Paid visa requirements for citizens from former soviet union countries

From 1 October, Poland will introduce visas for visitors from eastern Europe in connection with EU accession. In a tit-for-tat move, Russia and Belarus also decided to introduce visas for Polish citizens entering their territories. Single-entry visas to Poland will cost between $10 and $20, and multiple-entry visas, up to around $50, Deputy Foreign Minister Sławomir Dąbrowa announced yesterday. The final decision has not been taken yet, but, according to Dąbrowa, the low prices are a success of Polish diplomacy. "We do not want to make money on visas, contrary to Russia and Belarus which initially intended them to be much more expensive," maintained Dąbrowa. The agreement with Belarus, to be signed in several days, includes some special categories of people eligible for free visas, e.g. children under 16, persons over 65, or handicapped. Similar agreements are likely to be signed with Russia. Only Ukraine decided not to introduce visas for Poles, in exchange Ukrainians will receive visas free to enter Poland. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 8) K.Z.