E-Visa Program to Be Launched in Russia

A single electronic visa should work in Russia from July 15; the government expects it will simplify entry into the country, said Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov.

According to experts, the e-visa program will significantly simplify traveling to Russia. Quite importantly, electronic visas will open access not only to groups but also to individual trips.

In 2020, Russia passed a law allowing citizens of 52 countries to apply for electronic visas to enter the country. However, the innovation was supposed to be valid from January 1, 2021. The government postponed the implementation of this decision because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the law, an electronic visa is valid for 60 days and allows leisure and business travelers to enter. An electronic visa to Russia can only be a single-entry one and is valid for 60 days from the issuing date; the period of the stay in Russia within the visa’s validity period is up to 16 days from the entry date.

Travelers don’t need any invitations, proof of hotel reservations, or other documents to get an e-visa to Russia. To apply for a single electronic visa, travelers need to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation’s dedicated website or mobile application (which can be download from evisa.kdmid.ru). The application can be submitted up to 40 days before the expected entry date into Russia but no later than 4 days before. The processing fee is $40; however, children under 6 can get a single electronic visa for free. Processing time takes up to 4 calendar days.

In case of a favorable decision on issuing a single electronic visa, travelers shouldd print or save it on their mobile device. It will be needed to show it to the transport company when boarding and to the border officer when passing through passport control at the border crossing point of the Russian Federation.