The citizens of the CIS countries will be able to apply for a Latvian visa via internet from June 30, 2010. This was stated by the employee of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia Andrew Ryabtsev. The cost of introducing this service amounted to 30 thousand Latvian lats (Br173.78 million, or $57.65 thousand).
European Regional Development Fund (ERAF) was involved in the funding of the project, reported IA «REGNUM-Belarus» referring to agency LETA.
As a member of the EU, Latvia is not to abolish visa requirements for the CIS citizens alone, although the majority of the members of the Latvian government is in favor of a visa-free regime with Russia. However, the country has taken some steps to ease conditions for applying for Latvian visa. So they can get visas by mail using the Service Pony Express.
It also assumes that the Russian citizens, living in regions, don’t have to apply for a visa from Moscow or St. Petersburg. Electronic visa system will be created then, and the opportunity to appeal the denial of a visa will be given from April 2011.
By some estimates, the flow of Russian-speaking tourists from the CIS in Latvia could increase up to 30% in summer 2011.
Besides Belarus, the Commonwealth of Independent States includes Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.
As Telegraf previously reported, Latvia abolished the visa fee for issuing long-term national visas for Belarusian citizens on January 24. This visa is issued for entry into Latvia in order to obtain a residence permit for employment, training, family reunion, etc. However, the mechanism for issuing Schengen visa remained the same with the fee of € 60.
