Visiting Russia as a tourist or on business

Which visa fits your trip?

Your visa must match the purpose of your trip. To study, you need a study visa: see our visas guide.

First, check whether you need a visa at all. Citizens of some countries can enter Russia without one for short stays. The list changes, so check it with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (kdmid.ru) or the Russian embassy that serves you.

• Tourist visa. For holidays and sightseeing. You need a confirmation that a Russian tour operator listed in the federal register of tour operators will receive you. Citizens of some countries can use a confirmed booking at a hotel listed in the official hotel register instead. By law it can be issued for up to six months, as a single, double or multiple-entry visa. The consulate decides.
• Business visa. For meetings, talks, contracts, trade fairs and conferences. It is issued on an invitation, which your Russian partner organisation requests, usually from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD). It is usually single or double entry for up to three months, or multiple entry for up to one year. Some countries have agreements with Russia for longer visas.
• Private (guest) visa. To visit relatives or friends. Your host in Russia requests an invitation for you.

On a multiple-entry visa, you can usually stay no more than 90 days in each period of 180 days.

The unified e-visa

If your country is on the government list, you can apply online at evisa.kdmid.ru for tourism, private and business visits, and some events. It is single entry, valid for 120 days from the date it is issued, and allows a stay of up to 30 days. You need medical insurance valid in Russia for the whole stay (citizens of some countries are exempt) and a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date you apply. Apply only on the official site.

Citizens of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Nigeria and Senegal cannot use the e-visa. If you live in Haiti, where Russia has no embassy, confirm which Russian mission serves you before you plan.

How to apply at a consulate

1. The confirmation or invitation. For a tourist visa, ask your tour operator or hotel for the confirmation. For a business or private visa, your partner or host applies for the invitation in Russia. This takes time, so start early.
2. The form. Fill in the visa application form online on the website of the Consular Department (kdmid.ru), then print and sign it.
3. The documents. You usually need your passport, the form, a photo and the confirmation or invitation. Your passport must still be valid for some time after the visa ends, often at least six months, with blank pages. Depending on your nationality, the consulate may also ask for medical insurance valid in Russia or other documents. Check its current list.
4. The appointment. Book an appointment at the embassy or consulate that serves the country where you live. Ask about the fee and how long it takes.

Check the dates on your visa when you receive it. You cannot stay in Russia after the visa ends.

Arriving and your first days

These rules changed several times in 2024–2026. Check them on official sites before you act.

• Migration card. You receive it or fill it in at passport control. Keep it with your passport until you leave Russia.
• Registration. You must be registered within 7 working days of arrival. A hotel does it for you within 1 working day; a private host must do it too. Keep the proof with your passport.
• Money. Visa, Mastercard and Maestro cards issued abroad do not work in Russia. Bring enough US dollars or euros in cash for the whole trip and change money only at banks.
• Staying connected. Since 2025, foreigners can get a Russian SIM card only in person at an operator’s office, with a verified Gosuslugi account, a SNILS number and biometrics. For a short trip, use Wi-Fi and ask your home operator about roaming.
• Documents. Carry your passport, as the police can ask to see it, and keep copies on your phone.

If you stay more than 90 days, other rules apply, such as a medical examination within 30 days of entry: see our visas guide. Our practical tips cover money, transport, weather and safety in more detail.

Business trips

What a business visa allows

A business visa lets you hold meetings, negotiate and sign contracts, visit partners, and attend trade fairs and conferences. It does not give you the right to be employed in Russia. A job needs a work permit or another legal status, which the employer arranges: see our work guide.

Bring a copy of your invitation and your partner’s address in Russian. Plan your expenses in cash, as your company’s foreign card will not work.

Meetings and etiquette

• Be on time. Traffic in big cities can be heavy, so leave extra time between meetings.
• Use formal address. Russians often use the first name and patronymic, for example Anna Sergeyevna, and the formal “you” (vy). Wait for your partner to suggest something less formal.
• Bring business cards. Bring plenty, ideally with one side in Russian.
• Dress formally for first meetings, unless your partner tells you otherwise.
• Confirm in writing. After a meeting, send a short summary of what you agreed. For important talks, use a professional interpreter, and have contracts in Russian and in a language you understand.

Your next step

Our cities guide can help you choose where to go. A few words of Russian help a lot, in the street and in meetings. Our courses “Russian for travellers” and “Business Russian” are on the Learn Russian page. We do not issue invitations or visas, but if you have questions about your trip, describe your plans in the Start Your Journey form and we will reply by email.