How to get a Russian visa in 2025?

1. Who does not need a visa to visit Russia?

Citizens of more than 60 countries can enter Russia WITHOUT a visa and stay for a certain period of time. These include Serbia, Andorra, Argentina, UAE and others (list). 

Russia has a mutual visa-free regime with China and Iran for organized tourist groups that visit the country with a travel agency. They can stay for up to 15 days.

A visa is also not required for holders of the APEC Travel Card with the RUS code – this document is issued for business trips to Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members.

2. How to obtain an e-visa to Russia?

In 64 countries, including Germany, France, Japan and China, you can apply for a single entry electronic visa to Russia. It is suitable for both tourism and business purposes. With this e-visa you can stay in the country for up to 16 days. 

Check the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia for a full list of countries.

To obtain an e-visa, you do not need invitations, hotel reservations or other documents. There are only requirements for the passport: it must be machine-readable and there should be at least six months left until its expiration. A photo in JPEG format will also be required.

You can apply for an e-visa on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation no earlier than 40 days and not later than four days before entering Russia. 

The cost of an e-visa in 2025 is approximately $52 – you will also need to pay the fee on the website (you can find more details here)

Please note that you can only enter and exit with an e-visa via the checkpoints that are listed on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

3. How to get a standard-issue visa to visit Russia?

If you need to stay in Russia for a longer period of time or for other purposes or your country is not on the abovementioned lists, you will have to get a regular visa to enter. The consular fee depends on your purposes and your citizenship, but the application form for any visa must be filled out and printed on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

After you select a country, the addresses of embassies and visa centers for applying in your country will appear. 

A tourist visa can be single-, double- or multiple-entry. It is issued, as a rule, for a period of up to six months and, for US citizens – up to three years. A business visa can also be multiple-entry and is issued for up to one year.

A transit visa is issued for up to 10 days if you cross a land border and up to three days if you transit via airports. 

A work visa is issued for up to one year (for highly qualified specialists, for up to three years) on the basis of an employment contract. 

A study/student visa is issued for three months and then extended every year. 

To obtain a visa, in addition to a printed application, you must submit the following documents:

- a passport and a photocopy of its front page;

- one photograph (3.5 x 4.5 cm., color, on a white background);

- confirmation of hotel reservation/place of stay.

For a transit visa, you will need tickets confirming entry and exit.

Russia also issues private visas for up to three months for foreigners who share the traditional values of Russians and wish to move here to live. 

Upon arrival in Russia, foreign citizens must apply for a temporary residence permit. It is not necessary to immediately confirm knowledge of the Russian language. Find out more information about this here.  

4. Is it possible to enter Russia with a Belarusian visa?

In 2025, Russia and Belarus began to mutually recognize visas of foreigners. This means that you can travel to these two countries with the same visa. And, if you don't require a visa or have an e-visa to either of these countries, the other will also recognize it. 

You can either cross the land border (by rail or road) or arrive by plane. 

Read more here.