Number of border-crossers breaks new record
The number of people crossing Europe’s northernmost border just keeps on rising. In January 13 600 persons crossed the border between Norway and Russia.
This is the highest number ever for one single month and 36 percent more than in January 2010.
Business in the border town of Kirkenes thrives with the Russian visitors that have been filling up the town’s shops and cafés in the first month of the year.
Read also: The Russians are coming!
The Norwegian General Consulate in January issued 12 percent more visas than in January last year. Half of the visas were so-called Pomor visas, a multi-entry visa to Norway that can be issued without a prior invitation from a person or organization in Norway.
More and more people are using the Internet when applying for a visa to Norway. 41 percent of the applications came through the General Consulate’s web site Norvegia.ru in January this year, compared to 9 percent last year.
The newly opened visa office at the Honorary Consulate in Arkhangelsk has experience a rush for visas since it opened just two weeks ago, says Anastasia Sazhenova at the Norwegian Barents Secretariat’s office in Arkhangelsk. 36 persons have applied for visas since February 1. Mostly people apply for visa to visit their relatives, but there have also been a few Pomor visas, several business visas and applications for permit to work or study.
The visa office in Arkhangelsk gives all residents of the Arkhangelsk region as well as the Nenets Autonomous Okrug opportunity to get a Schengen visa without mediators or taking the trip to Murmansk.
Read also: Galina first in line for Norwegian visa
