17 Mar 2023 15:52

Visa-free travel agreement between Russia and Iran to start in 2023 - Reshetnikov

MOSCOW. March 17 (Interfax) - The agreement on visa-free travel for tourism between Russia and Iran will start in 2023, with tour operators who can put tour groups together already agreed, Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said.

"This year we plan to move to the implementation of an agreement on visa-free group tourist trips. The list of tour operators who plan to put these groups together in Russia has already been agreed," he said, speaking at the International Dialogue Russia - Iran session as part of the MITT international tourism exhibition in Moscow.

These are groups of up to 50 people entering for up to 15 days, the minister said.

"More than 60 Russian constituent entities have shown interest in this, and they have compiled a list of 260 companies. We have already transmitted this document through the Foreign Ministry to our colleagues in Iran. We are waiting for a similar document from you in order to launch a tourist exchange," Reshetnikov said.

Since July 1, 2021, an agreement on visa-free group travel has been in force between Russia and Iran. Under the agreement, citizens of both countries can visit the other country without visas for tourist purposes for a period not exceeding 15 days. The group should be led by a representative of the tourism organization that sent it. While staying in the other country, the trip must take place only as part of a group.

Iranian Deputy Minister of Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Handicrafts Aliasgar Shalbafiyan said that even now Russian tourists can obtain visas at the airport upon arrival in Iran.