The application fee paid to the official portal and the service fee paid to a private agency are separate transactions. Check the payment methods and contract terms for each.
Cards accepted by the official portal
The official FAQ describes international cards issued by banks outside Russia, including Visa and Mastercard. Cards issued by Russian banks cannot be used. This does not guarantee that every individual card payment will succeed. For other card networks, including JCB, check the payment screen and ask your card issuer.
Currency and confirmation time
The official guidance allows payment with a card linked to an account in another currency even when the charge is in AED or CNY. Conversion and fees depend on your bank's terms. Payment confirmation may take 20 to 45 minutes.
If a payment fails
- Check the application status, notification emails and your card's transaction history.
- Confirm the status before making another payment while a transaction is pending.
- If the card is declined, contact the issuing bank first.
- If the bank finds no problem, contact the application centre responsible for payment using the details in the official FAQ.
Read the official payment FAQ.
Corrections and refunds
The official conditions provide ten days to correct a returned application without an additional payment. Processing starts again after resubmission. Official application fees are non-refundable regardless of the decision. These rules are separate from an agency's cancellation and refund terms. Read the official application conditions.
Using an agency
Russia Visa Express is an independent private agency. We do not guarantee payment acceptance or visa issuance. Review the service, price and contract terms before ordering.