Quote:
Originally Posted by uk_vette
Why is the Russian visa so awkward, and generally quite expensive?
vette
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Its the principle of reciprocity.
A visa for UK citizens to Russia costs the same amount the UK charges Russian citizens.
Similarly the Russian authorities make the UK citizens jump through a similar amount of hoops that UK authorities make Russians jump through to get a visa to UK.
Russia charges totally different amounts per visa depending on what passport is used in the application. If you use an Australian passport, you will be charged a fair bit less ... because Australia charges Russians less for a visa.
Basic principles of fairness.
Russia doesnt need Western tourism to survive, so it doesnt bend over to them. But similarly it doesnt charge us any more than we charge them.
Cant be fairer than that, surely?
The only way they are going to get cheaper is if the UK stops making it such an expensive process for Russians to get UK visas. Or if the governments agree to have a visa free deal that works both ways.