Russian embassies and consulates
Where to apply for a Russian visa
You apply at the Russian consulate for the place where you permanently live, or at its visa application centre if it has one.1 Many travellers don’t need either: the eVisa is online and some passports are visa-free.
First
Do you need to go to a consulate at all?
- No office neededVisa-freeCheck whether your passport enters Russia without a visa.
- No office neededeVisaOnline, no invitation, up to 30 days and single entry.
- Consulate or visa centreRegular visaLonger stays, several entries, work or study, and every passport outside those lists.
Prefer to have an eVisa application checked first? eVisa Express does it for a service fee; the eVisa help page compares both options.
Three routes
Consulate, visa centre or agency
Consulate
Cheapest
- Only the consular fee, no service fee
- Appointment booked online, often weeks ahead
- No help with forms, photos or copies
Visa centre
Most convenient, where there is one
- Consular fee plus a service fee, not refunded if the visa is refused
- Staff check the file on the spot
- Often accepts applications by post or courier
Visa agency
Hands-off
- Prepares and submits the file for you
- Most expensive: its fee comes on top of the others
- Check its address, itemised prices and reviews before paying
Whichever route you choose, the decision is always taken by the consulate: neither a visa centre nor an agency can guarantee the visa or make the consulate process it faster.
Visa centres are private companies authorised by the consulate. At our last review, on 5 October 2026, they were listed as open in 13 countries: Australia, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, India, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States. Several have closed in recent years: Austria (2023), Bulgaria (2023), Canada (2022), Czech Republic (2023), France (2023), Greece (2023), Poland (2023), Portugal (2023), Romania (2022), Singapore (2021), Switzerland (2023), Vietnam (2023). Centres open and close often, so check the centre’s or the consulate’s website before booking.
Consular fees
How much a Russian visa costs
| Visa (tourist, business, private) | 4 to 20 working days | Within 3 working days |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry | US$50 | US$200 |
| Double entry | US$80 | US$320 |
| Multiple entry | US$150 | US$600 |
Rates set by Decree No. 1292 of 2 October 2026, applied since 14 October3. Each country’s tariff adds a charge for costs and is paid in local currency, and a treaty on visa fees takes priority. Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused1.
Living abroad
Applying outside your own country
The rule is to apply at the consulate for your place of permanent residence1. A regular visa can usually be requested where you live legally, not only in your country of nationality. The documents follow your nationality, and the fee can be higher than for local citizens. Details: applying for a Russian visa if you live abroad.
Directory
Russian embassies, consulates and visa centres by country
Open a country for each office’s address, phone, email and opening hours, as published by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
| Country | Russian embassy and consulates | Visa centre | Its citizens enter with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif | — | Consular visa |
| Albania | Tirana | — | Consular visa |
| Algeria | Algiers | — | Consular visa |
| Andorra | Covered from Spain | — | Visa-free |
| Angola | Luanda | — | Consular visa |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Covered from Jamaica | — | Visa-free |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | — | Visa-free |
| Armenia | Yerevan, Gyumri | — | Visa-free |
| Australia | Canberra, Sydney | Open | Consular visa |
| Austria | Vienna, Salzburg | Visa centre · Closed since 2023 | eVisa |
| Azerbaijan | Baku | — | Visa-free |
| Bahamas | Covered from Cuba | — | Consular visa |
| Bahrain | Manama | — | eVisa |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | — | Consular visa |
| Barbados | Covered from Guyana | — | eVisa |
| Belarus | Minsk, Brest, Grodno | — | Visa-free |
| Belgium | Brussels, Antwerp | Open | eVisa |
| Belize | Covered from Mexico | — | Visa-free |
| Benin | Cotonou | — | Consular visa |
| Bhutan | No Russian embassy (no diplomatic relations) | — | eVisa |
| Bolivia | La Paz | — | Visa-free |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Sarajevo | — | Visa-free |
| Botswana | Gaborone | — | Visa-free |
| Brazil | Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo | — | Visa-free |
| Brunei | Bandar Seri Begawan | — | Visa-free |
| Bulgaria | Sofia | Visa centre · Closed since 2023 | eVisa |
| Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou | — | Consular visa |
| Burundi | Bujumbura | — | Consular visa |
| Cabo Verde | Praia | — | Visa-free |
| Cambodia | Phnom Penh | — | eVisa |
| Cameroon | Yaoundé | — | Consular visa |
| Canada | Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal | Visa centre · Closed since 2022 | Consular visa |
| Central African Republic | Bangui | — | Consular visa |
| Chad | N’Djamena | — | Consular visa |
| Chile | Santiago | — | Visa-free |
| China | Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Harbin, Hong Kong | — | Visa-free |
| Colombia | Bogotá | — | Visa-free |
| Comoros | Covered from Madagascar | — | Consular visa |
| Costa Rica | San José | — | Visa-free |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Abidjan | — | Consular visa |
| Croatia | Zagreb | — | eVisa |
| Cuba | Havana | — | Visa-free |
| Cyprus | Nicosia | — | eVisa |
| Czech Republic | Prague | Visa centre · Closed since 2023 | eVisa |
| Denmark | Copenhagen | — | eVisa |
| Djibouti | Djibouti | — | Consular visa |
| Dominica | Covered from Jamaica | — | Visa-free |
| Dominican Republic | Santo Domingo | — | Visa-free |
| DR Congo | Kinshasa | — | Consular visa |
| Ecuador | Quito | — | Visa-free |
| Egypt | Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada | — | Consular visa |
| El Salvador | Covered from Nicaragua | — | Visa-free |
| Equatorial Guinea | Equatorial Guinea (no website listed) | — | Consular visa |
| Eritrea | Asmara | — | Consular visa |
| Estonia | Tallinn | Open | eVisa |
| Eswatini | Covered from Mozambique | — | eVisa |
| Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | — | Consular visa |
| Fiji | Covered from Australia | — | Visa-free |
| Finland | Helsinki, Mariehamn (Åland) | — | eVisa |
| France | Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg | Visa centre · Closed since 2023 | eVisa |
| Gabon | Libreville | — | Consular visa |
| Gambia | the Gambia (no website listed) | — | Consular visa |
| Georgia | Tbilisi | — | Visa-free |
| Germany | Berlin | Open | eVisa |
| Ghana | Accra | — | Consular visa |
| Greece | Athens, Thessaloniki | Visa centre · Closed since 2023 | eVisa |
| Grenada | Covered from Guyana | — | Visa-free |
| Guatemala | Guatemala City | — | Visa-free |
| Guinea | Conakry | — | Consular visa |
| Guinea-Bissau | Bissau | — | Consular visa |
| Guyana | Georgetown | — | Visa-free |
| Haiti | Covered from Venezuela | — | Consular visa |
| Honduras | Covered from Nicaragua | — | Visa-free |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | — | Visa-free |
| Hungary | Budapest, Debrecen | — | eVisa |
| Iceland | Reykjavik | — | eVisa |
| India | New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata | Open | eVisa |
| Indonesia | Jakarta | — | eVisa |
| Iran | Tehran, Isfahan, Rasht | — | eVisa |
| Iraq | Baghdad, Erbil, Basra | — | Consular visa |
| Ireland | Dublin | — | eVisa |
| Israel | Tel Aviv, Haifa | — | Visa-free |
| Italy | Rome, Milan, Genoa, Palermo | Open | eVisa |
| Jamaica | Kingston | — | Visa-free |
| Japan | Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Niigata | — | eVisa |
| Jordan | Amman | — | Visa-free |
| Kazakhstan | Astana, Almaty, Uralsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk | — | Visa-free |
| Kenya | Nairobi | — | eVisa |
| Kiribati | Covered from Indonesia | — | Consular visa |
| Kuwait | Kuwait City | — | eVisa |
| Kyrgyzstan | Bishkek, Osh | — | Visa-free |
| Laos | Vientiane | — | Visa-free |
| Latvia | Riga | Open | eVisa |
| Lebanon | Beirut | — | Consular visa |
| Lesotho | Covered from South Africa | — | Consular visa |
| Liberia | Covered from Ghana | — | Consular visa |
| Libya | Tripoli | — | Consular visa |
| Liechtenstein | Covered from Switzerland | — | eVisa |
| Lithuania | Vilnius | Open | eVisa |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg | — | eVisa |
| Macao | Russia has no consulate in Macao | — | Visa-free |
| Madagascar | Antananarivo | — | Consular visa |
| Malawi | Covered from Zimbabwe | — | Consular visa |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | — | eVisa |
| Maldives | There is no Russian embassy in the Maldives: the Russian Foreign Ministry lists only an honorary consul there | — | Visa-free |
| Mali | Bamako | — | Consular visa |
| Malta | Valletta | — | eVisa |
| Marshall Islands | The Russian Foreign Ministry does not list any Russian embassy responsible for the Marshall Islands | — | Consular visa |
| Mauritania | Nouakchott | — | Consular visa |
| Mauritius | Port Louis | — | Visa-free |
| Mexico | Mexico City | — | eVisa |
| Micronesia | The Russian Foreign Ministry does not list any Russian embassy responsible for Micronesia | — | Consular visa |
| Moldova | Chișinău | — | Visa-free |
| Monaco | Covered from France | — | eVisa |
| Mongolia | Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan | — | Visa-free |
| Montenegro | Podgorica | — | Visa-free |
| Morocco | Rabat, Casablanca | — | Consular visa |
| Mozambique | Maputo | — | Consular visa |
| Myanmar | Yangon | — | Visa-free |
| Namibia | Windhoek | — | Visa-free |
| Nauru | Covered from Australia | — | Visa-free |
| Nepal | Kathmandu | — | Consular visa |
| Netherlands | The Hague | Closed | eVisa |
| New Zealand | Wellington | — | Consular visa |
| Nicaragua | Managua | — | Visa-free |
| Niger | Niger (no website listed) | — | Consular visa |
| Nigeria | Abuja | — | Consular visa |
| North Korea | Pyongyang, Chongjin | — | eVisa |
| North Macedonia | Skopje | — | eVisa |
| Norway | Oslo, Kirkenes, Barentsburg (Svalbard) | — | eVisa |
| Oman | Muscat | — | Visa-free |
| Pakistan | Islamabad, Karachi | — | Consular visa |
| Palau | Covered from the Philippines | — | Visa-free |
| Palestine | Ramallah | — | Consular visa |
| Panama | Panama City | — | Visa-free |
| Papua New Guinea | Covered from Indonesia | — | eVisa |
| Paraguay | Asunción | — | Visa-free |
| Peru | Lima | — | Visa-free |
| Philippines | Manila | — | eVisa |
| Poland | Warsaw | Visa centre · Closed since 2023 | eVisa |
| Portugal | Lisbon | Visa centre · Closed since 2023 | eVisa |
| Qatar | Doha | — | Visa-free |
| Republic of the Congo | Brazzaville | — | Consular visa |
| Romania | Bucharest, Constanța | Visa centre · Closed since 2022 | eVisa |
| Rwanda | Kigali | — | Consular visa |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Covered from Jamaica | — | Visa-free |
| Saint Lucia | Covered from Jamaica | — | eVisa |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Covered from Guyana | — | Visa-free |
| Samoa | Covered from New Zealand | — | Visa-free |
| San Marino | Covered from Italy | — | eVisa |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh, Jeddah | — | Visa-free |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Covered from Angola | — | Consular visa |
| Senegal | Dakar | — | Consular visa |
| Serbia | Belgrade | — | Visa-free |
| Seychelles | Victoria | — | Visa-free |
| Sierra Leone | Freetown | — | Consular visa |
| Singapore | Singapore | Visa centre · Closed since 2021 | eVisa |
| Slovakia | Bratislava | — | eVisa |
| Slovenia | Ljubljana | — | eVisa |
| Solomon Islands | The Russian Foreign Ministry does not list any Russian embassy responsible for the Solomon Islands | — | Consular visa |
| Somalia | Covered from Djibouti | — | Consular visa |
| South Africa | Pretoria, Cape Town | — | Visa-free |
| South Korea | Seoul, Busan | — | Visa-free |
| South Sudan | Juba | — | Consular visa |
| Spain | Madrid, Barcelona | Open | eVisa |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo | — | Consular visa |
| Sudan | Khartoum | — | Consular visa |
| Suriname | Covered from Brazil | — | Visa-free |
| Sweden | Stockholm | — | eVisa |
| Switzerland | Bern, Geneva | Visa centre · Closed since 2023 | eVisa |
| Syria | Damascus | — | Consular visa |
| Taiwan | Russia has no embassy or consulate in Taiwan, which makes the eVisa the simplest option | — | eVisa |
| Tajikistan | Dushanbe, Khujand | — | Visa-free |
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | — | Consular visa |
| Thailand | Bangkok, Phuket | — | Visa-free |
| Timor-Leste | Covered from Indonesia | — | Consular visa |
| Togo | Togo (no website listed) | — | Consular visa |
| Tonga | Covered from New Zealand | — | eVisa |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Covered from Guyana | — | eVisa |
| Tunisia | Tunis | — | Consular visa |
| Turkey | Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Trabzon | Open | eVisa |
| Turkmenistan | Ashgabat | — | eVisa |
| Tuvalu | Covered from Australia | — | Consular visa |
| Uganda | Kampala | — | Consular visa |
| Ukraine | None (no diplomatic relations) | — | Visa-free |
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi, Dubai | Open | Visa-free |
| United Kingdom | London, Edinburgh | Open | Consular visa |
| United States | Washington, New York, Houston | Open | Consular visa |
| Uruguay | Montevideo | — | Visa-free |
| Uzbekistan | Tashkent | — | Visa-free |
| Vanuatu | Covered from Australia | — | Visa-free |
| Vatican City | Rome | — | eVisa |
| Venezuela | Caracas | — | Visa-free |
| Vietnam | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang | Visa centre · Closed since 2023 | Visa-free |
| Yemen | Sana’a and Aden (consular work suspended) | — | Consular visa |
| Zambia | Lusaka | — | Consular visa |
| Zimbabwe | Harare | — | eVisa |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Where can I apply for a Russian visa?
At the Russian embassy or consulate for the place where you permanently live, or at its visa application centre if it has one. Citizens of countries on the eVisa list can apply online instead.
Is it cheaper to apply at the consulate or at the visa centre?
At the consulate, because you only pay the consular fee. A visa centre adds a service fee, which is not refunded if the visa is refused.
Does the visa centre decide on the visa?
No. Visa centres and agencies only receive the application. The consulate always takes the decision.
Can a visa agency get the visa faster?
No. An agency can prepare and submit the file for you, but it cannot make the consulate process it faster. Urgent processing, within 3 working days, is a consular option with a higher fee.
Can I apply for a Russian visa in a country where I am not a citizen?
Usually yes, if you live there legally. The documents follow your nationality, and the fee can be higher than for local citizens.
Do I need to visit a consulate for the eVisa?
No. The eVisa is requested and issued online.
Sources
Official sources consulted
Offices, visa centres and fees change. Check the office’s website before you book.
- Issuing visas for entry to Russia: documents, visa categories and rulesConsular Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consulted 31 October 2026.
- Conditions of entry and stay for foreign citizens in the Russian Federation (status: September 2026)Consular Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consulted 31 October 2026.
- Government Decree No. 1292 of 2 October 2026 amending the consular fee rates of Decree No. 889Official Internet Portal of Legal Information. Consulted 31 October 2026.