Russia Visa Guide 2025

Planning a trip to Moscow? The first step is securing your visa. The good news is that for many countries, the process has become significantly easier with the introduction of the E-Visa.

1. The E-Visa (Electronic Visa)

Citizens of 55+ countries can now apply for a Unified E-Visa. This is the fastest and easiest way to visit Russia for tourism or business.

• Validity: 60 days from the date of issue.
• Stay duration: Up to 16 days.
• Processing time: usually 4 days.
• Cost: Approximately $52 USD.

You can apply on the official MFA website. Warning: Ensure every detail matches your passport exactly. Even a small typo can lead to rejection at the border.

2. Tourist Visa (Standard)

If you plan to stay longer than 16 days or your country is not on the E-Visa list, you need a standard tourist visa.

Requirement: You will need a "Visa Support Letter" (Invitation) from a registered Russian tour operator or hotel. We can recommend trusted partners who provide this document within 24 hours.

3. Business Visa

For long-term business trips (up to 1 year or 3 years), a Business Visa is required. This allows for multiple entries.

This requires an official invitation from the Ministry of Interior (MVD), which takes longer to process (2-4 weeks).

Registration Upon Arrival

Don't forget! Upon arriving in Russia, you must be registered at your place of stay within 7 working days.

• Hotels: They do this automatically for you. Ask for the registration slip.
• Apartments: The owner must register you. This is often a hassle with Airbnb-style rentals.

We recommend staying in hotels to avoid registration issues.