Visa Requirements for Russian Citizens

Russian citizens can visit approximately 80 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival in 2025. Popular visa-free destinations include Turkey (90 days), UAE (90 days), Thailand (30 days), Serbia (30 days), Georgia (1 year), Armenia (180 days), Kazakhstan (90 days), China (30 days), Brazil (90 days), Argentina (90 days), Cuba (90 days), and most Caribbean and Latin American countries. Egypt offers visa-on-arrival for Russians at a cost of approximately $25.

The US B1/B2 tourist and business visa costs $185 (approximately ₽18,500) for Russian applicants. This is a non-refundable application fee. Due to current restrictions, Russian citizens must apply at US embassies in third countries such as Astana (Kazakhstan), Warsaw (Poland), or other locations where they can demonstrate legal residence or ties.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa costs £127 (approximately ₽16,000) for Russian citizens applying for stays up to 6 months. VFS Global charges an additional service fee. Priority processing is available for £500 extra (5 working days) or £1,000 for Super Priority (next working day). Applications are submitted through VFS Global centers.

Schengen visa processing for Russian applicants typically takes 15 to 45 calendar days from the date of application. During peak travel season, processing can extend further. The Schengen visa fee is €90 (approximately ₽9,900) for Russian citizens as of 2025 and allows travel to all 29 Schengen member countries. Rejection rates for Russians dropped to 7.4% in 2024, below the global average.

Standard visa requirements for Russians include: valid passport with 6+ months validity and 2 blank pages, recent passport-size photographs (specifications vary by country), bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months showing sufficient funds, employment certificate or business registration documents, confirmed flight itinerary and hotel bookings, travel insurance (mandatory for Schengen with minimum €30,000 coverage), and a cover letter explaining travel purpose and ties to Russia.

The Schengen visa approval rate for Russian applicants improved significantly in 2024, with a rejection rate of only 7.4%, down from 10.6% in 2023. This is notably lower than the global average rejection rate of 14.8%. Russia ranked fifth globally in Schengen visa applications in 2024, with over 600,000 visas issued to Russian citizens.

Yes, Russian citizens can obtain a visa on arrival in Egypt for tourism purposes. The visa costs approximately $25 for a single entry valid for 30 days. Alternatively, Russians can apply for an Egyptian e-visa online before travel. Egypt remains one of the most popular beach destinations for Russian tourists, with direct flights from major Russian cities.

While Schengen rejection rates for Russians have decreased to 7.4%, some individual Schengen countries have higher rejection rates. Common rejection reasons include insufficient financial documentation, unclear travel purpose, weak ties to home country, incomplete applications, and concerns about overstaying. The UK and US may have more stringent review processes for Russian applicants given current geopolitical circumstances.

To maximize visa approval chances: apply at least 6 to 8 weeks before travel, provide 6 months of bank statements showing consistent income and sufficient funds, include tax declarations (2-NDFL) for the past 2 to 3 years, show property ownership or other assets in Russia, document previous international travel history, provide a detailed day-by-day travel itinerary with confirmed bookings, ensure travel insurance meets minimum coverage requirements, and demonstrate strong ties to Russia such as employment, family, or property.