Effectiveness, Risks and Prospects of Legal Regulation and Practical Functioning of Electronic Visas in Saudi Arabia and Ukraine

摘要

The Electronic visa legislative regulation is one of the highest priorities in the country's migration, security and visa policies. The purpose of this study is to compare the legal aspects of visa policy making in the process of issuing electronic visas in Ukraine and in Saudi Arabia, and to identify the distinctive and common features of this type of visa, legislative features, practical aspects, taking into account the specific national legislation of these countries; elicit the disadvantages and perspectives of e-visa. Over a period of 3 months, about 100 Saudi and 20 Ukrainian respondents were interviewed to identify the pros and cons of existing e-visa regulations in both countries. As a results of the research, the hypothesis put forward regarding the fact that in the next 5-10 years, e-visas will almost completely replace the visa application for obtaining short-term visas through diplomatic institutions. It was established that this required the creation of a more simplified and faster way to obtain an e-visa, while not losing ground in matters of state security and migration. As a result of comparison it has been established that service of electronic visas in Ukraine was launched one and a half years earlier than in Saudi Arabia, which enabled her to secure more completely the situation and take into account the nuances of the legislative level; the amount of the visa fee for applying for an electronic visa established by Ukraine and Saudi Arabia is acceptable for most applicants, although in comparison with a visa-free or one-time electronic authorization fee for several years, these amounts are large.