Gryshchenko: Cyprus to start issuing free electronic visas to Ukrainians in September

The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has reached a principal agreement on the liberalization of a visa travel with Cyprus, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostiantyn Gryshchenko wrote in Twitter on Thursday.

"The first positive moment of the new work season – we've reached a principal agreement on the liberalization of a visa travel with Cyprus," gryschenko said.

According to the minister, the main point of the liberalization is the fact that documents for receiving a single entry national visa could be submitted online.

"One will not have to go to the embassy, visas are becoming electronic and free of charge," the minister said.

Gryschenko added that the innovation will be launched in September.

"So, from September travels to one more EU country will become easier," he said.

The Embassy of Cyprus in Ukraine has confirmed its readiness for the introduction of the electronic visa system, which will allow Ukrainians to submit documents for entry visa in electronic format via e-mail: visa-kiev@mfa.gov.cv.

The press service of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine said that the system could be used to receive a free single entry national visa for more than 90 days. In other cases, Ukrainians should use the standard procedure of submitting documents to the Embassy of Cyprus.

As reported, on August 8 the Ukrainian government approved an agreement with Poland on the cancellation of fees for issuing national visas.

The Ukrainian side is expecting that the agreement with Poland will come into force in September 2012.

Ukraine has signed similar agreements with Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia.