Russia Visa Requirements

Most nationalities require a visa. Citizens of 55 countries including EU nations, China, India, Turkey, and others can apply for an e-Visa. US and UK citizens must apply for traditional visas at Russian consulates. A few CIS countries have visa-free access.

The e-Visa allows 16-day stays for tourism, business, or humanitarian purposes. Apply at electronic-visa.kdmid.ru, pay $52, and receive approval in 4 calendar days. Valid for single entry within 60 days of issue.

Traditional visas require: invitation letter (from hotel, tour company, or Russian contact), completed application, passport photos, travel insurance, and embassy appointment. Processing takes 4-20 working days. Costs vary by nationality.

The invitation (visa support) is a mandatory document for traditional visas. Hotels can provide tourist vouchers, businesses provide business invitations, or individuals provide private invitations registered with local migration authorities.

Russia has a strong approval rate of approximately 92% for properly documented applications. Rejections typically occur due to incomplete paperwork or issues with invitation letters.

The e-Visa costs $52 (or equivalent in local currency). Traditional visa fees vary: US citizens pay around $160, EU citizens typically pay $35-80, depending on processing speed and visa type.

e-Visa allows 16 days. Tourist visas typically allow 30 days. Business visas can be single, double, or multiple entry valid for 30 days to 1 year. Extensions are generally not available for tourist visas.

Required: valid passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank pages), completed application, passport photo, invitation letter/tourist voucher, travel medical insurance, and visa fee. Some nationalities need additional documents.