The Russian government has published a list of the countries whose people can travel with the unified e-visa to Russia started on January 1, 2021. Since the beginning of the new initiative in 2017, individuals of 52 countries have been able to apply for an e-visa to visit specified regions of Russia.
According to legislative changes made in July 2020, the unified e-visa permits one visit to Russia for up to 16 days within 60 days of the date of issuance for private, business, tourism, or humanitarian purposes. This includes participation in scientific or cultural events or sports competitions or the establishment of contacts and networks related to the purposes mentioned above for the unified e-visa holders. Holders of a unified e-visa are free to travel between any of Russia’s regions.
Applications for the unified e-visa should be made through the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website. In this case, the visa should be issued within four days after the electronic application was submitted.
Conditions for issuing a unified e-visa to Russia
E-visas are provided online for tourist, business, humanitarian, and guest visits. In order to go to Russia, applicants do not need an invitation, a hotel reservation, or any other document indicating the purpose of their trip.
The consular fee is $40; however, there is no price for e-visas for children under the age of six.
Please be aware that the Federal Agency for Tourism does not deal with e-visa requests or provide electronic travel documents.
Please visit the website of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for more information, including instructions on how to apply for an e-visa.
Important checkpoints
This is the list of checkpoints along the Russian Federation’s state border through which international citizens can enter and depart the country with a single e-visa.
Air checkpoints
- Pulkovo
- Belgorod
- Volgograd (Gumrak)
- Ekaterinburg (Koltsovo)
- Kazan
- Krasnodar (Pashkovsky)
- Krasnoyarsk (Yemelyanovo)
- Moscow (Vnukovo)
- Moscow (Domodedovo)
- Moscow (Sheremetyevo)
- Nizhny Novgorod (Strigino)
- Novosibirsk (Tolmachevo)
- Rostov-on-Don (Platov)
- Samara (Kurumoch)
Naval checkpoints
- Vladivostok
- Zarubino
- Big port Saint Petersburg (Marine Station)
- Passenger port Saint Petersburg
Railway checkpoints
- Pogranichny
- Khasan
Car checkpoints
- Bagrationovsk
- Gusev
- Mamonovo (Grzechotki)
- Mamonovo (Gronowo)
- Morskoje
- Sovetsk
- Ivangorod
- Ubylinka
Requirements for unified e-visa to Russia
The process of obtaining a Russian e-visa is simple and fast. There is no need to leave the comfort of your own home to complete the application process. Tourists from all around the world may now plan their trips much more easily thanks to the electronic visa. Instead of standing in line for hours, a simple online form and a 4-day processing period will be enough.
Unified e-visa for Russia allows passengers to submit all necessary documents online, and the application process is supposed to take just a few minutes. The documents required to apply for a Russian visa online include:
- A properly filled-out online application
- A valid passport. It must be readable by a machine and issued by an eligible country. You need a passport that’s valid for at least six months from the day you submit your visa application.
- Debit/ credit card payment of the e-visa application fee
- JPEG format of a recent photograph
- Medical insurance for the duration of the trip to Russia.
It’s a good thing that the above documents can be added later on. As a result, you don’t have to finish the Russia online e-visa application and submit all of your documentation in one sitting. You can fill out the application form even if you don’t have all of the necessary papers, such as a photo and health insurance, on hand.
About Russia
While being the world’s largest country, Russia also has a fascinating and mysterious past. This unique country is home to around 144 million people. As a result of its booming economy, active role in global policymaking, and substantial military presence, the country has dissociated itself from its Soviet past in the previous 30 years. There are several museums, parks, monuments, and other cultural attractions in Russia, as well as numerous natural attractions that serve to attract tourists away from the country’s crowded cities. Some attractions may be closed temporarily or need reservations in advance. Availability/hours are subject to change.
