Since August 1, 2023, Russia has been issuing unified electronic visas for foreign citizens. This is a simple and convenient tool that grants the right to stay anywhere in Russia for private or business visits, tourism, or participation in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, and sporting events. Russian Travel Digest has thoroughly reviewed the latest official regulations and updated text from the last year. The information provided below is based on the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Consular department valid for 2026.
An electronic visa to Russia is single-entry and valid for 120 days from the date of issue, while it allows you to stay in the country for no more than 30 days from the date of entry. Please note that the day of entry and the day of departure are counted as two full days.
The consular fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application. The fee is waived for children under 6 years of age.
To obtain an e-visa, you do not need any invitations, hotel confirmations, or other documents confirming the purpose of your visit. You do not need to visit consulates. You can submit an application and pay the fee (by Visa, MasterCard, or UnionPay bank cards) directly on the official website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or via its mobile application. The processing time is no more than 4 calendar days from the date of submission. The printed notification serves as an official permit to enter the Russian Federation.
Important requirements: Your passport must be machine-readable, valid for at least 6 months from the date of application, and have free pages for entry/exit stamps. You must have medical insurance valid throughout your stay in Russia. An application can be submitted no earlier than 86 days and no later than 4 days before the intended date of entry. If you already have a valid ordinary Russian visa, you do not need to apply for an e-visa.
Currently, citizens of the following countries are eligible for an electronic visa: Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Myanmar, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (China), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vatican, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.
Entry with an electronic visa is allowed only through the border checkpoints approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. These include numerous air, sea, rail, road, river, pedestrian, and mixed checkpoints across the country. Key entry points by major cities and regions include:
- Moscow: Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky airports.
- Saint Petersburg: Pulkovo Airport, as well as Big Port Saint Petersburg and Passenger Port Saint Petersburg.
- Other Major Hubs: Airports in Yekaterinburg (Koltsovo), Novosibirsk (Tolmachevo), Kazan, Vladivostok (Knevichy), and Sochi.
The network also covers many regional centers across the country's vast territory, from Kaliningrad in the west to Vladivostok in the east, and from Murmansk in the north to Mineralnye Vody in the south. The list is being continuously updated; for instance, airports in Kyzyl (Republic of Tyva) and Yakutsk (Republic of Sakha) were added in early 2026. The full and most current list of all authorized checkpoints is available on the official e-visa website
