How to obtain an electronic visa to Russia: E-visa to Russia

You are going to travel to Russia, need to get a visa, but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, in this article, we will explain how to obtain an electronic visa to Russia, as well as when, where and how to apply.

1. What is an e-visa to Russia?
2. What parts of Russia can I visit?
3. How long can I stay with an e-visa?
4. Can I travel to Moscow from St. Petersburg by train with an e-visa?
5. Do I need to process an e-visa for minor children?
6. When and where to apply?
7. What do I need to apply?
8. How much does it cost?
9. How to fill the online application form?
10. How long does it take to get an e-visa to Russia?
11. Can I track the status of my application?
12. What happens after I submit my application?
13. Who can apply for an electronic visa to Russia?

What is an e-visa to Russia?

The e-visa is a new type of visa for trips to Russia, which in some instances can be used instead of a regular visa. The whole application process can be done online: First of all, you don’t need to go to a Russian visa center/consulate, second, it is not necessary to provide the invitation, plane tickets or hotel reservation. It should be remembered that you can only enter Russia by plane, by car, by ferry or on foot with this type of visa.

What parts of Russia can I visit?

St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad region, Far Eastern Federal District regions. To visit St. Petersburg with this electronic visa, you must enter the Russian Federation through one of the following border control points:

• Air crossing point (by plane): Pulkovo Airport of St. Petersburg;
• Sea crossing points (by ferry/cruise ship): Port of Vysotsk, Big Port of St. Petersburg, Passenger Port of St. Petersburg “Marine Facade”;
• Automobile crossing points (by car): Ivangorod, Brusnychnoe, Svetogorsk, Terfjanovka;
• Pedestrian crossing point (by foot): Ivangorod

How long can I stay with an e-visa?

The e-visa is a single entry visa, which is issued for a 30-day period, during which you can stay for up to 8 calendar days. if you, for example, passed through passport control when entering on Wednesday, you must leave no later than the next Wednesday.

 Can I travel to Moscow from St. Petersburg by train with an e-visa?

You are not allowed to travel to Moscow from St. Petersburg. An e-visa is not valid for train journeys. You have to leave from the same place you arrived at. If you arrived with an e-visa issued for St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region, in that case, you can only travel within that territory.

 Do I need to process an e-visa for minor children?

Yes, if you travel with your minor children indicated in your passport, a separate e-visa application must be obtained for each child. In other words, all minor children traveling with their parents must have their own e-visa.

When and where to apply?

• You can apply as early as 20 days and no later than 4 days before the date of your entry to the Russian Federation;
• To apply, go to https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/index_en.html;
• Fill the application, download your photo and get your e-visa.

What do I need to apply?

To apply for an e-visa to Russia, you will only need:

– valid passport;
– digital photo;
– travel medical insurance.

* Your passport should be valid more than 6 months from the date of application and have enough blank space to insert entry/exit stamps.

How much does it cost?

Great news! An e-visa is free. At the present time, there are no consular fees.

How to fill the online application form?

Your surname and given name must be indicated as they are indicated in the first machine-readable line of your passport, irrespective of how they are indicated in the visual zone of the passport. Make sure that everything is correct. For instance, even one mistake or typo in your passport details is a reason for denying entry into the Russian Federation.

Proceed to fill in all the fields of the application, following the tips on each page. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

 How long does it take to get an e-visa to Russia?

As a general rule, a decision is taken within 4 calendar days from the date of submission of the complete application.

Can I track the status of my application?

Yes, you can track the status of your application on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation – https://evisa.kdmid.ru/en-US/Home/StatusCheck

What happens after I submit my application?

Once a decision on your visa is taken, the status of your application will be changed to “Visa issued” or “Visa denied” and you will be able to download a PDF file. All the information will be sent via your e-mail.

When your e-visa is granted, you will need to print it in color on an A4 sheet and present it together with the passport at a national border checkpoint when entering the Russian Federation.

Who can apply for an electronic visa to Russia?

Today an e-visa can be requested by the citizens of the following countries:

United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia are excluded from the e-visa procedure.

When your e-visa is approved, you will need to print it in color on an A4 sheet and present it together with the passport at passport control.

There are electronic tourism, business, and humanitarian visas. In all other cases, you should get an ordinary Russian visa.

Today there are several ways for how to get a visa to travel to Russia:

• Electronic visa (e-visa);
• Ordinary Russian visa to travel to Russia;
• Blanket visa (tour ticket) for cruise ship passengers

If you have questions or require any clarification, please leave us a comment below and we will answer you as soon as possible.

Read How to obtain a Russian Visa?