Visas to Russia: main requirements and procedure for obtaining

A visa to Russia — an official document that permits entry into the territory of the Russian Federation. It is required for:

• Tourism (visiting Moscow, St. Petersburg, Baikal, etc.)
• Business trips
• Education or work
• Private visits

A visa-free regime is only available for citizens of certain countries (for example, CIS, Israel, South Korea). You can find the current list of visa-free countries below.

The information is based on official data from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consular Department and is accurate as of the date of publication of the article.

We regularly monitor changes in Russian visa policy, however, for the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend contacting our managers.

1. Electronic visa (e-Visa)

• Purpose: tourism, business trips, participation in events (cultural, scientific, sports, etc.).
• Validity period: 60 days.
• Duration of stay: up to 16 days.
• Type: single-entry.

2. Tourist visa

• Purpose: short-term tourism.
• Duration of stay: up to 30 days.
• Type: single-entry or double-entry.

3. Business visa

• Purpose: negotiations, conferences, exhibitions, economic events.
• Validity period: from 30 days to 1 year.
• Type: single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry.

4. Work visa

• Purpose: employment in Russia.
• Validity period:
  • Primary — up to 3 months.
  • Extended — up to 3 years (for highly qualified specialists — immediately up to 3 years).
• Features: an employment contract is required, family members can get a visa along with the applicant.

5. Humanitarian visa

• Purpose: scientific, cultural, sports activities, charity, pilgrimage.
• Validity period: up to 90 days or 1 year.
• Type: single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry.
• Condition: invitation from the host party.

6. Private visa

• Purpose: visiting relatives/friends, treatment.
• Duration of stay: up to 90 days.
• Type: single-entry or double-entry.
• Basis: a guest invitation (from individuals or legal entities through the Federal Migration Service).

7. Student visa

• Purpose: studying at Russian universities or courses.
• Validity period:
  • Primary — up to 3 months.
  • Extended — up to 1 year (without leaving Russia).
• Condition: invitation from the educational institution.

8. Diplomatic and official visas

• For whom:
  • Diplomats and consular officers (by decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia).
  • Members of official delegations and their families.
• Validity period: up to 3 months (can be extended by international agreements).
• Type: single-entry or double-entry.

9. Transit visa

• Purpose: transit through the territory of Russia.
• Validity period:
  • For road transport — along the shortest route.
  • For air transfers — up to 3 days (not required if the flight is without stops).

10. Temporary residence visa (TRV)

• Validity period:
  • Primary — 120 days.
  • If there is a permit for TRV — extended up to 1 year.

According to intergovernmental agreements published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, citizens of these countries can enter Russia without a visa for a certain period (from 14 to 90 days). The conditions depend on the country and the purpose of the visit (tourism, business, private visit). 

However, from June 30, 2025, travelers entitled to visa-free entry into Russia will be required to submit an entry application no later than 72 hours before the expected arrival. Read more on the page RuID

1. Full visa-free regime (up to 90 days)

Citizens of these countries can stay in the Russian Federation for up to 90 days (every 180 days) without a visa:

• Azerbaijan
• Armenia
• Belarus (unlimited term)
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Tajikistan
• Uzbekistan
• South Ossetia
• Abkhazia
• Note: A visa will still be required for work or study.

2. Without a visa for 30–60 days

Citizens of these countries can visit Russia without a visa for 30–60 days:

• Israel (up to 90 days)
• South Korea (up to 60 days)
• Serbia (up to 30 days)
• Thailand (up to 30 days)
• Montenegro (up to 30 days, visa-free regime resumed in summer 2024)
• Macedonia (up to 30 days)
• Cuba (up to 90 days)
• Venezuela (up to 90 days)

3. Visa-free access for diplomatic passport holders

• China (up to 30 days, only for diplomatic and service passports)
• India (up to 90 days, only diplomatic passports)

4. Visa-free access for cruise tourists

Citizens of any country can stay up to 72 hours without a visa if they arrive on a cruise ship and remain in the port city (St. Petersburg, Sochi, Vladivostok).

To obtain a visa to the Russian Federation, the following documents are required (the list may vary depending on the type of visa and the applicant's nationality):

Mandatory documents for obtaining a visa to Russia

1. An international passport that meets the requirements:

• Valid for at least 6 months after the visa expires (for work/study visas — 1.5 years).
• At least 2 blank pages for visa stamps.
• No damage, fake stamps, or corrections.

2. Completed visa application form

• Photo 3.5×4.5 cm:
• Light background, clear image of the face, no glasses (unless they are medical).

3. Invitation to Russia (depending on the purpose of the trip):

• Tourist visa — hotel booking or invitation from a tour operator.
• Business visa — letter from a Russian company.
• Private visa — invitation from a Russian citizen (processed through the Ministry of Internal Affairs).
• Educational/work visa — documents from a university or employer.

4. Receipt for the payment of the consular fee (depends on the type and urgency).

5. Medical insurance covering the stay in the Russian Federation (not required for all visas).

Additional documents (by type of visa)

• For a work/study visa (term > 90 days):
  • HIV certificate (valid for 3 months from the date of issue).
  • Employment contract or certificate from an educational institution.
• For a business visa:
  • Letter from the inviting company indicating the purpose of the trip.
  • Extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (if required).
• For a transit visa:
  • Tickets to a third country or a visa of the destination state.

Depending on the purpose of your trip, you decide which visa to Russia is right for you as an applicant and what documents you need to have with you in addition to your passport. For example, different requirements apply to students than to businessmen or people visiting family or friends in the Russian Federation. You can get the necessary information about the differences at the embassy. Or you can contact us directly. We will answer all your questions about the document submission procedure or conduct the entire visa acquisition process simply and conveniently for you. We will be happy to help you choose the right visa and collect the necessary documents. As part of our visa service, we take on administrative formalities at the consulate or embassy and support you at every stage of the visa acquisition process. We also offer you the opportunity to obtain on your behalf an invitation letter required for entry into Russia. Necessary medical insurance and confirmation of readiness to return can also be ordered through us as an additional service in the Visa Comfort Service package.

This gives our clients, in particular, the following benefits:

• Free consultation for applicants
• Information on current visa requirements in Russia
• Online booking in just a few minutes
• All necessary documents in one place (e.g., passport, insurance)
• No long trips and waiting at Russian consulates
• Price transparency: no additional consular fees

If you move to individual visa categories online, you will receive information about the visa validity period, the permitted length of stay (days or months) and entry requirements into the Russian Federation.