinated European visa policy,” the message states.
In 2009, Switzerland and the Russian Federation signed agreement on simplification of visa issuance for its citizens. This agreement simplified the visa procedure for certain groups of people and purposes of travel, and visa fees were reduced or abolished. Now the Federal Council has decided to completely suspend the agreement.
However, this does not mean a complete freeze on visas for Russians. Instead, visa procedures for Russian citizens are again based on the usual rules of the Visa Code.
Read also: Latvia restricts the entry of citizens of the Russian Federation with Schengen visas
Recall that the European Commission has approved a proposal for complete suspension of the visa facilitation agreement with Russia from September 12.
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Thus, the visa fee will increase from 35 to 80 euros, and the processing time will be up to six months. The number of long-term and multiple-entry visas will be greatly reduced, they may stop being issued altogether.
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