The agreement between Russia and Poland
on visa-free near-border travel for residents of Kaliningrad Region and
adjacent regions of Poland
will come into force on June 27, 2012. As agreed, the visa-free area will cover
the entire Kaliningrad Region and bordering territories within Poland's
Pomeranian and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeships.
Those who permanently
reside in Kaliningrad Region for more than three years will be allowed to visit
near-border regions of Poland,
including cities of Gdansk and Olsztyn with no visa, just with a valid
passport and relevant permit.
The duration of a
single visit may not exceed 30 days; and it is only allowed to remain in Poland for no
more than 90 days in 6 months. The permit costs €20 and is valid for two years; however the second permit may be
obtained for 5 years.
The diplomatic mission
intends to issue a maximum of 5 thousand such permits every month.
Polish police promises
to go easy on minor violations by the travellers to Poland. But if a Kaliningrad
citizen will be caught in Warsaw
or in any other Schengen country, he will be instantly deprived of his permit.
In general, the EU
regulations allow such visa-free travel within 30 km from the border. But
for Russia and Poland an exception
was made - the agreement covered the area as far as 50 km from the state
frontier.