OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2010. The Russian government has approved a draft agreement with Latvia facilitating travel for the two countries' border area residents.

The draft inter-governmental agreement was published in the databank of the Russian Cabinet's statutory acts.

Under the document, border area residents will not be required to submit an invitation to get a permit for local border area traveling. Such permits will be issued on the basis of the lists of such area residents.

A permit for border area traveling will be issued to local residents who will submit a valid travel document, a completed permit application form, a photo, a medical insurance policy and copies of the documents showing how long the applicant has resided in the border area on legal grounds.

Under the draft agreement, the permit for border area traveling will be issued within ten days from the application date and can be extended in certain cases. The total period of staying in the territory of another country must not exceed 90 days during a 180-day period.

The government order also published in the databank authorizes the Russian Foreign Ministry to sign this agreement with Latvia.