Russia eVisa: Complete guide 2026

What is the Russia eVisa?

The Russia eVisa — officially called the Unified Electronic Visa — is a single-entry travel authorization for eligible foreign nationals visiting Russia for tourism, private visits, business, or participation in cultural, scientific, socio-political, economic, or sporting events. The application is completed entirely online through the official portal of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with no consulate appointment or paper application required.

Once approved, your eVisa is delivered as a PDF file to your email. You must print it or save it on your mobile device to present at the border. This guide covers who is eligible, what documents to prepare, how to apply, what it costs, and what to know before you travel.

Who Can Apply for the Russia eVisa?

The eVisa is available to citizens of the following 64 countries:

Austria, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China (including Taiwan), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Myanmar, Netherlands, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vatican City, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.

If your country is not on the eligible list, a traditional visa is required. Check the official portal at evisa.kdmid.ru to confirm current eligibility before making any travel arrangements, as the list of countries may be updated.

eVisa Conditions and Length of Stay

The Russia eVisa is valid for 120 days from the date of issue. Within that window, you may enter Russia once and stay for up to 30 days from the date of entry.

The eVisa covers the following purposes of visit: tourism, private visits, business, and participation in cultural, scientific, socio-political, economic, or sporting events. It does not authorize paid work or study. If your purpose of travel falls outside these categories, you must apply for a regular visa through a Russian diplomatic mission.

Extensions to the eVisa or permitted stay are only granted in exceptional circumstances, specifically, when it is impossible to leave Russia due to a medical emergency, force majeure, or natural disaster. Extensions are handled by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and result in the issuance of an ordinary paper visa.

You may move freely throughout Russia on an eVisa, with the exception of territories and facilities that require a separate special permit under Russian federal law.

Entry and Exit Requirements

You must enter and exit Russia through designated border crossing points that are authorized to process eVisa holders. These include major international airports such as those in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sochi, as well as select land borders and sea ports. As of 2025, there are over 105 approved checkpoints. The full list is published on the official eVisa portal at evisa.kdmid.ru.

Crossing the Russian border outside of designated routes and places is prohibited without advance authorization from the Federal Security Service.

Documents You'll Need to Prepare

Have everything ready before you start your application.

Valid passport: Must be machine-readable, issued by your country of nationality, and valid for at least 6 months from the date you submit your eVisa application. Your passport must also have sufficient blank pages for border crossing stamps.

Digital photo of your passport data page: A scan or photo of the biographical data page of your passport, in JPEG format.

Digital passport-style photo: A recent photo in JPEG format.

Travel medical insurance: Valid in Russia for the entire duration of your stay. Due to sanctions, most Western insurers no longer cover Russia, so you will likely need to purchase a policy from a Russian provider.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Create an account on the official portal

Go to evisa.kdmid.ru, the official eVisa portal of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Create a personal account using your email address. You will receive a confirmation email — follow the link to activate your account. All applications must be submitted through your personal account.

Step 2: Complete and submit the application form

Log in to your account and fill out the application form in full. You will be asked to provide your personal details, passport information, travel dates, and planned place of stay in Russia. Upload your passport data page scan and a passport-style photo. All information must match your passport exactly, as any errors may lead to your eVisa being revoked at the border.

The application can be submitted no earlier than 86 days and no later than 4 days before your intended date of entry into Russia.

Step 3: Pay the fee

After completing the form, pay the eVisa fee online by a bank card. The fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. Children under 6 years of age are exempt from the consular fee, though minor bank processing charges may still apply.

Step 4: Wait for a decision

Processing takes up to 4 calendar days, including weekends and public holidays. You can track your application status in your personal account. If errors are found in your application, you will be notified and given up to 10 days to make corrections. No additional payment is required to resubmit a corrected application.

Step 5: Download, print, and travel

Once approved, you will receive an email notification and can download your eVisa as a PDF from your account. Print it or save it on your mobile device. You must present it to the transport company at boarding and to border officials when entering Russia.

After You Arrive

Border officials will verify your passport and eVisa at the point of entry. Have both accessible.

A few things to keep in mind during your stay:

• You cannot work for pay on an eVisa. Paid employment requires a separate work visa obtained through a Russian diplomatic mission before traveling.

• You cannot change your visa status from inside Russia by obtaining an eVisa. If you already hold a valid regular Russian visa, you do not need an eVisa. Your regular visa remains valid for the duration stated on it, and its validity cannot be extended by obtaining an eVisa.

• Each minor child traveling with you must have a separate eVisa, even if they are listed in your passport.

Costs and Fees to Expect

The eVisa consular fee is approximately $52, payable online by an international bank card at the time of application. The total amount charged may be slightly higher due to bank processing and payment system fees, around $55 in total. Children under 6 years of age are exempt from the consular fee, though minor transaction fees may apply.

Travel medical insurance is a mandatory entry requirement for most nationalities. The majority of Western insurers no longer cover Russia due to sanctions, so you will likely need to purchase a policy from a Russian provider. Russian-issued policies typically cost around $30 to $45 per month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the eVisa if my purpose of travel is work or study?

No. The eVisa only covers tourism, private visits, business, and participation in cultural, scientific, socio-political, economic, or sporting events. For work or study, you must apply for the appropriate regular visa through a Russian embassy or consulate before traveling.

I need to enter Russia through a land border. Is that possible with an eVisa?

Yes, but only through designated land border crossings that are authorized for eVisa entry. Not all land borders accept eVisas. Check the full list of approved entry points on the official portal at evisa.kdmid.ru before making your travel plans.

What happens if I make an error on my application?

If you spot a mistake after submitting, you cannot edit the application yourself. The system will only return it for correction if the authorities flag an issue during processing, which they may or may not do for things like a typo in a name. The safest approach is to review every field carefully against your passport before submitting, since the fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome.

Can I extend my stay in Russia beyond 30 days?

Only in exceptional circumstances — specifically, when leaving the country is impossible due to a medical emergency, force majeure, or natural disaster. Extensions are not available for general travel purposes.

My child is listed in my passport. Do they need a separate eVisa?

Yes. Every minor child traveling with you must have their own eVisa, even if they do not have a separate passport.