Russia, EU agree to ease further visas regulations

Russia and the European Union have reached preliminary agreements on further simplifications of visas regulations, Russia's EU envoy Vladimir Chizhov said. “We have reached consent and a relevant draft agreement on the changes to the acting agreement on visa simplifications as of 2006 is pending an interdepartmental consideration,” Chizhov said. Russia and the EU have already reached an agreement on long-term visas for up to five years. The EU currently issues short-term visas from several days to one year, although the Schengen Agreement allows five-year visas. Five-year visas will not be issued immediately but only after a person has received a short-term visa and proved his responsibility.