Russia: Entry Restrictions Decree Implemented

• Visa restrictions. The decree implements visa restrictions for several categories of citizens of countries that Russia deems ‘unfriendly’ in response to sanctions over Ukraine. The following categories are affected: journalists, diplomatic passport holders, members of official delegations and government officials.  
  • The published list of ‘unfriendly’ countries includes the following countries, and is subject to change: Albania; Andorra; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Canada; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Latvia; Lithuania; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Malta; Micronesia, Monaco; Montenegro; Netherlands; New Zealand; North Macedonia; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; San Marino; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Korea; Spain; Switzerland; Sweden; Taiwan; Ukraine; United Kingdom (including Jersey, the British Virgin Islands and Gibraltar); and the United States. 
• Specific provisions of simplified visa issuance program suspended. Specific provisions of Russia’s simplified visa issuance program with EU countries and Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland have also been suspended, specifically: 
  
  • Foreign government and court representatives will not be able to obtain multiple-entry five-year visas; 
  • Members of official delegations and journalists will not be able to obtain multiple-entry one-, two-, and five-year visas; 
  • Holders of diplomatic passports will not be able to enter Russia and transit through Russian territory without visas; 
  • Government and court members will have to pay the full consular fee to obtain visas to Russia (from which they were previously exempt); and 
  • Visas for the above categories of travelers will be issued under standard processing times instead of expedited processing times. 
• Other entry restrictions. Lastly, the Russian government also granted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other bodies authority to implement personal entry restrictions on "foreign citizens and stateless people who commit unfriendly actions against Russia, its citizens or its legal entities."  It is not clear how these restrictions will be applied.  

Though they are wide-ranging, the restrictions do not apply to the following categories of foreign applicants: 

• Business travelers (applying for Russian business visas based on an invitation from a legal entity). For citizens of EU countries, the U.S. and various other countries, this invitation can still be issued on the corporate letterhead; and 
• Relatives of Russian citizens applying for private visas based on an invitation issued by a Russian notary. 

Overall, the president’s decree does not impact foreign workers in Russia, except for specific provisions that allow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to introduce personal sanctions. It is not yet clear how the government will implement such sanctions. 

The situation in Ukraine has caused many immigration-related impacts, including suspensions of golden visas, visa suspensions for Russian citizens, and other entry-related impacts. Access Fragomen’s client alerts for more information.  

The situation in Russia and Ukraine is evolving. Check our Spotlight page on the evolving situation and firm resources.