Visa requirements for Russian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Russia.
Russian citizens in other countries also can benefit from the mobility rights arrangements within the Commonwealth of Independent States and the rules of the single market of the Eurasian Economic Union.
As of 2026, Russian citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 113 countries and territories, ranking the Russian passport 44th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.
The Russian passport along with the Turkish passport are the highest ranking passports whose holders are still required visas for their travels to the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
History
Country Date 18 December 1980, As Soviet Union 11 March 1993 29 July 1994Previous visa-free agreements under different terms were applied in period 1981–1985 and 1985 – 29 July 1994. 6 November 1996 1998 August 2001 13 June 2005 5 December 2006 24 March 2007 12 June 2007 1 September 2007 19 September 2007 20 June 2008 20 September 2008 1 January 2009 19 March 2009 6 March 2009 31 March 2009 1 April 2009 1 April 2009 20 April 2009 29 June 2009 1 July 2009 7 June 2010 1 August 2010 December 2010 18 January 2011 April 2011Visa on arrival until Apr 2011 27 September 2011 27 December 2011 until December 2000, visa-free for residents of Caucasian Regions from October 2010, resumed for all citizens on 29 February 2012 30 September 2012 November 2012 11 March 2013 28 May 2013 1 January 2014 until 1 February 2008, resumed from 12 April 2014p.25-26 14 April 2014 20 October 2014Visa on arrival from December 2012 to 20 October 2014 resumed from 14 November 2014Previous visa-free agreements under different terms were applied in periods 23 May 1971 – 1980 and 1980 – 5 May 1995. 1 December 2014 2006 – September 2011, resumed in April 2015 14 May 2015 10 June 2015Visa on arrival from June 2005 to 10 June 2015 3 October 2016Visa on arrival until Oct 2016 resumed in December 2016 30 March 2017 25 April 2017 22 June 2017Under visa waiver agreement from 23 February 2020 8 January 2018 6 September 2018 27 December 2018Visa on arrival until 27 Dec 2018. 17 February 2019Free visa on arrival from 1 February 2017. 13 May 2019 25 July 2019 4 July 2020 December 2020 12 January 2022 1 July 2022 14 March 2023 1 September 2023 29 September 2023 18 August 2025 15 September 2025 11 May 2026
Visa requirements for Russian citizens were lifted as the Soviet Union by the following countries/territories: Micronesia (18 December 1980);. Mexico has introduced Electronic Authorization for Russian citizens from 1 November 2010.
Visas on arrival were introduced by Iran (July 2005), Zimbabwe (20 November 2007), Bahrain (November 2008), Guinea-Bissau (April 2012), Mozambique (resumed in February 2017),Visa free from 17 February 2019. Gabon (12 October 2017), Rwanda (1 January 2018), Benin (15 March 2018), Taiwan (6 September 2018), Sierra Leone (5 September 2019), Saudi Arabia (28 September 2019), Myanmar (1 October 2019), Iraq (15 March 2021).
Russian citizens were made eligible for eVisas by Singapore (December 2009), Sri Lanka (January 2012), Montserrat (September 2012), São Tomé and Príncipe (2012), Myanmar (1 September 2014), India made Russian citizens eligible for the e-Visa (27 November 2014), Kenya (2 July 2015), Gabon (15 June 2015), Australia (Electronic Visitor visa from 1 October 2015), Uganda (1 July 2016). Lesotho (1 May 2017), Saint Helena (2018), Djibouti (18 February 2018), Oman (7 May 2018), Tanzania (26 November 2018), Papua New Guinea (17 June 2019), Saudi Arabia (28 September 2019), Guinea (October 2019), Malawi (November 2019), South Sudan (29 September 2020), Anguilla (January 2021), Equatorial Guinea (July 2023).
The following countries / territories have reinstated visa requirements for Russian citizens: Estonia (1 July 1992),"Eesti Vabariigi viisaeeskirjade" kinnitamise ja rakendamise kohta (in Estonian) Latvia (20 March 1993), Lithuania (1 November 1993), North Korea (22 May 1997), Turkmenistan (June 1999), Slovenia (December 1999),* Czech Republic (29 May 2000),* Slovakia (1 January 2001),* Hungary (14 June 2001),* Bulgaria (October 2001),* Poland (1 October 2003),* Cyprus (1 January 2004),* Romania (October 2004),* Croatia (1 April 2013),* Kosovo (1 July 2013), Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (3 October 2019), North Macedonia (21 March 2022), Ukraine (1 July 2022) and Taiwan (31 July 2022).Visa free regimes were applied from 28 November 2009 for the Northern Mariana Islands and from 15 January 2012 for Guam.
* Visa policy has been synchronized with the visa policy of the EU because of accession of these countries to the European Union.
The provision of visas on arrival to Russian citizens were discontinued by Mali (9 March 2015).
Visa requirements map
Visa requirements Visa requirements for holders of ordinary passports traveling for tourist purposes:
Country / Region Visa requirement Allowed stay Notes (excluding departure fees) Reciprocity 30 days e-Visa : Visitors must arrive at Kabul International (KBL). Citizens of Russia residing in other countries might be eligible for an e-Visa Due to safety concerns, the Russian government advises its citizens not to visit Afghanistan. 90 days Visa-free entry for up to 90 days for valid USA, United Kingdom or Schengen Member State ('C' or 'D' visa) visa holders. 90 days 90 days within any 365-day period. Although officially no visa is required, at least a Double Entry Schengen visa is required to enter Andorra since it has no own airport facility. 30 days 6 months 3 months 90 days within any 180-day period. 180 days 180 days in a year. Internal ID valid. and territories May apply online (Online Visitor e600 visa). 90 days 90 days within one calendar year period. Entry denied to those of Armenian descent. 3 months Extension of stay is possible. 14 days / 1 month Visas can be issued on arrival for a stay up to 1 month. Visa can be extended for an additional two weeks. e-Visa issued for 14 days, extendable once. 30 days Visitors can apply to extend their stay when in the country. 28 days Unlimited stay Russian citizens have many of the same rights and entitlements as Belarusian citizens. Internal ID valid. 90 days 90 days within a 180-day period. 30 days 90 days Visitors are required to book with a registered tour operator in Bhutan. 90 days 90 days within any 180-day period. 30 days 30 days within any 60-day period. 90 days Extension to the visa-free period must be applied for in advance. 90 days Extension of stay possible for additional 90 days. 14 days 1 month Passengers holding an entry authorisation letter from the authorities may obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 1 month. 30 days 60 days May apply online. Pre-arranged visa can be picked up on arrival. US permanent resident card (Green card) holders can enter visa-free. Multiple entry visa valid for 1 year upon arrival into the Central African Republic is mandatory. 90 days Extension of stay is possible for additional 90 days for a fee. 30 days From September 15, 2025 to 31 December 2027, Russian national ordinary passport holders can travel to China for business, tourism, family visits, transit and exchange and visit purposes for up to 30 days without a visa under the newly announced visa waiver program.
Visa not required for 15 days for travelling as part of an accredited tour group (5 ~ 50 people). May visit Suifenhe without a visa for up to 15 days if travelling with at least one companion. Residents of Amur Oblast may visit Heihe without a visa for a day. 30 days visa-free on Hainan Island through travel agencies provided that nationals of Russia arriving on a direct flight from third countries. 90 days Extendable up to 180-day stay within 1-year period. 45 days 7 days 90 days 3 months e-Visa holders must arrive via Port Bouet Airport. 90 days 90 days within any 180-day period. 90 days within any 180-day period for valid Schengen Member State visa holders. From 19 September 2022, Russian citizens are banned from entering Czech Republic for tourism, business, sports or culture 90 days 90 days 60 days May extended stay for a fee. 90 days Extension of stay is possible. 30 days e-Visa issued for 30 days. Extension of stay is possible. Visa-free for tourists arriving at Sharm El Sheikh, Saint Catherine or Taba airports and remaining in the Sinai resorts for a maximum stay of 15 days. 180 days e-Visa holders must arrive via Malabo International Airport. Pre-arranged visa can be picked up on arrival. From 19 September 2022, Russian citizens are banned from entering Estonia for tourism, business, sports or culture. 30 days Extension of stay is possible for additional 30 days in total. 90 days 4 months From 30 September 2022, Russian citizens are banned from entering Finland for tourism. 90 days e-Visa holders must arrive via Libreville International Airport. 1 year Pre-arranged emergency visa can be picked up on arrival. 3 months 90 days Extension of stay is possible for 90 days. 90 days 90 days 90 days 3 months 3 months 30 days 30 days 15 days / 30 days Visa not required for 15 days for travelling as part of an accredited tour group (5 ~ 50 people). Citizens of Russia who have already made an application, at least two days before arrival, at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affair's e-Visa website and present the submission notification at the airport's visa desk may obtain a visa on arrival. Admission will be refused: to women not wearing Islamic head cover, scarf, long sleeves or stockings. to holders of passports containing an Israeli visa/stamp in the last 12 months. 14 day visa-free on Kish and Qeshm Islands. Extension of stay is possible twice for 30 days for a total of up to 90 days. 30 days Due to safety concerns, the Russian government advises its citizens not to visit Iraq. 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days within any 180-day period. Internal ID valid. 90 days Can also be entered on an East Africa tourist visa issued by Rwanda or Uganda. 90 days 90 days within any 12-month period. 60 days A maximum total stay of 90 days within any 180-day period. The validity period of a K-ETA is 3 years from the date of approval. Pre-arranged visa can be picked up on arrival. 90 days 90 days within any 180-day period. Internal ID valid. 30 days From 19 September 2022, Russian citizens are banned from entering Latvia for tourism, business, sports or culture. 1 month 1 month extendable for 2 additional months. Granted free of charge at Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry if there is no Israeli visa or seal, holding a telephone number, an address in Lebanon, and a non refundable return or circle trip ticket. 3 months From 19 September 2022, Russian citizens are banned from entering Lithuania for tourism, business, sports or culture. 90 days For stays of 61 to 90 days, the visa fee is 59 USD. 90 days 1 month 90 days 90 days 30 days 90 days 180 days Electronic permit gives the right to enter the country only by air. 180 days for valid Canada, Japan, USA, United Kingdom or a Schengen Member State visa holders. 30 days Extension of stay is possible up to 60 days. 90 days 90 days within any 180-day period. Open border with France. 30 days 30 daysVisa not required until November 1, 2026. 3 months 30 days Visitors must register their ETA on the e-Visa platform at least 48 hours before travel and pay a processing fee of 48 USD. Extension of stay is possible for 30 days. 30 days e-Visa holders must arrive via Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw or Mandalay airports or via land border crossings with Thailand — Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung or India — Rih Khaw Dar and Tamu. e-Visa is available for both tourism (allowed stay is 28 days) or business (allowed stay is 70 days) purposes. 90 days 90 days within 180-day period. 14 days 90 days Extension of stay is possible of up to 150 days.