For tourists
Visa-free travel
According to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, citizens of 27 states that hold all types of passports are eligible for visa-free entrance to Russia for a period of 30 to 90 days. These countries are:
Item No.
Country
Type of passport
Period of stay
Number of countries by period of stay
Abkhazia
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports (including internal passports)
Azerbaijan
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Argentina
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Armenia
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Brazil
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Venezuela
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Guatemala
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Honduras
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Colombia
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Nicaragua
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Paraguay
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Peru
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Ukraine
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports (including internal passports)
Uruguay
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Fiji
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Chile
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Ecuador
Up to 90 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Cuba
Up to 30 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Seychelles
Up to 30 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Mauritius
Up to 60 days without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Belarus
Without a visa for holders of all types of passports (including internal passports)
Kazakhstan
Without a visa for holders of all types of passports (including internal passports)
Kyrgyzstan
Without a visa for holders of all types of passports (including internal passports)
Moldova
Without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Tajikistan
Without a visa for holders of all types of passports
Uzbekistan
Without a visa for holders of all types of passports
South Ossetia
Without a visa for holders of all types of passports (including internal passports), except for entrance commercial or employment purposes
For the legal stay in Russia, all foreign nationals are required to obtain a voluntary health insurance policy.
Visa
A foreign national or stateless person needs a visa to enter the Russian Federation, except for citizens of the states with which the Russian Federation concluded an agreement on visa free travel.
To apply for and obtain a visa to enter the Russian Federation it is necessary to
1) Contact a consular office of the Russian Federation at the location of your habitual residence;
2) Review the list of the documents necessary to apply for a visa and the amount of the consular fee;
3) Submit the documents necessary to apply for a visa:
1. Passport.
2. A filled-out visa application form.
3. One 3.5 x 4.5 cm photograph.
4. Proof of payment of the consular fee.
5. Documents depending on the purpose of the visit and the visa category:
5.1.for business and humanitarian visas (a single or double entry visa for up to 3 months or a multiple entry visa for up to one year):
· an original invitation letter registered with a branch of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation or a decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
5.2.for tourist visas (a single or double entry visa for up to 30 days)
· a tourism services agreement
· a confirmation of reception of the foreign tourist by the tour operator company
Note: a hotel booking confirmation cannot serve as the ground for issuing a visa
5.3.for private visas (a single or double entry visa for up to three months):
· an original invitation letter registered with a branch of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation
5.4.for a student visa:
· an original invitation letter registered with a branch of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation
· a negative HIV certificate (valid for 3 months)
Note: when applying for a student visa make sure that your passport is valid for at least one and a half years
5.5.for work visas:
· an original invitation letter registered with a branch of the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation
· a negative HIV certificate (valid for 3 months)
Note: when applying for a work visa make sure that your passport is valid for at least one and a half years
5.6.for transit visas (for not more than 3 days for foreign nationals traveling by air through the territory of the Russian Federation to the country of destination):
· a valid transport ticket for departure from the Russian Federation
· a visa to enter the country adjacent to the Russian Federation on the route or a visa of the country of destination or a passport issued by such country
Note: a foreign national travelling by a non-stop air flight over the territory of the Russian Federation does not need a transit visa
More detailed information on the requirements to the documents necessary for issue of a visa can be found on the website of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
4) Get a receipt showing the date of the visa readiness after the respective documents have been accepted.
5) Obtain the visa; please provide the receipt to obtain your visa.
6) Upon obtaining of the visa, check if the details are filled in correctly, including the name, date, passport number, date of birth, etc. and, if necessary, promptly return the visa to make the respective amendments.
Regardless of the number of entries of the visa, the total period of stay of a foreign national in the Russian Federation may not exceed 90 days per each period of 180 days (except for holders of work and student visas).
The consulate reserves the right to refuse to grant a visa on serious grounds.
