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Visa policy of Russia
Policy on permits required to enter Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The visa policy of Russia deals with the requirements of foreign nationals to enter Russia.
Russia has agreements with many countries whose citizens are exempt from visas, although an Electronic Travel Authorization with a QR code from the Gosuslugi mobile app is required in these cases. If a visa is required, depending on country of origin, some people may obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa); while others must apply for a visa at a diplomatic mission of Russia or visa center. A holder of a visa to enter Belarus may also enter Russia with such visa.
Despite international sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues to issue visas to citizens of all countries. Depending on country of origin, at any border crossing, foreigners may be questioned, have their biometrics taken, including fingerprints and photos, and are subject to search of baggage and mobile phone content, including contact lists, correspondence, and posts on social media. Officers focus on contact with Ukrainians, and any opinions on politics and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1]
Types of visas available for issuance include private, business, tourist, educational, working, transit, humanitarian, service, and diplomatic. The length and terms of visas depend on the nationality of the recipient and other personal circumstances.
The Russian visa is a machine-readable document, that is stickered to a page in the holder's passport. All fields are indicated in both Russian and English, but are filled out only in Russian. The holder's name appears in both the Roman and Cyrillic alphabets.
To apply for a visa, a passport, a passport photo, a tourist invitation letter (can be purchased online), and a completed application form printed on A4 paper are required.[2]
Russia has 380 border checkpoints.[3] Transporting any amount of currency of countries in the European Union (EU), including Euros, directly to Russia from EU countries such as Estonia and Latvia is prohibited by the EU.
Crimea is under de facto Russian control and the visa policy of Russia applies for travel to Crimea. Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia are internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, and, although they are at least partially or sometimes controlled by Russia, the visa policy of Ukraine applies to travel to these regions.
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Visa policy map
Freedom of movement
Visa not required (90 days)
Visa not required (60 days)
Visa not required (30 days)
Visa not required (14 days)
Visa not required for tour groups (15 days) / eVisa (30 days)
eVisa (30 days)
Visa required
Holders of ordinary passports
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Perspective
Electronic visa (e-Visa)
Citizens of the following 64 countries and territories may obtain an e-Visa,[4] which allows entry for up to 30 days until 120 days after issuance.[5]
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Citizens of the 18 countries[Note 1] could apply an e-Visa to visit to regions in the Far Eastern Federal District.[8]
Citizens of 54 countries could apply for single-entry business, humanitarian and tourist visas to visit the Kaliningrad region.[9]
Visa-exempt countries
Holders of ordinary passports of the following countries and territories may enter Russia without a visa for the time periods specified below.[10][11][12]
Citizens who are exempt from obtaining a visa must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization with a QR code from the Gosuslugi mobile app.[13]
Resetting the allowed period by leaving and re-entering the country is prohibited.
Foreign citizens from visa-exempt countries may only stay 90 days within any 1 calendar year period, unless otherwise stipulated by an international agreement or Russian legislation.[14]
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Freedom of movement 90 days
60 days 30 days 14 days |
ID - May enter with a national ID card in lieu of a passport.
IDKZ - May enter with a national ID card in lieu of a passport if arriving directly from Kazakhstan.
IP - May enter with an internal passport.
1 - 90 days within any 180-day period.
2 - 90 days within any 365-day period.
3 - 90 days within any 1 calendar year period.
4 - 90 days within any 1 year period.
5 - 60 days within any 180-day period.
6 - 30 days within any 60-day period.
Other visa exemptions
Entry and exit passport stamps issued at the Great Port of Saint Petersburg
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Economic integration and international treaties
The following partnerships provide for special entry rules to citizens of certain countries:
- Union State of Russia and Belarus (citizens of Belarus)
- Single Economic Space of the Eurasian Economic Union (citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan)
- Mobility rights arrangements of the Commonwealth of Independent States (citizens of present and former countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Ukraine and Georgia, but not Turkmenistan)
Tour groups from Iran or China
| Citizens of China may visit Russia without a visa for up to 15 days and citizens of Iran may visit Russia without a visa for up to 15 days during one trip, but no more than 90 days within any 180-day period if traveling as part of a tour group from 5 to 50 persons that is accompanied by a representative of a tour operator registered in both countries (Russia-China, Russia-Iran). |
Mutual recognition of visas between Russia and Belarus
Holders of a valid visa or residence permit of either Belarus or Russia and a mutually recognized identity document may enter both countries, within the validity of the visa.[66][67] In cases where one country has a visa-free regime and the other requires a visa, the person must hold both the ID document and a visa for the latter.[67]
Foreign nationals with temporary permanent residency or a document for attending an international event have the right to enter, exit, stay, and transit without a visa within the validity of their documents.[67]
Stay duration is calculated from entry into one country from a third state.[67]
The common visa does not apply to individuals restricted from entering either country.[67] Officials retain the right to deny entry or reduce the duration of stay for any foreign national or stateless person, as well as to check compliance with entry, exit, transit, or stay regulations.[67]
Crossing between Belarus and Russia via land is allowed only at the following 6 international border crossing points:
- Yukhovichi – Dolossy (Opochka – Novopolotsk)
- Yezeryshche – Nevel (Kyiv – St. Petersburg)
- Lyozno – Kruglovka (Vitebsk – Smolensk)
- Redki – Krasnaya Gorka (Minsk – Moscow)
- Zvenchatka – Dubovichka (Bobruisk – Moscow)
- Selishche – Novozybkov (Gomel – Bryansk)
Visa-free visits for up to 72 hours for cruise ship and ferry passengers
International tourists entering by regular ferry via several ports are able to stay in Russia visa-free for up to 72 hours, provided that they spend the night on-board or in accommodation specifically approved by the travel agency.[68]
In addition, tourists entering by tourist cruise ships can leave the ship visa-free on tours organized by any authorized local tour company, when entering Russia through the ports of Anadyr, Kaliningrad, Korsakov, Novorossiysk, Murmansk, Sevastopol, Sochi, Saint Petersburg (Great Port of Saint Petersburg and Passenger Port of St. Petersburg), Vladivostok, Vyborg, Zarubino.[69][70]
Visa-free visits to Chukotka Autonomous Okrug by indigenous Alaskans
United States - Residents of Alaska who are members of the indigenous population do not require a visa to visit Chukotka Autonomous Okrug if they have relatives (blood relatives, members of the same tribe, native people who have similar language and cultural heritage) in Chukotka. Individuals must be invited by a relative in Chukotka and must leave Chukotka within 90 days. Entry points are in Anadyr, Provideniya, Lavrentiya and Uelen.[71] The agreement was signed between USSR and United States on 23 September 1989 but came into force on 17 July 2015 after ratification by the United States.[72]
Visa-free visits to border areas by residents of Latvia
Latvia - Residents of the border areas of Latvia who have a permit for local border traffic can visit the border areas of Russia without a visa.[73][74][75]
Visa-free visits to border areas by residents of Kazakhstan
Residents of the border areas of Kazakhstan who visit the territory of the border areas of Russia up to three days can enter Russia through checkpoints, which are specially installed for residents of border areas.[76][77][78]
Visa-free visits to border areas by residents of Norway
Residents of the border areas of Norway who have a permit for local border traffic can visit the border areas of Russia without a visa. From 4 March 2017, the Protocol on amendments to the current agreement entered into force – residents of area of Neiden received the right to receive a permit for local border traffic.[80][81]
Visa-free visits to border areas by residents of Poland
Poland - 30 days, for a maximum total stay of 90 days within a 180-day period for holders of border traffic permit[82][83]
From 27 July 2012, residents of the border areas of Poland who have a permit for local border traffic can visit Kaliningrad Oblast without a visa. The agreement has been suspended for an indefinite period by Poland from 4 July 2016.[84]
Crew members
Visa is not required for crew members of airlines, sea crew, river crew, rail crew that have a bilateral agreement with the Russian government exempting crew members from visa requirements.[85]
Citizens of following countries may visit Russia without a visa if they are travelling as part of the airline crew: Afghanistan, Algeria, Austria,[86] Belgium,[87] Bulgaria,[88] Canada,[89] China,[90] Croatia,[91] Cyprus,[92] Czech Republic,[93] Denmark,[94] Egypt, Ethiopia,[95] Finland,[96] France,[97] Germany, Greece,[98] Iceland,[99] India,[100] Iraq, Italy,[101] Japan, Jordan,[102] Latvia,[103] Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,[104] Malta, Netherlands,[105] North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway,[106] Oman,[107] Poland,[108] Portugal,[109] Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Spain,[110] Sri Lanka,[111] Sweden,[112] Switzerland, Turkmenistan,[113] United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vietnam.[114]
Russian Government has instructed the Foreign Ministry to sign an agreement with Georgia,[115] and Tunisia.[116]
Citizens of following countries may visit Russia without a visa if they are travelling as part of the sea crew: Bulgaria,[88]
China,1[90]
Croatia,[91]
Cyprus,[92]
DR Congo,
Egypt,
France,[97]
Iran,[117]
Iraq,
Lithuania,[118]
North Korea,
Poland,[108]
Tunisia,[119]
Turkey
Turkmenistan,[118][120]
Vietnam.[114]
Citizens of following countries may visit Russia without a visa if they are travelling as part of the railway crew: China,[90] North Korea, Turkmenistan.[121]
Visa-free transit
- Direct airside transit
Passengers travelling through international airports do not need a visa for a transit of less than 24 hours in most circumstances,[122] provided a confirmed onward ticket is held and the traveller remains in the international transit area (without clearing regular passport control).
The following international Russian airports do not have international transit areas, meaning a transit visa is required to transfer planes:
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Saimaa canal
In accordance with a treaty between Russia and Finland, though there are passport controls at borders, a visa is not required for just passing through the Russian part of the Saimaa canal without leaving the vessel.[123]
Värska–Ulitina road
The road from Värska to Ulitina in Estonia, traditionally the only road to the Ulitina area, goes through Russian territory for one kilometre (0.6 mi) of its length, an area called Saatse Boot. This road has no border control, but there is no connection to any other road in Russia. It is not permitted to stop or walk along the road. This area is a part of Russia but is also a de facto part of the Schengen area.[124]
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Holders of non-ordinary passports
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Under reciprocal agreements, holders of diplomatic or various categories of service passports (consular, official, service, special) of the following countries and territories may enter and remain in Russia without a visa for the following period:[11]
Russia
Visa not required for holders of diplomatic, official or service passports
Visa not required for holders of official passports
Visa not required for holders of diplomatic passports
C - Consular passports
D - Diplomatic passports
O - Official passports
S - Service passports
Sp - Special passports
1 – 90 days within any 365-day period.
2 – 90 days within any 180-day period.
3 - With the right of multiple entry and exit.
4 - Applies only to employees of official institutions operating in the territory of a contracting parties and their families.
Currently, visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports of European Union member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have been suspended.[125]
Among citizens of countries whose citizens do not normally require a visa, holders of diplomatic or service passports of Israel require a visa.[126]
Future changes
Russia has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet entered into force:
Russia is considering visa exemption agreements or visa policy improvements for the following countries:
China - 21 days for tourist groups from 3 to 50 persons (as of June 2019)[130]
Côte d'Ivoire - 90 days for diplomatic and service passports (as of October 2020)[131]
Eritrea - 90 days within any 180 day-period for diplomatic and service passports (as of August 2019)[132]
Ghana - 90 days within any 180 day-period for diplomatic and service passports (as of October 2019)[133]
Lebanon - 90 days within any 180 day-period for diplomatic, service and special passports (as of July 2020)[134]
Mauritania - 90 days within any 180 day-period for diplomatic and service passports (as of February 2025)[135]
Saint Lucia - 90 days within any 180 day-period for all passports (as of January 2020)[136]
In addition, Russia is currently in talks with Gulf countries as well as other countries to establish visa exemption agreements.[137]
A - 30 days for all passports
B - 30 days for ordinary passports
TG - For tourist groups
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Holders of APEC Business Travel Card
Holders of APEC Business Travel Cards as well as passports issued by full members of APEC (listed below) may enter Russia without a visa for business trips for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.[141][142]
ABTCs are issued to citizens of:[143]
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Closed cities
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In accordance with the Government Decree of 1992, special authorization is required to enter 19 closed cities in Russia.[144] This restriction does not apply to Russian citizens.
A full list of such areas:
- 1. Part of Kamchatka Krai.
- 2. abolished
- 3. Part of Primorsky Krai.
- 4. Part of Krasnoyarsk Krai.
- 5. Part of Orenburg Oblast.
- 6. Part of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
- 7. Part of The Republic of Mordovia.
- 8. Parts of Murmansk Oblast and the Republic of Karelia. Transit to/from Norway is possible by main road.
- 9. Parts of Arkhangelsk Oblast (include South part of Novaya Zemlya island) and the Komi Republic.
- 10. Parts of Sverdlovsk Oblast.
- 11. Parts of Chelyabinsk Oblast.
- 12. In Leningrad Oblast – all Russian islands of Gulf of Finland, except Gogland, and 20 kilometres (12 mi) strip along south coast of the Gulf of Finland.
- 13. Parts of Moscow Oblast.
- 14. Part of Kaliningrad Oblast, approx. 15%.
- 15. Part of Volgograd Oblast.
- 16. Part of Astrakhan Oblast.
- 17. Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, all except Bilibino region.
- 18. Part of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
- 19. The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, 45% of territory. Transit to border with Georgia and to border with South Ossetia are possible along the main roads. Tsey Gorge was opened for foreigners from 2012.
Entry and stay conditions for EAEU and CIS citizens
Russia's visa and other migration policies (incl. healthcare and conditions of family members) are also implemented in accordance with the mobility rights arrangements within the Commonwealth of Independent States and the rules of the single market of the Eurasian Economic Union.
Changes and tightening of Russian legislation in the sphere of migration do not apply to those who have Russian citizenship through international agreements on dual citizenship, and to citizens of the EAEU countries. For citizens of the EAEU, the rules of the EAEU apply.[145][146]
On 29 November 2024, the Commonwealth of Independent States adopted an updated Concept for the phased formation of a common labor market (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) and migration regulation.[147][148][149][150]
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Simplified Ordinary Tourist Visa
The Russian government issues general tourist visas for up to 6 months to 19 countries based on hotel reservations or other accommodation reservation confirmations. This list includes information on hotels, ski resorts, and beaches.[151]
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Exit visa
Russia requires that an alien who needs a visa on entry be in possession of a valid visa upon exit.
To satisfy this formal requirement, exit visas sometimes need to be issued. Russia requires an exit visa if a visitor stays well past the expiration date of their visa. They must then extend their visa or apply for an exit visa and are not allowed to leave the country until they show a valid visa or have a permissible excuse for overstaying their visa (e.g., a note from a doctor or a hospital explaining an illness, missed flight, lost or stolen visa). In some cases, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can issue a Return-Home certificate that is valid for 10 days from the embassy of the visitor's native country, thus eliminating the need for an exit visa.[152][153][154]
A foreign citizen granted a temporary residence permit in Russia needs a temporary resident visa to take a trip abroad (valid for both exit and return). It is also colloquially called an exit visa.
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Visitor and visa statistics
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Perspective
- Visitor statistics
According to the Border Service of the Federal Security Service and the Federal State Statistics Service, most visitors arriving to Russia were from the following countries of nationality:[155][156]
| 2019 |  32,866,265 |
| 2018 | 32,550,677 |
| 2017 | 32,035,443 |
| 2016 |  31,466,538 |
| 2015 | 33,729,187 |
| 2014 | 32,421,490 |
| 2013 | 30,792,091 |
| 2012 | 28,176,502 |
| 2011 | 24,932,061 |
| 2010 | 22,281,217 |
| 2009 | 21,338,650 |
| 2008 | 23,676,140 |
| 2007 | 22,908,625 |
Visitor statistics 2024-2021
- Visa statistics
Most electronic visas were issued for citizens of the following countries (top-10):
Most visas were issued in the following countries:
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See also
Notes
- Only subject to fingerprinting, photographing and medical examination if staying more than 90 days.[15]
- Citizens of Ukraine must arrive only through Sheremetyevo International Airport (Moscow).[16]
- Citizens of Ukraine could be subject to interrogation by the Federal Security Service upon entering Russia.[17]
- For holders of Macao Special Administrative Region passport only.
- For holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport only.
- Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei, China, India, Iran, Japan, North Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
- Previous visa-free agreements under different terms were applied in period 1981-1985 and 1985-1994. 30 days from 29 Jul 1994 to 21 December 2018; 90 days within 180 days period from 21 December 2018.
- Previous visa-free agreement was applied in period 1990-2008 (was signed between USSR and Yugoslavia).
- Previous visa-free agreement under different terms was applied in period 1990-2008 (was signed between USSR and Yugoslavia).
- Previous visa-free agreement under different terms were applied in period 1965 (on duty)/1967 (for tourism)-1990 and 1990-2009 (were signed between USSR and Yugoslavia).
- Previous visa-free agreements under different terms were applied in period 1990-2008 (was signed between USSR and Yugoslavia) and 2008-2013.
- Visa-free agreements were applied in period 1970-1979, 1979-1990.
- Except «citizens of the former USSR permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Estonia who have not received citizenship of these States».
- Was applied from 14 August 1982.
- Was applied from 23 May 1971.
- Was applied from 22 January 1986.
- Was applied as Yugoslavia from 26 April 1990.
- Visa-free agreements under different terms were applied in period 1962-1965, 1965-1969, 1969-1982, 1982-1995 as Czechoslovakia and 1995-2000.
- Visa-free agreements under different terms were applied in period 1962-1965, 1965-1969, 1969-1982, 1982-1994 as Czechoslovakia and 1994-1995, 1995-2001.
- Was applied from 15 June 1995.
- Was applied from 16 April 2011.
- Russia started issuing e-Visas on 1 August 2023.
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References
External links
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