2026 Update

Breaking News: Russia E-Visa Extended to 30 Days – The Ultimate Guide

According to the recent official announcement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia has officially upgraded its unified electronic visa (e-visa) system, offering unprecedented flexibility for international travelers. Whether you are visiting for tourism, business, or to see family, the new regulations have drastically extended both the validity window and the maximum allowed stay, making it easier than ever to cross the border.

Quick Summary: The New Russia E-Visa at a Glance

Validity Period: 120 days from the date of issuance.

Maximum Stay: 30 calendar days from the date of entry.

Entry Type: Single Entry.

Paperwork: No invitation letter (tourist voucher) or hotel bookings required.

Processing: Entirely online, typically approved within 4 days.

1. Validity Period: Now Extended to 120 Days

Under the new regulations, the e-visa is valid for 120 days from the date it is issued. You can now secure your visa up to four months before your planned trip, giving you ample time to book flights and arrange your itinerary without the stress of a pending application.

2. Maximum Stay: Up to 30 Days in Russia

You can now stay in Russia for up to 30 calendar days.

*Important Calculation Note:* The 30-day period begins on the exact date you pass through Russian border control. Even if your flight lands at 11:30 PM, that counts as Day 1. You must exit the country before midnight on Day 30.

3. Number of Entries: Single Entry

The extended Russian e-visa is a Single-Entry visa. If you leave the country (for example, taking a side trip to Georgia or Kazakhstan), your e-visa becomes invalid. To re-enter Russia, you will need a brand new e-visa.

4. Complete List of Eligible Countries (2026)

The electronic visa program is currently available to citizens of the following countries. (Note: Citizens of the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia must apply for a traditional sticker visa).

    5. Permitted Purposes of Visit

    You do not need different visas for different short-term activities. The e-visa covers:

    • Tourism: Sightseeing and holidays.
    • Business: Attending meetings or trade shows (does not permit paid employment).
    • Guest Visits: Visiting family or friends residing in Russia.
    • Events: Participating in scientific, cultural, or sporting events.

    6. Approved Entry and Exit Points

    The e-visa is accepted only at specific, designated checkpoints across the Russian Federation. Below is the complete and exhaustive list of approved border crossings for e-visa holders:

    • Air Checkpoints: Vladivostok (Knevichy Airport), Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Khomutovo Airport), Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Yelizovo Airport), Khabarovsk (Novy Airport), Anadyr (Ugolny Airport), Kaliningrad (Khrabrovo), Ulan-Ude (Muhino), Chita (Kadala), Pulkovo (St. Petersburg), Belgorod, Volgograd (Gumrak), Ekaterinburg (Koltsovo), Kazan, Krasnodar (Pashkovsky), Krasnoyarsk (Yemelyanovo), Moscow (Vnukovo), Moscow (Domodedovo), Moscow (Sheremetyevo), Nizhny Novgorod (Strigino), Novosibirsk (Tolmachevo), Rostov-on-Don (Platov), Samara (Kurumoch), Sochi, Irkutsk, Chelyabinsk (Balandino), Arkhangelsk (Talagi), Astrakhan (Narimanovo), Bryansk, Vladikavkaz (Beslan), Grozny (North), Zhukovskiy, Kaluga (Grabtsevo), Lipetsk, Makhachkala (Uytash), Mineralnye Vody, Murmansk, Nalchik, Saratov (Gagarin), Syktyvkar, Tomsk (Bogashevo), Yaroslavl (Tunoshna), Abakan, Barnaul, Kemerovo, Omsk (Tsentral'nyy), Orenburg (Tsentral'nyy), Perm (Bol'shoe Savino), Tyumen (Roshchino), Ulyanovsk (Vostochny), Ufa, Cheboksary, Kyzyl.
    • Naval Checkpoints: Vladivostok, Zarubino, Posiet, Korsakov, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kaliningrad (checkpoints in the cities of Kaliningrad and Svetly), Vysotsk, Big port Saint Petersburg (Marine Station, Fort Constantin, English Embankment and Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment), Passenger port Saint Petersburg, Sochi (International Center for Sea Passenger and Cruise Transportation), Magadan, Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, Kandalaksha, Murmansk.
    • Railroad Checkpoints: Pogranichny, Khasan, Makhalino, Mamonovo, Sovetsk, Saint Petersburg - Finlyandskiy, Zabaikal'sk, Naushki.
    • Automobile Checkpoints: Poltavka, Turiy Rog, Bagrationovsk, Gusev, Mamonovo (Grzechotki), Mamonovo (Gronowo), Morskoje, Pogranichny (Kaliningrad Oblast), Sovetsk, Chernyshevskoye, Torfjanovka, Brusnitchnoe, Svetogorsk, Kyakhta, Ubylinka, Burachki, Vyartsilya, Kunichina Gora, Shumilkino, Verkhny Lars, Lyuttya, Solov'evsk, Starotsurukhaitui, Salla, Suoperya, Tashanta, Zabaikal'sk.
    • Pedestrian Checkpoints: Ivangorod.
    • River Checkpoints: Khabarovsk.
    • Mixed Checkpoints: Blagoveshchensk, Amurzet, Pokrovka.

    7. Overstaying Rules (Crucial Warning)

    Russian border authorities strictly enforce the 30-day limit. Do not overstay your visa, even by a few hours.

    If your flight is delayed or you face a medical emergency, contact local authorities immediately for an exit visa. Overstaying without authorization results in heavy fines, deportation, and a multi-year ban from re-entering Russia.

    8. Required Supporting Documents

    You only need three essential items to apply:

    1. A Valid Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your application date, with blank pages for stamps.
    2. A Digital Photo: A recent, high-quality biometric photo with a plain background.
    3. Medical Insurance: A valid travel medical insurance policy covering the entire Russian Federation for your full stay.
    Tip: We recommend HanseMerkur, Germany's #1 private health insurance provider. They offer reliable travel insurance policies that are fully accepted by Russian authorities. Click here for details and to get a quote.

    Apply with our private service

    You pay our total price by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through our payment provider Mollie. The price consists of the Russian government fee and our service fee.

    We check the application before submission. The Russian authorities decide whether a visa is issued.

    • Payment: You pay our total price by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through our payment provider Mollie. The price consists of the Russian government fee and our service fee.
    • Price: Prices start from €99. Total = Russian government e-Visa fee (about US$52, currently €52) + our service fee (incl. VAT). Optional refusal protection and archive service cost €20 each.
    • Expert Review: Our visa specialists thoroughly check your passport details and digital photo to prevent frustrating rejections.
    Apply for Your Russia E-Visa Securely Today ->

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    We analyzed thousands of real questions from travelers. Here are the exact answers you need for a smooth border crossing in 2026.

    1. Does the 120-day validity mean I can stay for 120 days in Russia?
    No. The 120-day validity simply means you have a 4-month window during which you can enter Russia. Once you cross the border, your maximum permitted stay is strictly limited to 30 days.
    2. Is the maximum stay exactly 30 calendar days or 1 month?
    It is exactly 30 calendar days. Do not assume it is one full month (like a 31-day month). You must calculate exactly 30 days from your entry date.
    3. If I enter Russia at 11 PM, does it count as my first full day of the 30 days?
    Yes. Even if you pass through passport control at 11:59 PM, that fraction of a day counts as Day 1 of your 30-day limit.
    4. How strictly is the 30-day limit enforced on a Russian e-visa?
    Extremely strictly. There is no "grace period." Overstaying even by a few hours can result in missing your flight, fines, court hearings, and a 5-year ban from entering Russia.
    5. What happens if my flight out of Russia is delayed or cancelled on day 30 of my e-visa?
    You cannot simply wait at the airport if your visa expires. You must immediately contact the Border Guard Service or the local Migration Service (MVD) to explain the situation and apply for a temporary exit visa.
    6. Do I still need an invitation letter (tourist voucher) if I stay for the full 30 days?
    No. One of the main benefits of the e-visa is that you do not need an invitation letter, tourist voucher, or confirmed hotel bookings to apply, regardless of whether you stay for 3 days or 30 days.
    7. Can EU citizens (e.g., German, French, Spanish) get the 30-day Russia e-visa?
    Yes. Citizens of most European Union countries, including Germany, France, and Spain, are fully eligible for the 30-day e-visa.
    8. How long does it take to process and get the 30-day Russia e-visa?
    Processing usually takes up to 4 calendar days (including weekends and holidays) from the moment the application is submitted.
    9. Can I apply for the new 30-day e-visa if I am already traveling in a neighboring country like Georgia or Finland?
    Yes. The application is entirely online. As long as you have a stable internet connection, a digital photo, and your passport, you can apply from anywhere in the world before crossing the Russian border.
    10. Does the 30-day e-visa allow me to travel anywhere in Russia, including Siberia?
    Yes, the unified e-visa allows you to travel freely across the entire territory of the Russian Federation, except for specific closed military or special security zones that require special permits for all foreigners.
    11. Do I need to register my e-visa if I am moving between cities in Russia within the 30 days?
    Yes. The standard migration rule applies: if you stay in one city for more than 7 working days, you must be registered at your accommodation (your hotel usually does this automatically). If you move to a new city and stay there for more than 7 days, you must be registered again.
    12. Are there any new medical insurance rules for the extended 30-day e-visa?
    Your medical insurance must cover the entire duration of your stay in Russia. If you are staying for the full 30 days, your policy must reflect that 30-day coverage.
    13. Can I enter by land and leave by air with a Russian e-visa?
    Yes. You can enter and exit through different checkpoints (e.g., entering by bus from Estonia and flying out of Moscow), as long as both checkpoints belong to the official approved list.
    14. Is the 30-day Russia e-visa a multiple-entry visa?
    No. It is strictly a single-entry visa. If you exit Russia, you cannot return using the same e-visa, even if you haven't used up your 30 days.
    15. Why is my credit card declined when applying for the Russian e-visa on the official website?
    You pay our total price by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through our payment provider Mollie. The price consists of the Russian government fee and our service fee. Total = Russian government e-Visa fee (about US$52, currently €52) + our service fee (incl. VAT)