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E-visas to Russia
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Electronic Visas to Russia

These regulations exclude UK nationals.

Starting from 01 August 2023 it’s possible to visit Russia with an electronic visa. Although foreign nationals will still need to apply for a visa to enter Russia as tourists, in fact, the whole procedure is getting much more simplified. The new regulation applies to most European and some Asian nationals (view the full list of eligible nationalities).

Please read below what the new e-visa procedure is all about and what it means in reality for our customers.
 

Standard Russian Tourist Visa

UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada are excluded from the regulations, meaning their nationals must apply for a standard visa to enter Russia unless they have a dual nationality and an eligible passport for a Russian e-visa.
 

What is an e-visa

E-visa is an electronic document allowing a single entry for tourism, business or humanitarian activities, participation in scientific, cultural, social and political, economic or sports events. as well as private visits (relatives in Russia) for a maximum period of 16 days. It’s valid for 60 days from the day of issue, which means you can visit Russia only within 60 days period after visa approval date.
 

Visa validity

To avoid misunderstanding, the e-visa is issued only for the duration of 16 days, which means the maximum number of days you can stay in Russia is 16 days. The e-visa cannot be extended, only in the event of any force majeure circumstances. You can enter Russia only once on your e-visa.
 

Processing time

An e-visa is issued within 4 calendar days, including week-ends and bank holidays.
 

Who can apply

Only nationals of 55 countries can apply for an electronic visa. Those countries include EU member states, China, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Japan. Unfortunately UK, USA, Australia, Canada are not included. But if you have a dual nationality, and for instance possess a valid EU passport, you can easily apply for an e-visa and travel to Russia with your eligible passport.
 

When to apply

The e-visa is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. Visa applications are processed within 4 calendar days. So you can start your visa application about 2 months before your trip planned date.
 

Required documents

  • Passport - it must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you applied for an e-visa. Your passport must have a blanc page for border crossing stamps.
  • Digital photo - the photo must be no more than six months old as of the date of the application. You can take a photo with your camera, smartphone or tablet.
  • Medical insurance valid in Russia for the entire period of stay. Arrange your travel insurance online.

How to apply

The e-visa procedure is much easier as compared to a standard tourist visa applcation. Everything is done online. You will need to fill in a form, upload a digital photo and a scanned copy of your passport and pay a $52 processing fee. It’s not necessary to provide an invitation letter, proof of accommodation or ticket bookings. 
 
Once your visa is approved you will receive and email confirmation. You will need to print out your electronic visa and present it together with your passport to a border control officer in Russia.
   

What does it mean for our tours?

If you have an eligible passport, you can travel to Russia on an e-visa on most of our group packages. You can even extend your stay, provided you leave the country within 16 days. Please see below the list of tours compliant with new e-visa regulations.
  • City Breaks (except CB-18 tour)
  • Cruises (except CR-29, CR-11, CR-51)
  • Adventure and Discovery (except KK-08) 
  • Trans-Siberian tours (only Russia)..

Procedure

Once you book a tour with us and pay your deposit we email you the guidance notes on how to complete the Russian e-visa application form. You will then need to fill in the required form yourself which is quite straightforward. Our dedicated visa specialists will be happy to provide assistance should you have any questions or difficulties in completing the form (we can also complete it for you for an additional fee). All completed forms are then checked by our visa specialists and our visa department advises if any additional corrections.