Is there a chance to go abroad before the end of 2020?

Is there a chance to go abroad before the end of the year and will unused visas extend?

Is it possible to plan foreign trips until the end of 2020, which countries will extend an unused visa due to coronavirus and what restrictions to wait after the opening of the borders? "Paper" answers the main questions about traveling abroad during the pandemic.

Will I be able to go abroad until the end of 2020?

Several countries plan to open for travelers in the beginning or mid -summer, but with certain restrictions. So, Austria is going to open borders for people from countries where they are “successfully fighting coronavirus” (for example, Germany), and Indonesia is for tourists from China, Japan and South Korea. In Turkey, they are ready to accept tourists from all countries since the beginning of summer, and in Greece - from the beginning of July. From July 1, Georgia opens for tourists. Prime Minister Georgy Gakharia said the country will create safe corridors for travelers. However, negotiations with Russia have not yet begun. The Russian authorities have not announced plans to open borders, so far it is possible to leave the country only in exceptional cases. Turning companies and hoteliers proposed to resume trips between countries with a low level of coronavirus distribution from July 1. Senator Tatyana Kusaiko replied that the opening of borders is possible only following the results of the last stage of lifting restrictions.

And when will it be possible to go to Finland? Or in Estonia?

The Consulate of Estonia does not yet know when the border points begin to work as usual. The EU states will jointly decide on the opening of external borders, the department was told in the department. The consulate noted that there will be no exceptions for residents of border regions, including St. Petersburg. The consulate of Finland “Paper” said that temporary restrictions on visiting the country were extended until June 14. This also applies to the Russian-Finnish border. There is no information about when there will be no tourists to the country. Visa centers are closed until May 31. The Consulate of Latvia said that the state of emergency in the country was extended until June 9th. And the timing of the opening of borders with Russia has not yet been determined. The border of Russia with Lithuania will be closed at least until June, said the country's internal affairs Minister Rita Tamashunen.

Will there be any restrictions after the opening of the borders? They say something about "health passports"

It is so far that it is not yet known which mode will act after the end of the pandemic and the opening of the boundaries. One of the options is the so -called health passports or a certificate of absence of infection. Previously, such requirements were applied to residents of countries facing pork flu epidemics and Ebola fever. The introduction of “health passports” is discussed in several countries - for example, in Greece and Egypt. In particular, in hotels on the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea, they plan to resume the reception of guests, but tourists and employees must have documents confirming the absence of the disease. There are similar plans in the European Union. Croatian Minister Gary Kappelli said that the EU discusses the use of a general document such as “Covid-19 passport”. The Executive Director of the Finnish Tourism Association Heli Cleak-Frenty said that the introduction of special security measures is inevitably and did not rule out the appearance of such documents.

Will they extend the visa that I do not use because of the pandemic? And will they return the money for it?

Most of the countries do not intend to extend the action of visas, which tourists could not use due to the pandemic of coronavirus. However, those who planned a trip to Italy have such an opportunity. According to the Italian ambassador to Russia Paskual Terrachchano, all Russians who received visas for the period from March to May can re -register them on annual visas. You can return the money for a visa fee if the planned trip to Latvia has canceled. The department “Paper” explained that it is necessary to contact the consul and inform the reasons for the disarming of the visa. The Estonian Consulate “Paper” said that the agency returned the petitions along with the payment by the state duty or issued a visa for longer terms with the expectation that the visa could be used after the end of the pandemic. Special cases will be considered separately after the opening of the borders, added at the consulate. In Finland, they also do not intend to extend visas to the Russians. The Consulate General was informed “Paper” that the country is guided by the Visa Code of the Schengen Agreement. In accordance with it, Finland cannot extend the validity of the visa or move its beginning. If you couldn’t use the visa, the consulate was advised to request a new one.

Can I leave Russia until the end of the pandemic? In what cases?

Now Russia can be left only in exceptional cases. On March 30, the government closed the checkpoints across the border. Those who have a second citizenship or residence permit in another state can leave the country. While trips abroad are impossible, subscribe to the newsletter of “paper” on how to spend the weekend during the epidemic.