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38 Polish visa centres opened in Russia – embassy

Poland will also open the visa centre in Kazan in May, the embassy said

MOSCOW, May 17 (Itar-Tass) — A new Polish visa centre has been opened in the Russian capital, the Polish Embassy in Russia reported on Thursday.

Poland will also open the visa centre in Kazan in May, the embassy said.

“The visa centre in Moscow is ‘the first portent’. Additional eight centres are planning to emerge in the short run. Poland will open the visa centre in Kazan in May. At the end of May the visa centres will begin operating in Smolensk, Rostov on Don, Vologda, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Novosibirsk and Khabarovsk,” the embassy said.

“Totally, up to 38 visa centres are expected to begin working till the end of September,” the embassy added.

“A decision on opening such centre was not incidental. We’d like to lessen the burden from the consular department ahead of the Euro 2012 to make easier the issuance of visas for the Muscovites and the guests.” According to Russian soccer fans, over 50,000 Russian fans are expected to attend the Euro 2012.

The visa centre fulfils the administrative function: it levies visa dues, checks applications and gives passports. A decision to issue a visa or not is taken only by the Polish Embassy in Russia. The centres make it possible to get a visa quicker, cheaper and without queues, and simplify the procedures for the Muscovites and residents of other regions. “The openness of such centres will ease issuing of visas and make trips to Poland more attractive for Russian tourists,” the embassy said.

The Polish visa centre is located at 4, Marshall Zhukov Avenue. In 2011 from 370,000 to 400,000 Russian tourists visited Poland.

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