The Draft Law On Amendments to Article 25¹¹ of the Federal Law On the Procedure for Entering and Leaving the Russian Federation has been developed upon the implementation of the Government’s instruction.

Under the current wording of Article 25 of the Federal Law On the Procedure for Entering and Leaving the Russian Federation, foreign citizens who are passengers on board cruising vessels  and ferries that have permits to carry passengers and arrive in the Russian Federation via sea and river ports open for international passenger traffic may remain in the territory of the Russian Federation for 72 hours without visas, in compliance with the procedure established by the Government of the Russian Federation.

There has been an increase in visits to the Russian Federation for yacht tourism, following amendments to the Inland Water Transport Code. The amendments entered into force on 23 April 2012.

However, the Russian legislation does not address issues of visa-free entry for foreign nationals coming to the Russian Federation on board sport sailing and leisure vessels.

According to the draft law, foreign tourists arriving on board sport sailing and leisure vessels will be permitted to stay in the territory of the Russian Federation for 72 hours without visas.

The draft law takes into account the need to distinguish between the regions for which visa-free entry of foreign tourists is cost-effective and justified, and those for which such entry is, for a variety of reasons, impractical.

In this regard, the draft law stipulates that a list of border crossing points allowing visa-free entry, as well as a list of states, the nationals of which may enter the Russian Federation on board sport sailing and leisure vessels and may stay in the territory of the Russian Federation for 72 hours without visas, shall be determined by the Government of the Russian Federation.

The proposed amendments are aimed at simplifying the procedure for entry into the Russian Federation of foreign nationals visiting the country for the purposes of tourism, including yachting, and will create more favourable conditions for attracting foreign tourists to the most appealing tourist regions of the Russian Federation, which will contribute to the creation and further development of the required tourist and other social infrastructure in these regions.

The draft law was considered and approved at a Government meeting on 12 December 2013.