Do I Need a Russian Visa to Travel to Russia?

Before applying for an extended travel visa, you should know a few things. Under the Russian Federation Visa-Free Regime, citizens of certain countries do not need to apply for visas if staying less than 90 days in a 180-day period. 

In this article, we will cover which countries are exempt but given restrictions, which countries have stricter and specific regulations, and which countries are totally exempt from requiring a visa for travel to Russia.


Do I Need a Russian Visa to Travel to Russia?

Under the Russian Federation Visa-Free Regime, the citizens of the following countries do not need to apply for an extended travel visa. Each country observes different regulations and requirements:

• Argentina - Travelers are not required to obtain a visa if staying up to 90 days in a 180-day period. If conducting commercial or work-related activities, a visa is required. Diplomatic or official passport holders require a visa.
• Bosnia & Herzegovina - Tourists do not need a visa if traveling for up to 30 days. Other visitors can travel for up to 90 days without a visa. Tourists must present documentation, and other visitors must present the original invitation and show it to the Russian authorities.
• Brazil - The only cases in which visas are not required for Brazilian citizens are for tourist, private, or transit visitors staying up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
• Brunei - Citizens caring a diplomatic or service passport do not require a visa if staying up to 14 days.
• Chile - Citizens traveling up to 90 days in a 180-day period do not require a visa. Work, business, diplomatic, and service passport holders require visas.
• Columbia - Visitors staying 90 days or less in a 180-day period do not require a visa.
• Croatia - Tourists can visit for up to 30 days without a visa, all other visitors can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. Tourist documentation and/or the original invitation must be presented to immigration authorities in Russia.
• Dominican Republic - Diplomatic and service passport holders can travel to Russia for up to 90 days without a visa.
• Hong Kong - Travelers do not require a visa if staying 14 days or less.
• Iceland - Diplomatic and service passport holders may stay up to 90 days without a visa.
• Israel - Citizens can travel for up to 90 days. Tourist documentation or the original invitation must be presented to Russian immigration. Diplomatic and service passport holders require a visa.
• Macedonia - Tourists can stay up to 90 days, but all other visitors can stay up to 90 days without a visa. Tourist documentation and/or the original invitation must be presented to Russian immigration authorities.
• Montenegro - Visitors can stay up to 30 days without a visa. The program does not apply to diplomatic and service passport holders.
• Mozambique - Diplomatic and service passport holders may travel for up to 30 days without a visa.
• Nicaragua - Visitors can travel for up to 90 days without a visa.
• Peru - Travelers can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Work/business travelers, diplomatic and service passport holders require visas.
• Serbia - Serbian nationalists, who currently have a temporary or permanent resident permit, can stay without time restriction. Citizens who possess passports obtained after April 9 of 2008 may travel and stay in Russia for up to 30 days. If you are a traveler with a diplomatic or official passport, and you do not have accreditation in Russia, you can stay for up to 90 days without a visa. All other travel instances will require a visa. The visa-free regime program does not apply to individuals with Yugoslavian passports.
• The Republic of South Africa - Travelers with a diplomatic, official, or service passport may travel to Russia for up to 90 days without a visa.
• Thailand - Travelers with general passports may stay up to 30 days without a visa. Travelers with a diplomatic or service passport may stay up to 90 days without a visa.
• Turkey - Individuals with general or service passports may stay up to 30 days without a visa. If traveling on multiple trips, the total number of days spent in Russia cannot go over the allotted 90 days in a 180-day period.
• Venezuela - Travelers can stay up to 90 days in Russia without a visa. The program does not apply to diplomatic and service passport holders.

Citizens of the following countries do not have any regulations, requirements, or rules that will impede them from staying in Russia for any allotment of time or traveling to Russia with the requirement of a visa:

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Kirghiz Republic, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

© C.J. Leger | Original Publication Date: July 22, 2015

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About Staff

Mrs. Life Skills, formerly The Happy Housemaid, is a lifesttyle publisher.