The Russian e-Visa remains by far the easiest and cheapest way to visit Russia in 2026.
Since August 2025, the e-Visa has become significantly more useful for travellers: its validity period was extended from 60 to 120 days, while the maximum stay increased from 16 days to 30 days.
Having applied for plenty of Russian visas over the past decade, I’ve put together this guide to help you navigate the process. I’ll walk you through every step of the application, explain each question on the form, share the mistakes that commonly cause problems, and cover the latest entry requirements, border crossings and travel insurance rules.
Last updated: 8 June 2026
TL;DR – Russia e-Visa 2026 quick summary
✔️ Single-entry visa valid for up to 30 days all across Russia
✔️ Valid for 120 days from issuance
✔️Available to citizens of 64 countries, including the European Union
✔️ Entry & exit via government approved borders only (100+ checkpoints) : E.g. Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Sochi airports + land borders like Narva/Ivangorod (Estonia) or Kazbegi/Verkhny Lars (Georgia)
✔️ Applicable for tourism, business, private visits, or events (scientific, cultural, political, sports)
✔ Processing usually takes up to 4 calendar days
✔️ Passport validity: Must be valid 6 months beyond your travel date for e-Visa approval
✔ Travel insurance covering Russia is mandatory. I use Attollo Assistance
✔️The official Russian e-Visa application website
✔ Official cost: 202 AED approximately 48€
My latest approved Russia e-Visa (2026)
To keep this guide accurate, I regularly test the Russian e-Visa system myself when travelling to Russia.
The screenshot is from my latest approved e-Visa application submitted in June 2026.
• Application submitted: 3 June 2026
• e-Visa approved: 7 June 2026
• Processing time: 4 calendar days
The application was submitted through the official Russian e-Visa portal and approved without any issues. The only difficulty I encountered was logging into the Kdmid website in the first place.
I contacted the support team at evisa_info@kdmid.ru, and although they eventually resolved the issue, it took five days to do so.
My 2026 Russia e-Visa
What changed in 2025-2026?
• Before August 2025: 16-day stay, 60-day validity.
• Since August 2025: 30-day stay, 120-day validity.
• Belarus and Russia now mutually recognise certain visa categories, but the Russian e-Visa still does not allow entry into Belarus.
• Several border situations have evolved since 2025, make you to double check the allowed entry points
Russia e-Visa 2026: Must-know details
The Russia e-Visa 2026 is a single-entry electronic visa allowing a stay up to 30 days across Russia. It’s available to citizens of 64 countries, including those of the European Union (see the full list below).
The e-Visa is valid for 120 days from the issue date, giving you flexibility to enter Russia anytime within this period. However, your stay cannot exceed 30 days, and must fall within the 120-day window of the visa’s validity.
Entry and exit are allowed through specific points, including major airports in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Sochi, as well as certain land border points like Narva/Ivangorod with Estonia. Be sure to check the full list of approved entry points.
The e-Visa is available for tourism, business, private visits, and events like scientific, cultural, political, or sports gatherings.
Important: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your planned travel date to apply for the e-Visa.
I share the behind the scenes of my travels (real-time stories, messy bits etc) on Telegram
Eligible countries for the Russian e-Visa
Nationals of 64 countries can apply for the e-Visa in 2026. However, citizens of the UK, USA, Morocco, Algeria, and other African countries are not eligible. (Note: Russian authorities may add more eligible countries to the list.)
• Austria
• Barbados
• Bahrain
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• China (including Taiwan)
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Eswatini
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Myanmar
• Netherlands
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Oman
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Saint Lucia
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turkey
• Vatican
• Vietnam
• Zimbabwe
Valid checkpoints for the Russian e-Visa
Unlike a traditional Russian visa that’s stamped in your passport and allows entry through any border post, the Russia e-Visa only permits entry and exit through specific, government-approved checkpoints. There are over 100 authorized entry points by air, land, river, and sea.
Important: Entering or exiting Russia via an unauthorized border checkpoint will result in denial of entry or exit, yes, even when leaving the country.
• Land border crossings allowed with the Russia e-Visa:
You can enter Russia by land using an e-Visa from the following neighboring countries:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland (Note: Border currently closed), Georgia, Mongolia, China and North Korea
• Land border entry not allowed with a Russia e-Visa:
The following countries do not allow overland entry into Russia with an e-Visa:
– Ukraine: Closed due to the ongoing conflict.
– Belarus: Even though both countries have mutually recognized each other’s visas since mid-January 2025, the Russian e-Visa is not valid for entering Belarus, and vice versa – the Belarus visa-free regime does not grant free access to Russia either.
– Abkhazia: The only land route between Russia and Abkhazia requires a double-entry visa, as you can keep going to Georgia.
– Azerbaijan: Land borders remain closed for entry (except for the Tbilissi-Baku train since last May 2026). You can fly into Azerbaijan and exit overland, but land entry is not allowed. Full reopening is expected on the 1st of July 2026.
– Kazakhstan: No valid e-Visa checkpoints at the Kazakh-Russian border: You cannot do a quick transit through Russia from Georgia to Kazakhstan for example with this e-Visa, you must have a proper transit visa sticked into your passport.
– Norway: I guess nobody travels all the way up there.
International airports
Disclaimer : some airports are currently closed due to their proximity with Ukraine.
Pedestrian border crossing
Land border crossings by car / bus
/
Land border crossings by train
Disclaimer : there are no trains running between Russia and european countries (Finland, Estonia etc) at the moment.
River border crossings by ferry
Passenger ports
Disclaimer : these sea ports have a passenger terminal, and some are only for cruise ships, so it doesn’t mean there are international ferries travelling there.
E.g : Sochi doesn’t have any international boat connections with Georgia, Crimea, Ukraine nor Turkey, only cruise ships travel there.
On the kdmid’s website the river port of Khabarovsk (Khabarosvk Krai bordering China accross the Amur River) is listed, however I could’t find any information online about any passenger terminal, let alone an international border crossing point. Feel free to share in the comments if you have any information about it.
Here are all the valid entry and exit points pinned on a map.
How much does the Russian e-Visa cost?
The Russian e-Visa costs 202 Emirati dirham, which is about $50 or 48€.
The payment goes through Telr via the United Arab Emirates (don’t worry it’s legit). The Emirati dirham is pegged to the US Dollar so the price should be stable.
How to apply for the Russian e-Visa: Step-by-step guide
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply online for the Russian e-Visa in 2026. This guide includes mytips to overcome potential problems.
Disclaimer: some of the questions might blow your mind but, hey, “this is Russia” (the answer to all the ‘whys’ in this country).
1. Go to the Kdmid website
Go to the kdmid e-Visa website and change the language to english if necessary.
Kdmid is short for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. Agree to the conditions
Scroll down the page and agree to all 3 conditions.
Click “Fill out a new application form”
3. Sign in or log in
Sign in or log in if you already have an account.
Signing in is quick, you will receive a validation email within a couple of minutes. Then click “Next”
4. Apply for a new e-Visa
Click on “Apply for a new e-Visa” (unless you already have a pending application).
5. Get your ID application number
You will get a unique ID number for your e-visa application. Write it down somewhere or screenshot it, then click “Next”.
6. Upload your ID photo
Upload an ID picure of yourself.
Sounds easy, but in fact, it’s not. This blurred picture isn’t me (I’m a woman and have no beard). I’ve tried with 2 different ID pictures of me and got various error messages such as: “Picture blurred“, “The photo must be taken against a light white or blue, uniform background” and “The size of the face exceeds the maximum admissible size (photo taken at too short range)” …
Now, it was a proper ID picture that I used (I’ve applied multiple visas with the same one). It seems that the regular size of ID pictures (the ones you get from a regular photo booth) which is 35×45 mm is correct, however, it is too close, there needs to be more background behind you.
The size of this “fake” picture I used for the purpose of this post is bigger, then I zoom the face in to fit the requirements.
If you don’t appload a photograph, you cannot click “Next” to the following steps of the application.
7. Upload a copy of you passport data page
Upload a copy of your passport data page (a proper scan, not a picture taken with your smartphone & flash).
You must select your country in the list of all eligible countries to the e-visa. For some you must also select a “type” of passport. I’m french and I had a choice between 3 types (a year in fact : 2013, 2019 or 2023), but I wasn’t ever aware until then that we had different “types” of passport.
If it applies to your country and you select the wrong type then appload the data page of your passport, it will not match. I’ve tried all three and got the same error message anyway.
If you believe the copy of your passport is correct, fully visible and readable, then just click “Skip”.
8. Fill in your personal details
After you uploaded a copy of your passport you must fill up your personal details carefully.
• Passport number : as shown on your passport.
• Date of issue & date of expiry : Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the time of application.
• Issuing Authority : write down exactly as it is on your passport.
• Surname (as shown in the upper machine readable line of your passport) : write down your surname(s), without any accent mark or letters that aren’t in the english alphabet.
• Given Name(s) (as shown in the upper machine readable line of your passport) : write down all your names (for example I’ve got 3 (french)) as they appear on your passport, no comma, no accents nor letters that aren’t in the english alphabet.
• Surname (as shown in the visual inspection zone of your passport) : write down your surname(s) again, but this time with accent marks and any non-english letters (E.g. é, ø … ) if there are. If not, just re-write them like previously.
• Given Name(s), patronymic name (if any) (as shown in the visual inspection zone of your passport) : write down all your names again as they appear on your passport, no comma, but this time with accent marks and any non-english letters (e.g. é, ø … ) if there are. If not, just re-write them like previously.
• Sex : choose between male or female.
• Date of birth : enter your date of birth as such DD.MM.YYYY
• Country of birth : Select the country you were born in.
• Were you born in the USSR or in the Russian Federation? Select “yes” if you were born in a former soviet country or in Russia. If not, select “no”
• Place of birth : Write down your place of birth, E.g.”Paris, France”
• Personal identification number (if available) : no idea what it is, skip this one
• Do you currently have or have you ever had other personal data? If you’ve changed you last name due to mariage, divorce or other reason, write it down. If not, just say nelect “no”.
• Do you currently have another citizenship (other citizenships)? Select “no” if you don’t, or “yes” and add the details of your other citizenship(s).
• Have you ever held any other nationality? Select “no” if you don’t, or “yes” and add the details of your previous nationality.
Click “Next”
9. Fill in your visit details
• Purpose of the trip : select the purpose of your visit to Russia; if you visit family “guest visit” is the best option, for regular travel select “tourism” etc choose the one that suits your trip.
I highly recommend you to avoid selecting “participation in social and political events” if you want to avoid an FSB intervew on arrival.
• Description of the purpose of the trip to the Russian Federation : write “travel” if you’re there for regular tourism.
• Intended date of entry into Russia : enter the date you plan to enter the country (reminder : the visa is valid for a period of 2 months but you can only stay 16 days on the territory) .
• Which organization or which person are you going to visit? That’s a dumb mandatory question in my opinion for someone who wish to only travel in Russia, especially for first timers.
If this was a regular visa application (meaning not an e-Visa), this would be were you write down the details of your LOI (Letter of Invitation/Voucher) but an e-Visa application doesn’t require one, so why do they ask? I have no clue.
My guess: if you selected guest visit, write down the name of a family member, a friend.
Or else, I simply suggest to write down the abbreviation N/A “non applicable”.
• Where are you planning to stay? As with any other visa, nobody will check whether you wrote Moscow on your application but ultimately enter Russia through Vladivostok. However, I would avoid mentioning regions generally considered sensitive, such as Chechnya or certain towns close to the Ukrainian border.
There is no need to list every city, town or village you plan to visit during your trip.
Looking for a hotel to include in your application? I personally use Ostrovok to book hotels in Russia, including for my own visa applications and trips around the country.
Before you book:
As of September 2026, Ostrovok accepts Mastercard payments only. Visa cards are not currently supported.
• Do you have a valid Russian visa? Dumb question, select “No”. You’re applying for a visa because you don’t have one, right ?
• Do you have a health insurance policy valid on the territory of the Russian Federation? Anyone must have a travel insurance to enter the Russian Federation (it’s mandatory for any type of visa). I always use and recommend Attollo Assistance for a good and reliable travel insurance.
• Source of funds for your visit to the Russian Federation : Select “Independently” if you self fund your trip. Same answer even if it’s your parents, husband or sugar daddy who does. If you travel for business, then enter your compagny’s details.
• Have you visited any countries in the last 3 years? Select “No” if you didn’t or “Yes” and add the countries. If you’re a very frequent traveler, a few will suffice, and you might want to “forget” mentionning so-called “bad” countries.
Click “Next”.
10. Fill up your marital status and relatives’ details
• Family status : Select your marital status. Single = not married/in a civil partnership.
• Information about your parents : (I know, it’s an unusual question for a visa application).
Write down the first name and last name of your parents (if married, write your mom’s maiden name) and their places of birth.
• Do you currently have relatives in Russia? Select “No” or “Yes” and add details.
Click “Next”.
11. Fill in your contact details and employment
• Do you currently have a place of actual residence? Select “Yes” and add your postal address and phone number with country code.
• Email : write down the same email address you signed up with.
• Do you own real estate in the Russian Federation? Select the appropriate choice.
• Do you use social networks, messengers? Now, that is a curious question … If you’re not aware of it, Facebook, Instagram and such western social medias are banned in Russia but everybody still use them with a VPN. I would personnally say no even though I have but feel free to link your Instagram account. (I doubt you’ll gain any new Russian followers)
• Do you work (study) in the present time? Write down the details of you job. If you’re self empoyed just say so.
• Have you studied at any educational institution other than high school? select “Yes” or “No”.
12. Additional informations
• Do you intend to represent interests or act on behalf of non-commercial, international or government organizations or participate in their activities during your stay in Russia? Select “No” if you only go to travel.
• Have you received special training and do you have any special knowledge and skills in the use of weapons, explosives, nuclear, biological or chemical substances? I wouldn’t recommend to say yes.
• Have you completed military service? Select the correct answer for you. Don’t worry they won’t enlist you in the russian army.
• Have you ever been involved in armed conflicts? Were you a participant or a victim of hostilities? Better say “no”.
• Have you been prosecuted for any crimes? If you say yes, chances are they will ask for a criminal record.
• Do you intend to carry out illegal activities on the territory of Russia? Obviously select “No”
• Do you intend to participate in political activity, its organization or financing on the territory of Russia? Selec “no”. if you want your visa. There’s no possibility to add details if you select “yes” …
• Additional information that you want to communicate about yourself and your trip to the Russian Federation : add nothing, you’ve said enough. Click “Next”
13 . Review and summit
This is the summary of your e-Visa application. I highly advise you to double, even triple check the details and answers you wrote down. If there is a mistake in you e-Visa, and you show up at the border with unmatching informations between the e-Visa and your passport you will not be allowed to enter Russia.
All your names and surnames must appear just like on your passport details. One error and you will be refused entry to the Russian Federation. Simple as that.
Correct the mistakes if there are, agree to the the terms and conditions, then click “Pay”
14. Summary order
You will now reach the payment summary page.
The total amount due is 202 AED, which is approximately 48€ (US$55).
After reviewing your details, click “Proceed to the payment” to access the secure payment gateway and complete your application.
The payment is processed through a third-party provider and can be completed using a foreign bank card.
16. Make the payment
The final step is to enter your bank card details and submit the payment.
For my e-Visa the payment was processed through Telr, a payment gateway based in the United Arab Emirates. I know it’s surprising but don’t worry, it’s not a scam, it’s totally legit.
You should receive a confirmation e-mail straight away and the e-Visa within the following days.
You can view your pending application from your dashboard’s page by clicking “your application”.
According to Russian officials, they allow to correct a mistake (for free) if the application is refused once because of an error. The best is still to be careful and make no mistake at all. Any feedback on that, please share in the comments to help others.
Print out the your e-Visa and show it to the immigration officer along with your passport at the Russian border.
Video tutorial
Let me know in the comments if this Russia e-Visa guide has been helpful !
Comments (6)
Hello ! Thank you for all these informations ! With a friend of mine, we want to go to Russia to take the trans-siberian railway. We want to pass by Estonia or Latvia by using an e-visa. But my friend’s mother works for the French Ministry of the Armed Forces so we don’t know if they will let us enter in Russia, do you think we will have troubles ?
Hello Raphaël, I think you shouldn’t have any problems for either the e-visa or border crossing. The border guards will not ask you any questions related to your family, but if you get questionned by the FSB, they might (unlikely to meet them unless you have visas from like Central Asia and “politically understable” countries stamped in your passports). If they ask your friend, he/she could just say “administrative work” , if that’s what his/her mother does. But anyway, you are going, not your friend’s mom, so to me it has nothing to do with you, and I believe you have nothing to hide, so no worries.
Also, 16 days is rather short to travel the whole Transsiberian railway in my opinion, just saying.
In case you’re a french speaker (according to your name and email address), you can click on the flag in the menu to have the blog in french, everything is translated in both languages.
Bonjour
Je suis actuellement entrain de faire la demande de e-visa mais j’ai une question mon nom sur la partie contrôle visuel est mon nom de naissance ép. Nom marital
Dois-je mettre les 2 ou bien juste mon nom de naissance comme dans la bande magnétique ?
Merci
Bonjour, indiquez votre nom de naissance, comme pour un billet d’avion.
hello anyone can help me. i dont understand my status visa still absence of visa for vehicle boarding. what mean this?
Hi Fatima, I’im not sure I understand your question. If you needs special documents to cross a Russian border with a vehicule, you won’t see that on your visa or evisa application, it’s 2 different things. You can check the status of your evisa application (if approved, pending or denied) directly on the website, and it might take longer than 4 days as it’s the end of the year so many people might go for New Year Eve etc. Hope that helps.