Russia Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a tourist or eVisa to visit Russia for tourism, business, or family visits. The standard option is an eVisa costing $40 in government fees, allowing stays of up to 16 days per entry. Processing takes 4–6 working days. Indian and Filipino passport holders may have different eVisa or visa-free arrangements depending on nationality — confirm the exact eVisa eligibility for your passport with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
Russia visa at a glance
- Government fee
- $40 for eVisa — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- 4–6 working days (typical ETA)
- Validity / stay
- Up to 16 days per entry
- Visa types
- 4
Do you need a visa for Russia?
A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Russia visa types
- Tourist eVisa
- Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — Up to 16 days per entry
- Single-entry visa
- One visit for tourism or business — Varies
- Multiple-entry visa
- Several visits within validity — Varies
- Transit visa
- Passing through Russia to a third country — Per the transit rules
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Russia depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Russia visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia for your nationality.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist eVisa or single-entry visa for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a Russia visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportusually 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formCompleted and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photo (35x45 mm, white background)Recent passport photo (35x45 mm, white background).
- Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservation)Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservation).
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking)Proof of accommodation (hotel booking).
- Medical insurance covering the full stayMedical insurance covering the full stay.
- Proof of financial means (bank statements or employment letter)Proof of financial means (bank statements or employment letter).
Russia visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- $40 for eVisa — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Up to 16 days per entry
- Official processing
- 4–6 working days (typical ETA)
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Russia visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Russia visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia or the nearest Russian embassy for your country
Get the current form and checklist from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia or the nearest Russian embassy for your country.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Russia visa above.
Submit your application
online at electronic-visa.kdmid.ru for the eVisa where available, or in person at the embassy or authorized visa center. Pay the government visa fee.
Track your application and collect your passport when a decision is made
Track your application and collect your passport when a decision is made.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Russia's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Russia is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Russia visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Russia visa questions, answered.
More for your Russia trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.