Entry/Exit Requirements

You can find general visa information for Russia below, but U.S. citizens should visit the Embassy of the Russian Federation website for the most up to date information regarding visa regulations and requirements.

Travelers should be aware that U.S. citizens who do not comply with Russian immigration laws are subject to arrest, detention, fines, and/or deportation often at the traveler’s expense. Over the past year there has been an increase in the number of U.S. citizens detained or fined for purported visa violations. Russian authorities have detained some U.S. citizens for as long as several weeks before they were deported.  Travelers are advised to consult closely with Russian consulates or Russian-government sponsored visa services concerning the appropriate type of visa for their intended activities.  Even then great care should be exercised as there have been cases where Russian authorities have given conflicting information concerning what activities are allowable under different visa types.  The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs can be contacted at: ministry@mid.ru.  U.S. citizens should visit the Embassy of the Russian Federation website for the most up to date information regarding visa regulations and requirements.

Russian authorities will not allow U.S. citizens to depart the country if their visa has expired. On a regular basis, visa extensions beyond 3 days are not granted. Instead, courts rule U.S. citizens must pay a fine and deport them within 10 days with a subsequent five-year minimum ban on entering Russia. If under exigent circumstances longer extensions are granted, travelers may have to wait until a new visa is approved, which may take up to 20 days. Please verify the expiration date of your Russian visa, and leave Russia before your visa expires. Russian border authorities will not admit travelers who arrive prior to the visa validity date on their visa. Be sure to check both the beginning and end dates of your visa. Travelers should keep their U.S. passport and Russian visa with them at all times.

In accordance with Russia’s Entry-Exit Law, Russian authorities may deny entry or reentry into Russia for 5 years or more and cancel the visas of foreigners who have committed two “administrative” violations (which remains undefined) within the past three years. Other penalties, including deportation, may also apply, depending on the nature of the offenses. In some cases, Russian authorities have considered traffic or parking infractions as administrative violations providing sufficient basis for deportation and/or denial of entry. This is an increasingly frequent occurrence.

Entry Visas: To enter Russia for any purpose other than short transit by air (less than 24 hours with no airport exit allowed) or some journeys by cruise ship or ferry (see below), you must possess a valid U.S. passport and a visa issued by a Russian embassy or consulate. You cannot obtain a visa upon arrival, so you must apply for your visa well in advance. If you arrive in Russia without an entry visa, border authorities will not permit you to enter the country, and you could face immediate return to the point of embarkation at your own expense, and possible ban on entering Russia for a period thereafter.

A Russian entry/exit visa has two dates written in the European style (day/month/year) as opposed to the U.S. style (month/day/year). The first date indicates the earliest date a traveler may enter Russia; the second date indicates the date by which a traveler must leave Russia. A Russian visa is only valid for those exact dates and Russian authorities will not extend it after the traveler has arrived in the country, except in the case of a documented medical emergency.

You may wish to have someone who reads Russian check the visa before departing the United States. Please ensure your visa reflects your intended activities in Russia (e.g., tourism, study, business, etc.). If denied a visa, you may seek clarification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 32/34 Smolenskaya-Sennaya Pl., Moscow, Russia, 119200, ministry@mid.ru.

Limitations on Length of Stay and Exit Visas: Under a bilateral agreement signed in 2012, qualified U.S. applicants for humanitarian, private, tourist, and business visas may receive multiple-entry visas with a validity of three years. Visas issued under the agreement should permit stays on the territory of the Russian Federation for up to six consecutive months. (Please note that other types of visas are not part of the agreement and those visa holders should pay close attention to the terms of their visas.) All visa holders should exit Russia before their visa expires.

U.S. citizen travelers must have a valid visa to depart Russia. If you overstay your visa validity by less than three days, you may, at the discretion of a Russian consular officer, be granted an exit visa at the airport and charged a fine. However, this process may not be available outside Moscow, as it requires transmission of documents from Moscow to outlying departure points on a case-by-case basis, which can cause significant delays to the traveler. If you overstay your visa by more than three days, border authorities will prevent you from leaving Russia until your visa sponsor intervenes and requests a visa extension on your behalf. Russian authorities may take up to 20 calendar days to authorize an exit visa, during which time you will have to remain in Russia at your own expense. You will likely also have difficulty checking into a hotel, hostel, or other lodging establishment with an expired Russian visa. Again, be sure to verify the expiration date of your Russian visa and leave Russia before your visa expires.

Under the terms of the bilateral visa agreement, U.S. citizens holding tourist, private, business, or humanitarian visas do not need to replace a lost or stolen Russian visa. However, citizens must replace a lost or stolen U.S. passport at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow or one of the U.S. Consulates in Russia.. The Russian government may also request a police report. Note that a police report is required in order to board intercity transportation without a valid passport. Travelers will only be allowed to exit with a new U.S. passport if their Russian visa in the lost/stolen passport is still valid (i.e. unexpired) at the time of departure. It is a good idea to keep copies of your U.S. passport biography page and Russian visa with you, but separate from your original documents, in case your original documents become lost.

At times, visas for students and English teachers only allow one entry. In these cases, the sponsoring school is responsible for registering the visa and migration card, as well as obtaining an exit visa. It can take up to 20 calendar days to obtain an exit visa, so students and teachers need to plan accordingly. Please see the section below regarding Teaching in Russia under “Local Laws & Special Circumstances” for additional information.

Applying for a Visa: There are eighty-six visa categories, including seven types of temporary visas - private, tourist, business, humanitarian, work, student, and transit - each with different application requirements. The bilateral visa agreement covers only tourist, private, business, and humanitarian visas.

It is essential to be transparent on your visa application as to what activities you plan to undertake in Russia, in order to obtain the correct type of visa. U.S. citizens have been detained, taken to court, fined and deported for engaging in activities deemed to be outside of the limitations of their visas.

Travelers who wish to apply for more than a single-entry visa must specify in their visa application that they are applying for a multiple-entry visa and should note that they are applying under the terms of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Visa Agreement of 2012. Under this agreement, Russia committed to issuing multiple-entry, thirty-six month validity visas “as a rule.” Russian compliance with the terms of the bilateral agreement has been inconsistent. Cases of non-compliance should be brought to the attention of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The U.S. government cannot control or alter the decision by the Russian authorities in individual visa cases but does monitor Russian compliance.

Visa Sponsorship: Under the terms of the visa agreement, U.S. citizens applying for a tourist visa do not need a formal letter of invitation from a Russian party. However, tourists must have advance lodging reservations and arrangements with a tour operator for their first entry request and visa application. These arrangements must be in writing and presented with the visa application. While tourists should not be required to present this documentation on subsequent entries, travelers are advised to have this information available and with them. Travelers should also have their travel reservations and itinerary with them at the point of entry into Russia.

U.S. citizens traveling for business and humanitarian purposes are required to produce a written statement from the hosting Russian organization. U.S. citizens traveling on private or "homestay" visits must also present a notarized, written statement in Russian from the hosting individual (see next section for further detail). In these cases, please ensure the name of the sponsor indicated on your visa corresponds with the organization you intend to visit, or those who are arranging your travel in Russia. If the sponsor named on your visa is not the person or entity you intend to visit, you may encounter problems with Russian immigration authorities, particularly on your first entry into Russia on a multiple-entry visa. If you intend to work for a non-government organization (NGO) or engage in religious work, be sure to apply for the specific type of visa required by Russian law. Russian law requires your sponsor apply on your behalf for replacement, extension, or changes to a Russian visa. You should ensure you have contact information for your visa sponsor prior to arrival in Russia, as the sponsor's assistance will be essential to resolve any visa problems.

Russian police officers have the authority to stop people and request their identity and travel documents at any time and without cause. Due to the possibility of random document checks by police, you should carry your original passport, migration card and visa with you at all times (see sections on Migration Cards and Visa Registration for additional information).

Documentary Requirements: Please note this is not intended to be a complete list of documents. Applicants for Russian visas should consult with the Embassy of the Russian Federation or Consulates General for detailed explanations of documentary requirements.

Tourist Visas: Visa application form, hotel reservation confirmation, contract for provision of tourist services with a tourist organization registered with the Russian Federal Tourism Agency;

Business and Humanitarian Visas: Visa application form and written statement from the host organization in Russian, including the following information: 

• Organization's full name, official address, and contact information;
• Full name of the person signing the written statement;
• If the organization is established in the territory of the Russian Federation, the organization's individual taxpayer number;
• Visa applicant's name, date of birth, citizenship, gender, passport number, number of entries sought, purpose of travel, requested period of entry, location of intended residence in Russia, and cities to be visited. 

Private Visas: Visa application form and written statement from the hosting individual notarized by a Russian notary, including the following information: 

• Hosting individual's full name, date of birth, citizenship, gender, passport number, address of registration, and individual's actual residence;
• Visa applicant's name, date of birth, citizenship, gender, passport number, number of entries sought, purpose of travel, requested period of entry, location of intended residence in Russia, and cities to be visited.

The Russian Embassy or Consulate receiving the visa application may ask for additional documentation, including:

• Bank statement from the applicant;
• Statement from the applicant's employer regarding the applicant's salary for the preceding year, half year, or month;
• Medical insurance valid in Russia and fully covering the period of the first trip;
• Documents regarding the applicant's ownership of property in the United States;
• A certificate of the makeup of the applicant's family (i.e., marriage certificate and children's birth certificates);

Transit Visas: If you intend to transit through Russia by land en route to a third country, you must have a Russian transit visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. Russian law does not require you to have a transit visa if you are transiting through one international airport in Russia, whereby you will not leave the customs zone, and will depart within 24 hours to an onward international destination. However, travelers and customs officials alike often misinterpret this law. Therefore, we strongly recommend all travelers obtain a Russian transit visa even if transiting Russia less than 24 hours, given the possibility of unexpected flight delays, rerouting, or other unforeseen travel challenges that could strand you in an airport for an extended period or create other complications. Even if your stay is less than 24 hours, you may not transfer to another Russian airport without a transit visa and you may not exit the transit zone of the airport in which you arrived. Additionally, please make sure you are ticketed straight through on one ticket and not on two tickets, which would require you to exit the transit zone. U.S. citizens need a transit visa for flights from Russia to Belarus, which are considered domestic flights by Russian and Belarusian bilateral agreements. The Government of Russia may force foreigners who arrive in Russia without a valid visa and who do not meet visa-free transit requirements, to return to their point of origin at their own expense.

Visas to Crimea: U.S. citizens are urged to follow the guidance in the Travel Warning for Ukraine and defer all travel to the Crimean Peninsula at this time. In March 2014, Russia occupied the Crimean Peninsula, which remains part of Ukraine notwithstanding Russia’s illegal military intervention. At this time the de facto Russian authorities are requiring that non-Russian citizens obtain a Russian visa to enter and exit Crimea by air, land, or sea. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs further announced that non-Russian citizens residing in Crimea when the occupation occurred must obtain an exit permit from the de facto Russian authorities before being allowed to depart the region.

International Cruise Ship/Ferry Passengers: Russia permits visitors to visit many Russian ports without a visa for a period of up to 72 hours. You may go ashore without a visa during port calls, but only if you are with an organized tour and accompanied at all times by a tour operator, duly licensed by Russian authorities. Cruise ship and ferry lines offer shore tours that meet these requirements. If you want to do sightseeing on your own, you must have a Russian tourist visa. A visa is also required if you arrive in Russia by ship or ferry, but want to depart by air, train, or other mode of transportation. You must present a valid U.S. passport to Russian immigration officers each time you depart or return to the ship during your port call in Russia. If your U.S. passport is lost or stolen while ashore, authorities will not allow you to return to the ship until you obtain a replacement passport from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow or one of the U.S. Consulates in Russia.. If your ship leaves Russia without you onboard, you must obtain an exit visa to depart Russia by alternative transportation. Russian authorities may take up to 20 calendar days to authorize an exit visa, during which time you will have to remain in Russia at your own expense.

Please note that these special entry/exit requirements for international cruise ship and ferry passengers do not apply to riverboat cruise passengers. Riverboat cruise passengers must have a visa and should follow the general guidelines for entry/exit requirements.

Visa Registration: If you intend to spend more than seven days in any locality in Russia, you must register your visa and migration card through your sponsor at the Federal Migration Service (FMS) or through your landlord at his/her local post office. If staying at a hotel, the hotel reception is required to register your visa and migration card on the first day of your stay. If you choose not to register your visa and migration card for a stay of less than seven days, we advise you to keep copies of tickets, hotel bills, or itineraries in order to prove compliance with Russian law.

Russian police officers have the authority to stop people and request their identity and travel documents at any time and without provocation. Due to the possibility of random document checks by Russian police, you should carry your original U.S. passport, migration card and Russian visa with you at all times.

Migration Cards: U.S. citizens entering Russia must carry a migration card while in Russia. Traditionally, airlines provide these two-part cards to foreign passengers to complete before landing in Russia. Upon arrival, Russian immigration authorities retain one of the identical halves, and travelers must carry the other half in their passport for the duration of their stay in Russia.

In some terminals at Moscow's Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Domodedevo Airports, St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo, and Vladivostok International Airport, immigration officials complete the migration cards electronically and provide them to visitors at passport control. If you receive an electronic migration card, continue to carry the card in your U.S. passport and submit it to immigration authorities upon leaving Russia. The Federal Migration Service (FMS) plans to expand their use of electronic migration cards to other international airports in the future.

If you lose your migration card, you should ask your visa sponsor to assist you in reporting it to the FMS and request a replacement; losing the migration card may or may not present difficulties upon departure from Russia. Additionally, there have been instances where replacement migration cards were required in order to register at hotels. Some FMS offices are also requiring replacement of the migration card before they will issue an exit visa, a process that can take more than 24 hours and requires the traveler to stay in Russia at their own expense until the situation can be resolved.

Restricted Areas: There are several closed cities and regions in Russia. If you attempt to enter these areas without prior authorization, you may be subject to arrest, detention, fines, and/or deportation. Russian visa applicants are required to list on their visa application all areas in Russia they intend to visit, and must also subsequently register with authorities upon their arrival at each destination. There is no centralized list or database of the restricted areas, so travelers should check with their sponsor, hotel, or the nearest office of the FMS before traveling to unfamiliar cities and towns.

U.S. Citizens Also Holding Russian Passports/Dual Citizens: If you are a dual U.S./Russian national, you must enter and depart both Russia and the United States carrying the passport of that country. If you are a Russian citizen carrying a Russian passport, you should confirm your Russian passport is valid beyond your planned departure. The Russian government will not permit you to depart Russia with an expired Russian passport, and obtaining one in Russia as a non-resident is extremely difficult. Russian authorities will also not permit departure from Russia if the Russian passport is lost or stolen, even in cases when the traveler also has a valid U.S. passport. In these instances, the traveler will be required to obtain a new Russian passport, a process that can take several months and will likely prevent a timely exit from Russia.

Russian consular officials generally require that dual U.S./Russian nationals renounce their Russian citizenship - a process that may take several months - prior to issuing any Russian visa in a U.S. passport, including transit (exit) visas. If you were born in Russia, you will be required to prove you have renounced your Russian citizenship prior to obtaining any Russian visa, in order to comply with Russian law.

So-called "Repatriation Certificates" (Svidetel'stvo na vozvrashcheniye) issued to Russian citizens abroad are only valid to enter Russia, not to depart from Russia. Bearers of such certificates must apply for a new passport inside Russia, a process that can take several months. Males of conscription age (18 - 27 years old) who Russia deems as citizens may experience problems if they have not satisfied their military service requirement.

Dual National/Legal Permanent Resident Required Registration: On June 4, 2014, President Putin signed legislation requiring Russians holding dual nationality and legal permanent residents of other countries to register with the Russian government. It entered into force as law on August 4, 2014, and requires those living in Russia to declare their status to the Federal Migration Service by October 4, 2014. Those residing outside of Russia are required to report themselves within 60 days of any visit to Russia. Failure to register will constitute a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 rubles or one year’s earnings, or up to 400 hours of community service. An incomplete form, or one which contains errors, could result in an administrative penalty of 500 to 1,000 rubles. Registration forms and further information (in Russian only) can be found on the Federal Migration Service website.

For further information, please see the Department of State's webpage on dual nationality.

Minors: In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated special procedures at entry/exit points, such as requiring documentary evidence of the parent or guardian's relationship to the child and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not legally required, may facilitate entry/departure. For further information, please see the Department of State's webpage regarding the prevention of international child abduction.

Special note: U.S. citizen minors who also have Russian citizenship and are traveling alone or in the company of adults who are not their parents must carry a Russian passport, as well as a power of attorney written in Russian and signed by their parents. Authorities will prevent such minors from entering or leaving Russia if they cannot present such a power of attorney.

HIV/AIDS Entry Restrictions: Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors to, and foreign residents of, Russia. Applicants for longer-term tourist and work visas or residence permits are required to undergo an HIV/AIDS test. The Russian government may also ask these applicants to undergo tests for tuberculosis and leprosy. Travelers who believe they may be subject to these requirements should verify this information with the Embassy of the Russian Federation.

Apostilles: The U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in Russia cannot provide apostilles to documents. This process must be done by the secretary of state of the U.S. state that processed the document (or in the case of a U.S. federal agency document, the State Department's Office of Authentications). For more information about apostilles, visit the U.S. Embassy website.

Embassy of the Russian Federation in the U.S.: The Russian Federation has moved to an on-line visa application process in the United States, which U.S. citizens can initiate at this website. However, we strongly encourage applicants to first read the above sections on visas and visit the Embassy of the Russian Federation website for instructions. For additional information concerning travel to Russia, U.S. citizens may contact the Embassy of the Russian Federation, Consular Section, 2641 Tunlaw Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20007, tel. 202-939-8907.

In addition, there are Russian Consulates in:
Houston: 1333 West Loop South, Ste.1300, Houston, TX 77027, tel. 713-337-3300;
New York: 9 East 91 St., New York, NY 10128, tel. 212-348-0926;
San Francisco: 2790 Green St., San Francisco, CA 94123, tel. 415-928-6878 or 415-202-9800; and,
Seattle: 2323 Westin Building, 2001 6th Ave., Seattle, WA 98121, tel. 206-728-1910.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.