By RF Government Decree dated September 15, 2014 No 937, seaport Sevastopol has been included into the list of ports for visa-free entry of foreign citizens and persons without citizenship arriving in Russia by ferries for tourism purposes.
The document was elaborated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Order of the Government of the Russian Federation from May 7, 2009 of No. 397 “About the procedure for stay in the territory of the Russian Federation foreign citizens and the stateless persons arriving to the Russian Federation in the tourist purposes on ferry boats, having permissions to passenger traffic” includes the Regulations on stay in the territory of the Russian Federation for foreign citizens and the list of ports through which entry into the Russian Federation is allowed.
According to the Regulations, members of tourist groups can stay in the territory of the Russian Federation for 72 hours without visas in case of accommodation on the ferry boat or in other places determined in the group tourist program.
According to the above Decree, the list of ports through which entry into Russia is allowed has been extended with seaport of Sevastopol.
“The decision is intended to create favorable environment for visiting of Crimea by citizens of countries making major tourist flows to Russia”, the document says.
It is also noted that the implementation of the Decree will let enhance tourism attractiveness of the region and facilitate the development of inbound tourism in general.