The FINANCIAL — According to RIA Novosti, a treaty between Russia and Norway on visa facilitation and readmission comes into force on December 1.
The agreement, signed by the two countries in June, facilitates the procedure for the issue of single entry visas for terms of up to three months, as well as multiple entry visas for certain categories of travelers, such as members of official delegations, businessmen, journalists, and students.
"Bureaucratic formalities will be cut for such categories of travelers as businessmen, cultural figures, scientists, athletes, journalists, students, teachers and close relatives of those living in Russia or Norway," Russia's Foreign Ministry said earlier.
The agreement also fixes the visa fee at 35 euros and sets a 10-day deadline for issuing visas.
Russia and most EU nations signed a visa facilitation agreement, seen as a crucial step toward a visa-free regime, and an agreement on the readmission of illegal migrants in May 2005 at a Russia-EU summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. The accords came in to force in June last year.
Norway is not a European Union member, but is within the Schengen passport-free zone.
