The visa policy of Russia deals with the requirements of foreign nationals to enter Russia.
Despite international sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues to issue visas to citizens of all countries. A summary of visa requirements for citizens of each country is available online in Russian.
Russia exempts citizens from many countries from obtaining a visa, 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; however, this policy does not apply to Belarusian e-visas.
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. Multi-year tourist visas are available to citizens of the United States (3-year visa, 6 months per visit with an unlimited number of visits) and the European Union (5-year visa).
The Russian visa is a machine-readable document that is stickered to a page in the holder's passport. It includes characters in both the cyrillic script and Latin alphabet.
To apply for a visa, a passport, a passport photo, a tourist invitation letter (can be purchased online), and a printed completed application form are required.
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 Russo-Ukrainian war.
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.
Upon entering Russia, a visitor will receive a migration paper; this paper must be returned upon leaving the country or a fine must be paid. Replacements can be obtained from the police.
If a visitor who requires a visa loses their passport while in Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can issue a Return-Home certificate after receipt of a letter from the embassy of such visitor; otherwise, the visitor must apply for an exit visa. Staying in Russia past the expiration date of a visa requires a court decision for deportation.
Visa policy map
Holders of ordinary passports Visa-exempt countries Citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Russia without a visa for stays up to the duration listed below.
Citizens who are exempt from obtaining a visa must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization with a QR code from the Gosuslugi mobile app. They may not reset the allowed period of stay by leaving and re-entering the country.
Countries whose citizens are visa-exempt may only stay for up to 90 days within a calendar year (unless otherwise stipulated by an international agreement or Russian legislation).
Permanent regime:
Freedom of movement IP
90 days IP 2 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 3 IDKZ ID
1 11 1 1 1 1 1
1
ID 1 1
1
60 days 4 11
30 days 5 2
11
6
14 days 1
Temporary regime (until 31 December 2027):
30 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 in lieu of a passport. 1 – 90 days within any 180-day period. 2 – 90 days within any 365-day period. 3 - 90 days within a year. 4 – 60 days within any 180-day period. 5 – 30 days within any 60-day period. 6 - 30 days within any 180-day period for tourist purposes, 90 days within any 180-day period for business purposes.
Future changes The Russian government has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet entered into force:
Country Passports Days All 90 days within any 180-day period All 30 days
The Russian government is currently in discussions to conclude visa exemption agreements with the following countries:
ATG
A - 30 days for ordinary passports. TG - For tourist groups only.
Historical changes in visa requirements Date of visa changesCitizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan have never required a visa to enter the Russian Federation. 29 July 1994: CubaPrevious 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. 24 March 2007: Thailand 17 June 2008: Estonia and Latvia (holders of an alien passport and a non-citizen passport) (resumed) 20 September 2008: Israel 31 October 2008: North MacedoniaPrevious visa-free agreement was applied in period 1990-2008 (was signed between USSR and Yugoslavia). 21 November 2008: MontenegroPrevious visa-free agreement under different terms was applied in period 1990-2008 (was signed between USSR and Yugoslavia). 6 March 2009: Venezuela 10 June 2009: SerbiaPrevious 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). 29 June 2009: Argentina 1 July 2009: Hong Kong 7 June 2010: Brazil 3 July 2010: Nicaragua 18 January 2011: Chile 13 March 2011: Colombia 25 April 2011: South Ossetia 26 April 2011: Abkhazia 21 June 2011: Peru 27 December 2011: Uruguay 29 February 2012: Guatemala 30 September 2012: Macao 24 November 2012: Ecuador 1 May 2013: Bosnia and HerzegovinaPrevious visa-free agreements under different terms were applied in period 1990-2008 (was signed between USSR and Yugoslavia) and 2008-2013. 29 July 2013: Fiji 1 January 2014: South Korea 20 October 2014: Paraguay 14 November 2014: Mongolia (resumed under different terms) 8 February 2015: Panama 14 May 2015: Nauru 11 July 2015: Honduras 27 November 2015: Guyana 14 December 2015: Seychelles 10 April 2016: Mauritius 27 August 2016: El Salvador 3 October 2016: Bolivia 21 October 2016: Vanuatu 30 March 2017: South Africa 9 July 2017: Samoa 21 November 2017: Saint Kitts and Nevis 2 December 2017: Laos 24 December 2017: Grenada 8 January 2018: Brunei 27 November 2018: Jamaica 27 December 2018: Palau 7 January 2019: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 14 January 2019: Dominica 17 February 2019: United Arab Emirates 13 May 2019: Suriname 25 May 2019: Costa Rica 25 July 2019: Maldives 8 October 2019: Botswana 22 October 2019: Antigua and Barbuda 23 February 2020: Qatar 4 July 2020: Cape Verde 25 November 2020: Andorra 15 December 2020: Dominican Republic 2 August 2021: Namibia 12 January 2022: Belize 10 May 2023: Georgia (resumed) 10 October 2024: Georgia (unlimited for the duration of study or work) 18 July 2025: Oman 1 December 2025: China 13 December 2025: Jordan 27 January 2026: Myanmar 11 May 2026: Saudi Arabia
Cancelled: As the Soviet Union: East Germany: 1990Visa-free agreements were applied in period 1970-1979, 1979-1990.
Cancelled: As the Russian Federation: Estonia and Latvia: 12 May 1993Except «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». Vietnam: 20 February 1994Was applied from 14 August 1982. Lithuania: 19 April 1994 Mongolia: 5 May 1995Was applied from 23 May 1971. (resumed under different terms in 2014) North Korea: 22 May 1997Was applied from 22 January 1986. Turkmenistan: 17 July 1999 Slovenia: 1 December 1999Was applied as Yugoslavia from 26 April 1990. Czech Republic: 29 May 2000Visa-free agreements under different terms were applied in period 1962-1965, 1965-1969, 1969-1982, 1982-1995 as Czechoslovakia and 1995-2000. Georgia: 3 December 2000 (was resumed in 2023) Estonia and Latvia (holders of an alien passport and a non-citizen passport): 1 January 2001 (was resumed in 2008) Slovakia: 1 January 2001Visa-free agreements under different terms were applied in period 1962-1965, 1965-1969, 1969-1982, 1982-1994 as Czechoslovakia and 1994-1995, 1995-2001. Hungary: 14 June 2001 Bulgaria: 7 May 2002 Poland: 1 October 2003 Cyprus: 1 January 2004Was applied from 15 June 1995. Romania: 1 March 2004 Croatia: 31 March 2013 Turkey: 1 January 2016Was applied from 16 April 2011.
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.
ABTCs are issued to citizens of:
Other visa exemptions
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) Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) are working on the formation of the Common labor market of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Tour groups from Iran 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-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; however, this policy does not apply to e-visas. 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.
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.
Stay duration is calculated from entry into one country from a third state.
The common visa does not apply to individuals restricted from entering either country. 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.
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