If you do not need a visa for entry, the total period of stay in the country should not exceed 90, 60, 30 or 14 days within 180 days (depending on the country from which you are traveling). This applies to those cases when you travel as a tourist, visit family or friends, attend business meetings, cultural or sporting events. A longer stay is possible, but you must apply for a visa.

Find out whether a visa is required to enter the territory of the Russian Federation and the permitted period of stay at the link https://www.kdmid.ru/cons/visas/conditions-of-entry-foreign-citizens-in-russian-federation/ 

Citizens who do not have the right to enter within the visa-free regime and who do not have another document that gives them the right to enter (for example, residence cards) are required to have a visa. A visa confirms the consent of the country's authorities to the entry and stay of a specific person on its territory.

Tourist Visa

Tourist visas are issued for entering Russia for a short-term stay in the country for the purpose of tourism (attending cultural events, excursions, sightseeing) on the basis of confirmation that the foreign tourist will be accepted by a Russian tour operator.

Tourist visas to the Russian Federation are single-entry or double-entry. The maximum period of validity of a tourist visa does not exceed 30 days.

Double-entry tourist visas are issued to foreign citizens only in those cases when, according to the documents, the tourist plans to visit other states neighboring Russia during his visit to this country ("near abroad" (CIS, Baltic States)). The route must be specified in the tourist ticket.

Necessary documents for obtaining a tourist visa

• Confirmation that you will be accepted as a tourist by a Russian tour operator registered in the Unified Register of Tour Operators.

• A passport that has at least two free visa pages and will be valid for 6 months after the visa expires

• National identity card and residence permit/visa (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

• The online application, filled out on the website https://visa.kdmid.ru/, printed and signed personally by the applicant

• Photo

• Original medical insurance valid on the territory of the Russian Federation and covering the entire period of validity of the visa. The minimum amount of insurance coverage must be 30,000 euros

The deadline for issuing a tourist visa

The average term for issuing a Russian tourist visa is 10-20 calendar days. It depends on your country of visa application.

Visa fee

The visa fee for a Russian tourist visa is 30-300 euros. The amount of the fee may vary depending on your nationality or country of application.

Where to apply for a tourist visa

You apply for a Russian humanitarian visa at Russian visa centers, embassies or consulates, depending on which ones accept visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none in your country, you need to contact the nearest embassy or consulate at your address.

Information about embassies of the Russian Federation operating abroad can be viewed here: https://www.mid.ru/ru/maps/

Electronic Visa of Russia

Currently, foreign citizens of 52 countries have the opportunity to issue electronic visas for visiting St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, Kaliningrad Oblast and the Far East of the Russian Federation.

An electronic visa can be obtained only by citizens of certain states, the list of which is established by the Government of the Russian Federation. The visa is valid for 60 days from the moment of receipt, but you can stay in Russia on it for no more than 16 days.

Necessary documents for obtaining an e-visa of Russia

To apply for an electronic visa, foreigners need to fill out a form (https://evisa.kdmid.ru/ru-RU ), upload their photo, a scan of their foreign passport and pay the consular fee.

Deadline for issuing an e-visa of Russia.

The average processing time for an e-visa of Russia is 3-5 calendar days.

Visa fee for e-visa of Russia

Electronic visa of Russia is free.

Where to apply for an e-visa of Russia

You apply for a Russian electronic visa online through this site.

Additional documents

When entering Russia, a foreigner must have:

• Passport or other valid travel document;

• A valid visa or other valid document giving the right to enter and stay in this territory, if required;

• In the case of transit through the Russian Federation to another state — a permit to enter another state or a permit to stay in another state.

What amount of money is required when entering Russia?

The border service has the right to demand from a foreigner documentary confirmation of the availability of a sufficient amount of funds to cover the costs of living in the Russian Federation and returning to the country of origin.

It is necessary to have with you an amount based on the subsistence minimum in the Russian Federation - about 12 thousand rubles per person per month.