Planning a short visit to Russia starts with checking your passport, travel dates and route. Visa validity and permission to stay are different limits: your trip must fit both.
Validity, permitted stay and entry
The unified e-visa allows one entry. It is valid for 120 days from issue, with a stay of up to 30 days. Both arrival and departure count as days. You must leave before the visa expires, even if you have not used all 30 days. These rules took effect on 23 August 2025. Check the dates on your issued visa. Official entry guidance.
Check eligibility and your route
Check the official nationality list using the passport you intend to travel with. Entry and exit must both use approved border checkpoints. A listed checkpoint does not by itself confirm that your chosen flight, train or border service is operating; check your itinerary with the carrier.
When to apply
The official application window is 86 to 4 days before intended entry. A 120-day visa validity period does not mean you can apply four months before travel. Applications are processed within four calendar days; correcting and resubmitting an application restarts processing. Agency preparation time is separate. Official application conditions.
Prepare your documents
Have a machine-readable passport valid for at least six months from application, a clear passport data-page image and a compliant recent portrait. The official portal requests JPEG images. An invitation or booking confirmation is not required, but you still need to provide accurate travel and accommodation information. Medical insurance must cover the stay in Russia unless an official reciprocal exemption applies. Review the current document and photo requirements before submitting.
Payment and corrections
The official portal accepts international cards issued outside Russia. Its FAQ advises allowing 20–45 minutes for payment confirmation. If payment fails, check your application status and contact your card issuer before repeatedly retrying. A visa is not guaranteed, and official processing fees are non-refundable regardless of the decision. These official fee rules are distinct from the terms of an agency service. Official payment FAQ.
Before you travel
Check every detail on your issued visa against your passport. Save the grant notification offline or print it. Confirm your permitted departure date, insurance and route. If a disruption may prevent departure on time, contact the relevant Russian authorities promptly; do not assume the visa extends automatically.
Applying with Russia Visa Express
We are an independent private agency. You can review the available service and price in our visa services, then complete your application and upload documents through your customer account. Read the selected service terms before ordering. The visa decision remains with the Russian authorities.