Russian Visa and Entry Requirements

Apply for a Russia e-visa

All passengers arriving in Russia from overseas must meet the country’s entry requirements. If you fail to meet these criteria you will not be permitted to cross the border into Russian territory.

Russia’s entry requirements include its visa policy, which requires most passport holders to have an approved Russian visa for their trip.

This page outlines Russia’s visa and entry requirements for foreign citizens, including documents required to apply for a Russia e-visa.

General Entry Requirements for Russia

All visitors must have a valid passport to present at border control.

Nationalities who are not visa-exempt for Russia must also have a valid visa.

Who needs a visa for Russia?

The majority of nationalities need to get a visa to travel to Russia. Only visa-exempt passport holders are permitted to cross the border without a visa.

Fortunately, citizens of over 50 countries are eligible to apply for a Russia electronic visa (e-visa). This is the most convenient way to get a visa for Russia, as the whole process is carried out online.

You can check the full list of e-visa eligible countries here:

Russia visa-exempt nationalities

Only citizens of countries that are part of Russia’s visa exemption policy can enter without a visa. You’re advised to check with official sources before confirming that you do not need a visa to enter Russia.

Apply for an e-visa

Russia e-visa conditions

If you’ve confirmed that you’re eligible for the Russian online visa, you must then check that you meet certain conditions before you can apply.

Russia e-visa requirements are:

  • Eligibility: You must be a citizen of an e-visa eligible country
  • Travel purpose: You must be traveling for tourism, business, sport/cultural/scientific-technical relations, or humanitarian reasons
  • Number of entries: You can only enter Russia once
  • Length of stay: No more than 16 days
  • Required documents: Check the section below

You must meet this criteria before you can start to apply for your Russia e-visa.

Required Documents for a Russia e-visa

The Russia online visa requirements are easy to meet. You only need the following:

Passport ✔️
Email address ✔️
Debit or credit card ✔️
Passport-style photo ✔️
Medical insurance policy ✔️

Russia e-visa passport requirements

The passport you use to complete the Russia e-visa application must meet the following criteria:

  • Issued by an e-visa eligible country
  • Valid for at least 6 months from the application date
  • Machine-readable passport (e-Passport)
  • At least 1 blank page for border crossing stamps

The passport you use to apply for your visa must be the same passport that you’ll use to enter Russia, as your visa is connected to your passport number.

Russia e-visa photo requirements

The photograph that you submit with your visa application must meet the Russia e-visa requirements:

  • Format: JPG
  • Shape: Rectangular (with the 35x45 aspect ratio)
  • Color: Neutral and showing the natural skin tone
  • Focus: Clear, well-defined, in focus, and without frames
  • Recent: No more than 6 months old and reflects current appearance
  • Position: Full-face view looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression
  • Lighting: No shadows, flash reflections on the face, or red eyes
  • Head coverings: Applicants whose religious beliefs prohibit them to be seen with their heads uncovered are allowed to wear a head covering. The face must clearly visible from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead
  • Glasses: Eyes must be clearly visible with no flash reflection off the lenses or tinted lenses

Additional Documents to Enter Russia

You may need additional documents to enter Russia, depending on your travel history and plans. In this section you’ll find information on additional documents you might need.

Migration card to enter Russia

You must sign an immigration card before entering Russia. This document must be presented at the Russian border, along with your passport and visa (if required).

A border officer will keep one half of your signed migration card and you must keep the other half to show at immigration when you leave the country.

You may also be required to present your migration card for other processes, such as exchanging money and checking into a hotel.

Health documents to enter Russia

There are no mandatory vaccine requirements to enter Russia, however you’re advised to be up-to-date with all routine vaccinations. These include:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Tetanus

Some travelers should also consider the following:

  • Japanese encephalitis: If visiting rural areas
  • Rabies: For long visits, exposure to animals, limited access to medical treatment
  • Tick-borne encephalitis: Visiting risk or forested areas
  • Tuberculosis: Close contact with infected persons

Travelers are advised to regularly check Russia travel updates to ensure they have the correct documents.