The Federation Council Committee on International Affairs supported the decision to expand the list of foreign persons who are close relatives of Russian citizens, as well as to increase their period of stay on Russian territory from 90 days to one year.
The corresponding bill was presented at the meeting by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Evgeny Ivanov, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Thus, according to him, the draft federal law on amendments to Articles 25 and 25.6 of the federal law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and the procedure for entering the Russian Federation” provides for amendments aimed at simplifying the issuance of private visas, increasing the frequency and duration of their validity, and also the permitted period of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation for foreign citizens who are close relatives of citizens of the Russian Federation.
“The opportunity to issue private visas for up to 1 year to all foreign citizens who are close relatives of citizens of the Russian Federation, the circle of whom is defined in the draft of this federal law,” the Deputy Foreign Minister spoke about the bill. – These include the concepts of close relatives: spouse, parents, children, adoptive parents, adopted children, full and half siblings, grandparents, grandchildren. That is, the circle is expanding significantly.”
“In addition, the bill excludes from the current legislation the restriction according to which the total period of stay of this category of foreign citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation on a multiple-entry visa should not exceed 90 days during each period of 180 days - this is a general rule. Thus, foreign citizens and close relatives of Russian citizens will be able to stay on the territory of the Russian Federation for one year continuously,” Ivanov clarified.
In addition, the bill significantly simplifies entry for these citizens.
“The amendments provide for the possibility of issuing business, study and work [visas] for accompanying citizens entering the Russian Federation for the purpose of undergoing treatment or as family members of a foreign citizen studying or working as a qualified specialist in the Russian Federation. That is, we are talking about accompanying family members of these foreigners. The issuance of a business visa to a person accompanying a citizen entering the Russian Federation for the purpose of undergoing treatment is carried out on the basis of an invitation to enter the Russian Federation,” the diplomat added.
Let us note that the bill was supported unanimously.