PRESS RELEASE

The Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the Facilitation of the Issuance of Visas for Short-Term Mutual Trips of Citizens was signed in Moscow on September 29, 2008 on the basis of Russian Government Executive Order No. 1408-r of September 27, 2008.

The agreement aims at expanding and strengthening the juridical base of Russian-South Korean relations in the field of the regime for mutual trips of citizens, and at creating the most favorable conditions for increased contacts between public authorities of the two countries, business people and ordinary citizens. Its provisions were worked out drawing on the experience of the application of the previously concluded similar agreements with other foreign countries (European Community, Kingdom of Thailand, Republic of the Philippines).

The key element of the Agreement is to simplify the procedures for issuing visas for entry and stay within the territory of the other side for up to 90 days to 180 days for Russian Federation and Republic of Korea citizens who are holders of valid foreign passports. The said agreement also provides for the possibility of granting the citizens of both states multiple visas for a period of one year to 5 years. The essence of the simplified procedure is that visas will be processed upon direct requests of host organizations (without the submission of invitations envisaged by the legislations of the sides).

This regulation will apply to the following persons:

- Members of official delegations (if they are not holders of diplomatic passports);

- Entrepreneurs and representatives of business organizations;

- Workers in science, culture and education;

- Journalists;

- Participants in international sports events;

- Participants of exchange programs between twin cities;

- Close relatives of persons who are lawfully in the territory of the states parties;

- Tourists.

The Agreement establishes the following periods for consideration of visa applications – single and double-entry visas within 5 working days; and multiple visas within 10 working days.

The Agreement is subject to ratification pursuant to subparagraph (a) of paragraph 1 of Article 15 of the Federal Law on RF International Treaties No. 101-FZ of July 15, 1995, as it contains rules other than those stipulated in national legislation, in particular, the Federal Law on the Procedure for Exit from and Entry to the Russian Federation, as well as the Federal Law on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in Russia. This is about two provisions:

- Issuance of visas upon direct request from host organizations without submission of statutory invitations;

- Issuance of multiple visas valid for up to 5 years.

The question of ratification of the Agreement in accordance with established procedure was agreed upon with the concerned federal executive bodies, and approved by the State Duma on November 6 and at the plenary meeting of the Federation Council on November 18 this year.

Thus, the ratification procedure is in its final stage and we expect this process to be completed in the next two months.

Pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 14, the Agreement will enter into force 30 days after the date of receipt through diplomatic channels of the last written notification of the sides' fulfillment of their internal procedures required for its entry into force (the Korean side informed the Russian side of the completion of its domestic procedures necessary for entry into force of this Agreement in October 2008).

November 24, 2009