Albania waives visa-free entry for Russian nationals

Albania has waived its visa-free mode of entry for Russian nationals, the country’s embassy in Russia said in a statement.

This way, Russians visiting Albania will have to apply for a visa of the type that matches their intentions in the country. Citizens of Russia were previously allowed to enter Albania without a visa between 1 May and 30 September each year.

The EU countries agreed to suspend the 2007 visa facilitation deal with Russia last August.

The visa fee was raised from €35 to €80, while the processing times increased, and more restrictive rules for the issuance of visas were introduced. Russians applying for European visas now need to present additional documentary evidence.

After the EU decision had been made, Germany stated that it would require Russians to present an EU-issued medical insurance while applying for a visa.

Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, and Czechia later closed their borders for Russian tourists.