MOSCOW, December 26. /TASS/. Citizens of several countries of the European Union, who apply for a Russian visa, will have to pay the visa fee in full from December 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

This applies to residents of Denmark, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, as well as the European Union in general. Russia has signed international treaties on simplified visa issuance with these entities, but they were de-facto frozen last year.

"Following the example of the contractual partners, we move from visa fees, stipulated by the above-mentioned international treaties, to a tariff, envisaged by the national legislation. From now on, Europeans will have to pay a full visa fee, including extra charge depending on urgency and the number of entries granted by the visa," the ministry said.

"Unlike the European side, Rusisa will continue to partially apply certain provisions of the above-mentioned agreements, related to simplified visa procedures <…> for certain categories of European applicants," the statement says. "For example, preferential terms will continue to be applied to businessmen, individuals engaged in scientific, cultural and sporting activities, schoolchildren, students, postgraduates and a number of other individuals."

"The goal of the federal law is to synchronize the Russian visa fee rules with norms established by the European Union, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland," the ministry added.

On December 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill that reintroduces fees for issuing Russian visas to nationals of certain European countries. The law suspends the provision that set the visa fee at 35 euros. All nationals of European countries will from now on be charged visa fees as determined by the Russian cabinet decree of 2010. The memo to the law said the fees will range from $50-300 depending on the urgency and the number of entries sought.

Earlier, the European Union stopped issuing visas under a simplified procedure for certain categories of Russians, then completely suspended the agreement. Russia introduced restrictions on visa-free travel for diplomats from the above-mentioned countries, cancelled visa preferences for members of national and regional parliaments and governments, constitutional and supreme courts, journalists and members of official delegations.