The Operational Headquarters of the Russian Federation removes all covid restrictions on Russian borders from July 15. This means that both air and land borders of Russia will be open both to all foreigners and to all Russians. For example, “special reasons” will no longer be required to enter Finland or Estonia. But almost everyone still needs a PCR test to enter Russia.
WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED
Firstly, Russians will be able to to leave across the land border to any country, which was confirmed to Vestnik ATOR by representatives of the Operational Headquarters.
Earlier, departure was limited by order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 763-r dated March 27, 2020 d.
Secondly, removed everything except the need to present the results of the PCR test, restrictions on entry into the Russian Federation for foreigners and stateless persons. Citizens of Belarus will not even need a test.
Previously, entry into the Russian Federation was limited by order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 635-r dated March 16, 2020. Part of the restrictions were lifted from June 14, and now they have been removed for entry by land transport .
By decision of the Operational Headquarters of the Russian Federation, both of these provisions have been canceled since July 15, 2022.
FOR REASONS TO GO TO FINLAND AND ESTONIA ARE NO LONGER NEEDED
Thus, tourists will have more freedom of movement across land borders. This is true, for example, for those who are going to Finland, Estonia or Norway.
For example, Estonia previously opened its land borders to everyone. But Russians could not come to the country as tourists due to restrictions on the Russian border. From July 15, Russians will be able to visit Estonia, including for tourism purposes.
The situation is similar with Finland, which also lifted entry restrictions for citizens of third countries, including Russia, but the restrictions remained on the Russian side. From July 15, Russians will be able to travel to Finland for tourism purposes.
Earlier, restrictions on land borders were lifted by separate government decisions for entry into Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Georgia, Belarus.
Also, for their part, they removed covid restrictions on entry through the ground checkpoints of Latvia, Lithuania and Norway and Poland. In other matters, the latter is still inaccessible to Russians traveling by land for political reasons.
Land borders with Azerbaijan and China remain closed to tourists on the “other side”
But from the Russian side since July 15 Russians will be able to travel through the land border of any country that opens this border.
BELARUSIANS DO NOT NEED A PCR TEST. OTHERS NEED
Citizens of Belarus will no longer need to provide PCR test results when entering through any border. Corresponding changes will be made to the Resolution of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation No. 7 dated March 18, 2020.
Important: for citizens of other countries, the requirement to provide PCR test results remains.
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And the requirement for PCR testing for unvaccinated tourists returning to Russia from abroad (including all children from 0 to 18 years old) continues to apply.
Tests also needed and all entering foreigners
Anna Biryukova