Russian Unified e-visa

Please note: due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the launch of the new E-visa has been slowed down and is currently pending approval. The unified E-visa for Russia is expected to go live soon.

Exploring Russia is now easier for travelers from more than 50 countries. With the unified e-visa, you can visit anywhere in Russia with a single visa.

The e-visa for Russia is available online. Fill out the electronic application form, upload your documents, and receive your approved visa by email.

The best option for international tourists and business travelers visiting Russia short-term, the unified e-visa simplifies travel preparations. Find out if you’re eligible for the e-visa and check the requirements to apply online.

What Is the Russian Unified E-visa?

The Russian Unified e-visa is an electronic visa to travel throughout the Russian territory. It simplifies the visa application process for passport holders from more than 50 countries.

The unified e-visa application process is 100% online. You do not need to visit a consulate or embassy. The application form is electronic and you upload your supporting documents in digital format.

Before the unified e-visa, travelers had to apply for different types of visas for specific regions. The unified visa makes it easier to explore several areas of Russia on the same trip.

Not all nationalities are eligible for the e-visa. Check if the country of your passport is listed below.

The Unified Electronic Visa for Tourism and Business

The Russian unified E-visa is for:

  • Tourism
  • Private visits
  • Business meetings
  • Scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, and sporting events
  • Carrying out relevant communications and contacts

To travel to Russia for other reasons, such as study or work, you cannot apply for an e-visa. You must get the relevant visa or permit at a Russian diplomatic mission abroad.

Russia Unified e-visa: Check Your Eligibility

Passport holders from these countries can apply for the Russia unified e-visa:

If your country is not listed here, it means you are not eligible for the unified electronic visa — you must get a different type of visa for your trip to Russia.

How to Get the Unified Visa for Russia Online

The unified E-visa is designed to be quicker and easier to obtain than traditional paper visas. Completing the request only takes minutes and can be done from anywhere in the world.

Here’s how to submit a unified e-visa application for Russia:

  1. Fill out the unified e-visa application form
  2. Upload the necessary supporting documents
  3. Pay the application fee securely online

You need to complete the application form with basic personal details, passport information, and some information about your trip. There are also some additional eligibility questions.

What Do I Need to Apply for a Unified Russian E-visa?

You need just a few documents to apply for a Russian unified e-visa:

  • Passport from an eligible country, valid for at least 6 months
  • Passport-size digital photograph
  • Debit or credit card to pay the e-visa fees

Unlike other Russian visa applications, the unified e-Visa does not require an invitation letter, hotel reservations, or other documents proving the purpose(s) of the trip to Russia.

How long does it take to get the Russian electronic visa?

It takes just a few minutes to complete the Russia unified e-visa application form. You can complete the process from home, you do not need to make an appointment at an embassy or consulate.

Most unified e-visa applications are processed in 4 to 7 days. You should allow extra time for unexpected delays.

On approval, your e-visa will be delivered straight to your email inbox.

Unified E-visa for Russia: Validity

There are 2 key dates you need to know:

  • Length of stay: You can visit Russia for up to 16 days with an electronic visa. The 16 days include your day of arrival and your day of departure.
  • Validity period of 60 days: This means that you must enter Russia within 60 days of receiving your approved visa. You can find the duration of stay and your visa's validity period on your approved visa.

Unified e-visa Border Crossing Points

The unified e-visa for Russia opens new possibilities for electronic visa holders who so far could only visit specific Russian regions such as Kaliningrad and St Petersburg. Now, you can include any area of Russia in your travel itinerary, from the capital Moscow to remote Siberia.

Destinations you can visit with an electronic visa for Russia

Here are just some of the destinations you can visit with the unified Russia e-visa:

The e-visa is valid at air, land, and sea borders across Russia. Check the full list of approved entry points when planning your trip to Russia.

Please note: an approved unified e-visa does not represent a guarantee of entry into the Russian Federation. Immigration officers at the border review foreign travelers’ information and documents and grant entry.