Russian visa: which one do you need for your passport?
If you’re from the US, the UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you need a regular visa from a consulate, with an invitation letter. Most of Europe, plus countries like India, Japan or Turkey, can get the 30-day e-Visa online. And much of Latin America, Israel and South Africa enter visa-free. I walk you through each case with the official data.
In 30 seconds
The three ways to enter Russia
It comes down to your passport, how many days you’ll stay and how many times you’ll enter. That’s it.
- Up to 30 days · 1 entryElectronic visa (e-Visa)You apply online, it costs USD 52 and arrives within 4 days. No invitation letter needed. Not available to US, UK, Canadian, Australian or NZ citizens.
- US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ · longer staysRegular visaYou apply at a consulate or visa center, with an invitation letter and medical insurance. Any nationality can get one.
- 58 countries and territoriesVisa-freeYour passport is enough, usually for up to 90 days: most of Latin America, Israel, South Africa, the UAE and more.
Your passport
Which visa do you need for your country?
The data comes from the Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (September 2026) and applies to ordinary passports. Each country links to its own guide, and the visa checker covers all 197.
Regular visa only
You need a consulate visa
These passports can’t use the e-Visa or enter visa-free.
And most of Africa, plus any country not listed in the other two columns.
e-Visa or regular visa
You can apply for the e-Visa
For trips of up to 30 days with a single entry. For anything longer, the regular visa.
Plus almost all of the European Union and countries like Malaysia, Vietnam or Kenya: 64 in total on the official list.
Visa-free
You enter without a visa
Up to 90 days per stay unless noted. Handy if you hold dual citizenship.
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Peru
- Israel
- UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Jamaica
- South Korea (60 days)
- Dominican Rep. (60 days)
- China (30 days)
- Thailand (30 days)
- Serbia (30 days)
- Hong Kong (14 days)
Most former Soviet republics don’t need a visa either.
Don’t see your country? Search it in the visa checker · Two passports? Which one to use at each checkpoint
If you’re not sure
Decide in five questions
If your passport gives you a choice between the e-Visa and the regular visa, these questions settle it.
- How many days?Up to 30 days, counting the day you arrive and the day you leave, the e-Visa is enough. Longer than that, regular visa.
- How many entries?The e-Visa lets you in once. If you leave and come back (Russia, Georgia, Russia), you need a double or multiple-entry regular visa.
- Where do you cross?With the e-Visa, only through the checkpoints on the official list, both in and out. Check which borders are open.
- What’s the trip for?The e-Visa covers tourism, business, visiting people and events. Not work, study or transit.
- When do you leave?You apply for the e-Visa between 86 and 4 days before entering. If it’s too late, look into an urgent regular visa.
Option 1
The e-Visa: up to 30 days and one entry
It’s the easiest way into Russia if your country is on the list: you fill in the form on the official website, pay the fee by card and get a PDF to print or keep on your phone. Nobody asks for an invitation letter or hotel bookings. US, UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passports aren’t eligible: if that’s you, skip to the regular visa.
- USD 52official fee. Free for children under 6. Not refundable.
- 30 daysmaximum stay, counted from the day you enter.
- 4 daysmaximum processing time, not counting the day you apply.
- 86 daysbefore the trip is the earliest you can apply. The latest is 4 days before.
- 120 daysof validity after it’s issued to make the trip.
- 6 monthsminimum passport validity, plus medical insurance valid in Russia for the whole stay.
Step by step
Do it yourself
The form, the photo, the documents and what to do if it’s refused.
Mandatory
Medical insurance
It’s required for the e-Visa: it must cover the whole stay and be valid in Russia.
Optional
With some help
If you’d rather have someone check the form before it goes in.
More on the e-Visa
Option 2
The regular visa: more days and multiple entries
This is the route for most English-speaking travelers. It’s the classic sticker glued into your passport, open to every nationality, and the only option if you’re staying longer than 30 days, need to enter more than once or your passport can’t use the e-Visa. You need an invitation letter and medical insurance, and you apply in person at a consulate or visa center.
Applying step by step and other visa types
- Where to apply, country by country
- Applying if you live abroad
- Applying in the USA, step by step
- The 3-year tourist visa (US citizens only)
- Applying in the UK, step by step
- Applying in Canada, step by step
- Applying in Australia, step by step
- Applying in New Zealand, step by step
- Applying in Ireland
- Applying in India
- Invitation for migration-risk countries
- Private visa to visit family or friends
- Business visa
- Transit visa and Moscow stopovers
- The shared values visa
- Why visas get refused and how to avoid it
- Moving to Russia
Option 3
Russia visa-free: your passport and little else
If your country has an agreement with Russia, a valid passport is enough. On arrival you fill in the migration card, and you must be registered within 7 working days (hotels do it for you). How long you can stay depends on your country’s agreement: usually 90 days, sometimes 60, 30 or just 14.
Start here
The general guide
Exempt countries, how long you can stay and what they ask at the border.
Recommended
The RuID app
You file your arrival notice up to 72 hours before. It’s an experiment until the end of 2027 and not having it hasn’t led to anyone being refused entry, but I’d install it.
Not mandatory
Medical insurance
Nobody asks for it at the border, but private healthcare in Russia is expensive.
Country guides
Special cases
When your trip isn’t the usual one
Stopovers, your own vehicle, Belarus or areas that need a special permit: each case has its own rules, and sometimes the visa isn’t enough.
- Stopover in MoscowIf you stay in the international transit zone, you don’t need a visa.
- Entering through BelarusWhich visa is valid and where you can cross.
- Car, motorbike or camperWhat changes for the visa when you cross with your own vehicle.
- St. Petersburg cruiseThe 72-hour exemption and why it’s no use right now.
- Mount ElbrusThe border-zone permit you need on top of the visa.
- Closed citiesThe ones you can only visit with a special permit.
On arrival
Once you’re in Russia
The visa doesn’t end at the border. These are the steps that fall to you (or your hotel) once you’re there.
- 7 working daysRegistrationWho does it, when, and what happens if you change cities.
- At the borderMigration cardWhat it is, how to fill it in and why you shouldn’t lose it.
- NewDigital profileThe digital registration for foreigners and who it applies to.
- ChangesChange your route or extendWhat you can change without trouble and when there’s no extension.
Beyond Russia
Visas for the rest of your route
If you’re combining Russia with the Trans-Siberian, Central Asia or Belarus, this is what each country asks of you.
Just published
The latest visa news
Dual Citizenship and Travel to Russia: Which Passport to Use at Each Checkpoint
Do You Need a Visa for Mongolia? The 30-Day Exemption, Explained
Travel to Belarus Without a Visa in 2026: Requirements and How to Enter
Do you need a visa for China? The 2026 visa-free guide- Do US citizens need a visa for China? Yes — here’s what changed
- Do Australians need a visa for China? The 30-day exemption, explained
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about the Russian visa
Do I need a visa to travel to Russia?
It depends on your passport. Citizens of 58 countries and territories, most of them in Latin America, enter visa-free, and so do most former Soviet republics. Citizens of 64 countries, including most of the EU, can use the e-Visa for up to 30 days. US, UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens need a regular visa with an invitation letter.
Do US citizens need a visa for Russia?
Yes. Americans can’t use the e-Visa, so they need a regular visa from a Russian consulate or visa center, with an invitation letter and medical insurance. US citizens can also apply for a 3-year multiple-entry tourist visa.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Russia?
Yes. British citizens aren’t eligible for the e-Visa and need a regular visa with an invitation letter and medical insurance, applied for in person at the visa center.
Can US, UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand citizens apply for the Russian e-Visa?
No. These nationalities aren’t on the official list of 64 countries eligible for the e-Visa. They have to apply for a regular visa with an invitation letter at a Russian consulate or visa center.
How much does the Russian e-Visa cost?
The official fee is USD 52, paid online by international card. It’s free for children under 6 and not refundable if the visa is refused.
How far in advance should I apply for the e-Visa?
No earlier than 86 days before you enter and no later than 4 days before. Processing takes up to 4 calendar days, not counting the day you apply.
Can I enter Russia on an e-Visa through any border?
No. With the e-Visa you can only enter and leave through the checkpoints on the official list. Check it before you buy tickets, especially if you’re crossing overland.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Russia?
Yes if you travel on an e-Visa or a regular visa: it must be valid in Russia and cover the whole stay. If you enter visa-free, nobody asks for it at the border, but I’d still get it because private healthcare is expensive.
What is RuID and do I need it?
It’s the official app visa-free travelers use to file their arrival notice, no later than 72 hours before entering. It’s an experiment until the end of 2027 and not having it hasn’t led to anyone being refused entry, but I’d install it. If you travel on a visa, you don’t need it.
Can I extend my Russian visa once I’m in the country?
The e-Visa can only be extended for urgent medical treatment or force majeure. If you think you’ll need more than 30 days, apply from the start for a regular visa long enough for your trip.
Still have a question?
Ask people who’ve just been
On the Russiable forum there are travelers who crossed the border a few days ago. And if your visa is sorted, carry on planning the trip step by step.
Do Canadians need a visa for China? The 30-day exemption, explained