Visa requirements for Russian citizens
Encyclopedia
Holders of the ordinary Russian passport
for travel abroad traveling as tourists may visit at least 96 countries visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival. Reciprocal visa-free travel agreements are already signed or currently negotiated - but not yet in force - with Bangladesh, Ecuador (not reciprocal yet, e.g. Ecuadorians need a visa to Russia), Guatemala (not reciprocal yet), Jordan, Kuwait, Macau (expected to be signed in summer 2011), Malaysia (not reciprocal yet), Mexico (not reciprocal yet), Mongolia (expected to enter into force on January 1, 2012), Oman, Panama, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan (ROC
), Tunisia, the UAE and Uruguay.
:
Similar agreements have been signed, but not yet ratified, between Russia and Denmark, and Russia and Norway. Silvio Berlusconi
, the Prime Minister of Italy, and later Alexander Stubb
, the Foreign Minister of Finland have started public discussions on the future possibility for visa-free travel between the EU countries and Russia.
On May 4, 2010, The EU and Russian Federation raised the prospect of beginning negotiations on a visa-free regime between their territories. However it was announced by the Council of Ministers of the EU that the EU is not completely ready to open up the borders due to high risk of increase in human trafficking and drug imports into Europe and because of the loose borders of Russia with Kazakhstan. They will instead work towards providing Russia with a "roadmap for visa-free travel." While this does not legally bind the EU to providing visa-free access to the Schengen zone for Russian citizens at any specific date in the future, it does greatly improve the chances of a new regime being established and obliges the EU to actively consider the notion, should the terms of the roadmap be met. Russia on the other hand has agreed that should the roadmap be established, it will ease access for EU citizens for whom access is not visa-free at this point, largely as a result of Russian foreign policy which states that "visa free travel must be reciprocal between states." Both the EU and Russia acknowledge, however, that there are many problems to be solved before visa-free travel is introduced.
Kurt Amend stated that the US and Russia were having talks on abolishing the visa regime between the two countries.
During a meeting in Moscow on March 10, 2011, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
proposed the introduction of reciprocal visa-free travel to US Vice President Joe Biden
, saying, "it would be a historical step in the development of Russian-U.S. relations" and would create "an absolutely new atmosphere between our countries." The Vice President's immediate reaction was cordial, but non-committal. According to Biden's national security advisor Anthony Blinken, visa liberalization had been discussed prior to the meeting, but he added, "The Russians know full well, as do the Americans, that there are legal requirements set by Congress to be met for visa liberalization that the Russians have not yet achieved." Among the requirements was that the refusal rate for Russians seeking visas to the United States fall below 3 percent. Blinken said visa free travel could happen "...next year, [or] it could be in 10 years." However Dimitri V. Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, considered Putin's proposal to be merely a political tactic in his public exchange with Biden, calling it, "...a way to attract attention...as a way to knock someone off course, maybe it also worked."
Russian passport
Russian passports are of two types: domestic passports issued to citizens of Russia for the purpose of certifying identity, international passports are issued for the purpose of international travel.- Internal passport :...
for travel abroad traveling as tourists may visit at least 96 countries visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival. Reciprocal visa-free travel agreements are already signed or currently negotiated - but not yet in force - with Bangladesh, Ecuador (not reciprocal yet, e.g. Ecuadorians need a visa to Russia), Guatemala (not reciprocal yet), Jordan, Kuwait, Macau (expected to be signed in summer 2011), Malaysia (not reciprocal yet), Mexico (not reciprocal yet), Mongolia (expected to enter into force on January 1, 2012), Oman, Panama, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan (ROC
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
), Tunisia, the UAE and Uruguay.
Travel with internal passport
Some countries allow citizens of Russia to travel with internal passportInternal passport
An internal passport is an identity document used in some countries to control the internal movement and residence of its people. Countries that currently have internal passports include Russia, Ukraine, China and North Korea...
:
| Country | Conditions of Access |
|---|---|
 Abkhazia |
|
 Belarus |
|
 Kazakhstan |
|
 Kyrgyzstan |
|
 South Ossetia |
|
 Tajikistan |
|
 Ukraine |
|
Africa
| Country | Conditions of Access |
|---|---|
 Angola |
|
 Benin |
|
 Botswana |
|
 Burkina Faso |
90 day visa on arrival (98 000 CFA franc CFA franc The CFA franc is the name of two currencies used in Africa which are guaranteed by the French treasury. The two CFA franc currencies are the West African CFA franc and the Central African CFA franc... s. Visa in advance - 47 000 CFA franc CFA franc The CFA franc is the name of two currencies used in Africa which are guaranteed by the French treasury. The two CFA franc currencies are the West African CFA franc and the Central African CFA franc... s) |
 Cape Verde |
In most cases visa on arrival is possible |
 Central African Republic |
7 day visa on arrival for XAF30,000 |
 Comoros |
2 week visa on arrival |
 Djibouti |
10 day or 1 month tourist visa on arrival (not on the land border) |
 Egypt |
1 month visa on arrival for $15; free 15 day visa on arrival for southern Sinai Peninsula Sinai Peninsula The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two... only |
 Ethiopia |
1–6 month visa on arrival ($20) |
 Guinea |
|
 Kenya |
90 day tourist visa on arrival ($50) |
 Madagascar |
30 day visa on arrival for free; 90 day visa issued on arrival (with return ticket; 140 000 Malagasy ariary Malagasy ariary The ariary is the currency of Madagascar. It is subdivided into 5 iraimbilanja and is one of only two non-decimal currencies currently circulating . The names ariary and iraimbilanja derive from the pre-colonial currency, with ariary being the name for a silver dollar... or $66) |
 Mauritius |
60 day visa on arrival (with return ticket and letter of invitation or tourist voucher) |
 Morocco |
|
 Mozambique |
30 day visa valid for one entry issued on arrival at the airport only for $25 (extension up to 60 days is possible) |
 Namibia |
|
 São Tomé and Príncipe |
Visa on arrival (arrangements should be made by the carrier up to 24h prior to flight departure; $100) |
 Seychelles |
|
 South Africa |
|
 Swaziland |
|
 Tanzania |
Visa on arrival (with return ticket and proof of sufficient monetary means; $50) |
 Tunisia |
|
 Togo |
7 day visa on arrival (10 000 CFA francs) |
 Uganda |
Visa on arrival ($50) |
 Zambia |
Visa on arrival (single for $50, double for $80, multiple for $160) |
 Zimbabwe |
Visa on arrival ($30–$55) |
Americas
| Country | Conditions of Access |
|---|---|
 Antigua and Barbuda |
|
 Argentina |
|
 The Bahamas |
|
 Barbados |
|
 Bolivia |
Visa is granted upon arrival for a fee of US$51 (In embassy visa is for free in advance.) |
 Brazil |
|
 Canada |
|
 Chile |
|
 Colombia |
|
 Costa Rica |
|
 Cuba |
|
 Dominica |
|
 Dominican Republic |
30 day tourist card issued on arrival for $10 |
 Ecuador |
|
 El Salvador |
|
 Grenada |
|
 Guatemala |
|
 Guyana |
|
 Haiti |
3 month visa on arrival |
 Honduras |
|
 Jamaica |
30 day visa on arrival (with return ticket, hotel reservation, and proof of sufficient monetary means) |
 Mexico |
From 1 Nov 2010 single entry 180 days e-visa can be obtained via the Internet instantly and free of charge: http://www.inami.gob.mx/index.php/page/Inicio_Autorizacion_Electronica/en.html Multiple entry visas for 5–10 years available via embassy in Moscow: http://embamex.sre.gob.mx/rusia/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&lang=ru From May 2010 holders of a valid US visa are visa exempt for a max. stay of 180 days |
 Nicaragua |
|
 Panama |
|
 Paraguay |
|
 Peru |
http://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_website_client.cgi?SpecData=1&VISA=&page=visa&NA=RU&AR=00&PASSTYPES=PASS&DE=PE&user=DL&subuser=DELTAB2C |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis |
Pre-arrival Internet registration required on https://evisa.gov.kn/ |
 Saint Lucia |
|
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
30 days visa on arrival (with return ticket) |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
|
 Turks and Caicos Islands |
|
 United States |
|
 Uruguay |
|
 Venezuela |
Asia
| Country | Conditions of Access |
|---|---|
| Abkhazia |
|
 Armenia |
|
 Azerbaijan |
|
 Bahrain |
14 day visa available on arrival for BHD 5 |
 Bangladesh |
14 day visa available on arrival for $51 |
 Brunei |
Visa on arrival for 72 hour transit, 5 Brunei dollar Brunei dollar The ringgit Brunei or the Brunei dollar , has been the currency of the Sultanate of Brunei since 1967... s fee |
 Cambodia |
1 month tourist visa on arrival (with photograph; $20); 3 month business visa on arrival (with photograph; $25) |
 Mainland China |
Visa-free if travelling in a group organized by authorized travel agency. 24 hours visa-free transit. Otherwise must apply for a visa in advance, except for Russians from the regions bordering with China and Sakhalin. |
 East Timor |
30 day visa on arrival ($25) |
 Hong Kong |
|
 India |
|
 Indonesia |
Visa on arrival (with return ticket; 30 days for $25; extension of extra 30 days is possible) |
 Israel |
|
 Iran |
14-day tourist visa issued upon arrival at any international airport. Fee 60 EUR |
 Iraq |
|
 Jordan |
1 month visa issued on arrival for 10 Jordanian Dinar Jordanian dinar The dinar is the currency of Jordan. The dinar is divided into 10 dirham, 100 qirsh or 1000 fils.... , can be extended for up to 6 months |
| Kazakhstan |
|
| Kyrgyzstan |
|
 Laos |
|
 Lebanon |
|
 Macau |
30 days visa on arrival (with return ticket, proof of sufficient monetary means; 100 Macanese pataca Macanese pataca The pataca is the currency of Macau. It is subdivided into 100 avos , with 10 avos called ho in Cantonese. The abbreviation MOP$ is commonly used.... ) |
 Malaysia |
|
 Maldives |
30 days visa on arrival (with return ticket) |
 Mongolia |
|
 Myanmar |
28-day visa on arrival in Yangon Yangon International Airport Yangon International Airport , located in Mingaladon, at north of downtown Yangon, is the primary international airport of Myanmar and the second largest airport in the country.... and Mandalay International Airport Mandalay International Airport Mandalay International Airport , located 35 km south of Mandalay in Tada-U, is one of only two international airports in Burma. Completed in 1999, the airport is the largest and most modern airport in the country, complete with a 14,000-foot runway and capacity to handle up to 3 million passengers... (with 2 photos 4x6cm, return ticket and proof of financial means; $30, $18 for a 24-hour transit visa) |
 Nepal |
Visa on arrival (with 2 photographs; $30 for 15 days, $40 for 30 days, $90 for 3 month) |
 North Korea |
|
 Pakistan |
|
 Philippines |
|
 Singapore |
|
 South Korea |
. Otherwise must apply for a visa in advance. |
| South Ossetia |
|
 Sri Lanka |
30 days visa on arrival (with return ticket) |
 Syria |
|
 Republic of China (ROCRepublic of China The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor... ) |
|
| Tajikistan |
|
 Thailand |
|
 Turkmenistan |
|
 United Arab Emirates |
|
 Uzbekistan |
|
 Vietnam |
Europe
| Country | Conditions of Access |
|---|---|
 Schengen AreaSchengen Area The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985... |
|
 Albania |
. At other times, visa-free for Schengen visa holders. |
 Andorra |
|
| Belarus |
|
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|
 Kingdom of Bulgaria |
|
 Independent State of Croatia |
|
 Cyprus |
90 days e-ProVisa (valid for single entry for maximum 90 days and only for passengers arriving to Larnaca airport by direct flghts from Russia) available via the internet free of charge. Visa-free for Schengen visa holders. Othervise must apply for a visa in advance (usually 3 years visa granted). |
 Gibraltar |
|
 Republic of Ireland |
|
 Republic of Kosovo |
|
 Republic of Macedonia |
|
 Moldova |
|
 Kingdom of Montenegro |
|
 Kingdom of Romania |
|
 Serbia |
|
 Turkey |
|
| Ukraine |
|
 United Kingdom |
|
Oceania
| Country | Conditions of Access |
|---|---|
 Cook Islands |
|
 Fiji |
|
 Federated States of Micronesia |
|
 Niue |
|
 Northern Mariana Islands |
|
 Palau |
30 day visa on arrival (with return ticket and proof of sufficient monetary means) |
 Samoa |
30 day visa on arrival (with return ticket and proof of sufficient monetary means or tourist voucher) |
 Tonga |
31 day tourist visa on arrival (with return ticket and proof of sufficient monetary means) |
 Tuvalu |
1 month tourist visa on arrival (with return ticket, hotel reservation or tourist voucher, and proof of sufficient monetary means) |
 Vanuatu |
European Union
An agreement between the European Community and Russia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas has been in force since June 1, 2007. It has unified the cost of visas, and made it easier to obtain visas for close relatives, journalists, official delegations, transport crew members and some other groups of visitors.Similar agreements have been signed, but not yet ratified, between Russia and Denmark, and Russia and Norway. Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
, the Prime Minister of Italy, and later Alexander Stubb
Alexander Stubb
Cai-Göran Alexander Stubb is a Finnish politician and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 4 April 2008 to 22 June 2011...
, the Foreign Minister of Finland have started public discussions on the future possibility for visa-free travel between the EU countries and Russia.
On May 4, 2010, The EU and Russian Federation raised the prospect of beginning negotiations on a visa-free regime between their territories. However it was announced by the Council of Ministers of the EU that the EU is not completely ready to open up the borders due to high risk of increase in human trafficking and drug imports into Europe and because of the loose borders of Russia with Kazakhstan. They will instead work towards providing Russia with a "roadmap for visa-free travel." While this does not legally bind the EU to providing visa-free access to the Schengen zone for Russian citizens at any specific date in the future, it does greatly improve the chances of a new regime being established and obliges the EU to actively consider the notion, should the terms of the roadmap be met. Russia on the other hand has agreed that should the roadmap be established, it will ease access for EU citizens for whom access is not visa-free at this point, largely as a result of Russian foreign policy which states that "visa free travel must be reciprocal between states." Both the EU and Russia acknowledge, however, that there are many problems to be solved before visa-free travel is introduced.
United States
In March 2009, U.S Consul GeneralConsul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
Kurt Amend stated that the US and Russia were having talks on abolishing the visa regime between the two countries.
During a meeting in Moscow on March 10, 2011, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
proposed the introduction of reciprocal visa-free travel to US Vice President Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
, saying, "it would be a historical step in the development of Russian-U.S. relations" and would create "an absolutely new atmosphere between our countries." The Vice President's immediate reaction was cordial, but non-committal. According to Biden's national security advisor Anthony Blinken, visa liberalization had been discussed prior to the meeting, but he added, "The Russians know full well, as do the Americans, that there are legal requirements set by Congress to be met for visa liberalization that the Russians have not yet achieved." Among the requirements was that the refusal rate for Russians seeking visas to the United States fall below 3 percent. Blinken said visa free travel could happen "...next year, [or] it could be in 10 years." However Dimitri V. Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, considered Putin's proposal to be merely a political tactic in his public exchange with Biden, calling it, "...a way to attract attention...as a way to knock someone off course, maybe it also worked."
External links
- Countries that citizens of Russia can enter easily or without a visa (in Russian, appears to be current, tourist-oriented)
- List of countries with simplified entry procedures (in Russian, dated 15 July 2005)
- Information for those going abroad from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Russian, dates unknown; some information is outdated)
- Continental Airlines. Passport, Health and Visa Requirements (a web page with access to official information maintained and used by IATA)