Heads up, jetsetters! Russia's now made it easier for Filipinos to visit the country's cultural center! Starting October 1, Philippine passport holders may enter St. Petersburg with an electronic visa, as recently announced by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
The mandate to allow guests' entry with a free e-visa includes 52 other countries, all of which were also given access to Russia's surrounding Leningrad region through the same scheme just last July. As for the process of filing, the visa must be submitted through an online application form no later than four days, and no earlier than 20 days before your planned entry, as long as your purpose of travel is either for tourism, business, or humanitarian reasons.
With this new option in mind, you might ask, what exactly are the differences between an e-visa and a regular sticker visa? Well, for one, you won't have to stress about waiting too long as an e-visa can be issued within just four days after filing. This may also include weekends and bank holidays to render the process faster. Plus, you can skip the visit to the consular agency and submit the rest of your documents online. Not to mention, applying for an e-visa's totally free!
Take note, though, that your visa will only be valid for an eight-day stay so be sure to make the most of your visit and fill up your itinerary with all the best tourist spots!
