Russian Passport Visa Free Countries

Passport holders can enter a country without the requirement of obtaining a visa beforehand or upon arrival, thanks to visa-free travel. However, it's important to note that they are still subject to immigration control procedures, during which their passports are examined for validity and may also receive a stamp.

Despite the many advantages of visa-free travel, visitors must adhere to the designated stay duration. Even for those eligible for visa-free entry, there's typically a limited timeframe, often ranging from 15 to 90 days and occasionally within a specified 180-day or one-year period. Overstaying constitutes an immigration violation, potentially resulting in civil or criminal repercussions and future travel bans to that country.

Russian Passport Visa-Free Countries and Advantages of Visa-Free Travel

• There is no need for extensive application forms, extra documents like "Letters of Support," photos, passport copies, or bank statements.
• Avoid sharing confidential information.
• Save on visa feesSkip the wait for visa processing by embassies or relevant authorities.
• Enjoy the freedom to travel spontaneously without weeks of planning.
• Bypass lengthy border control queues upon arrival, accessing exclusive lanes for a smoother experience.

Russian passport visa-free countries

The Russian passport is ranked 93rd globally in the VisaGuide Passport Index. This ranking signifies that Russian citizens have visa-free access to 89 countries worldwide. Nevertheless, for entry into the remaining nations, Russian passport holders are required to obtain a visa in advance. Here is the list of Russian passport visa-free countries

Andorra	Cook Islands	Jamaica	Nicaragua	Saint Lucia
Antigua and Barbuda	Costa Rica	Kazakhstan	Niue	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Argentina	Cuba	Kyrgyzstan	Oman	Suriname
Armenia	Dominica	Laos	Pakistan	Taiwan
Azerbaijan	Dominican  Republic	Macau	Palau	Trinidad and Tobago
Bahamas	Ecuador	Malaysia	Palestine	Thailand
Barbados	El Salvador	Maldives	Panama	Tajikistan
Belarus	Fiji	Mauritius	Paraguay	Tunisia
Belize	Gabon	Mexico	Peru	Turks and Caicos Islands
Bolivia	Georgia	Micronesia	Qatar	Türkiye
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Grenada	Moldova	Samoa	United Arab Emirates
Botswana	Guatemala	Mongolia	San Marino	Uruguay
Brazil	Guyana	Montenegro	São Tomé and Príncipe	Uzbekistan
Brunei	Haiti	Morocco	Serbia	Vanuatu
Cabo Verde	Honduras	Mozambique	Seychelles	Venezuela
Chile	Hong Kong	Myanmar	South Africa	Vietnam
China	Iran	Namibia	South Korea	Eswatini
Colombia	Israel	Nauru	Saint Kitts and Nevis	-

What documents are necessary for Russian citizens to apply for a visa?

Russian citizens planning to visit countries with pre-visa requirements must provide specific documents. The document prerequisites can vary depending on the destination country, but most commonly include:

• A valid Russian passport and a photocopy, with some countries stipulating validity for at least six months beyond the planned departure date.
• Completion of a visa application form.
• Fresh passport photos taken within the last six months.
• Comprehensive travel health insurance that covers the entire duration of your stay.
• Confirmation of visa fee payment.
• A comprehensive travel itinerary indicating all intended destinations.
• A letter of invitation if applicable.
• Proof of a return flight ticket reservation.
• Evidence of booked accommodation.
• Demonstrated financial means to cover the trip.
• Civil status documents, such as marriage certificates and birth certificates, as required.

Here is the Step-By-Step Process for Applying for a Visa:

• Schedule an appointment at the visa center in Russia: You must contact a local visa application center in your home country and arrange a meeting to submit your application. Please note that scheduling with the embassy or consulate may require several months.
• Prepare your documents: To ensure a successful application, gather the necessary documents for your visa, including your passport, application form, and health insurance, among others. Some documents may require verification with an apostille stamp or certification by a foreign office.
• Submit your application: Finally, you can submit your application and attend a visa interview, which may also involve providing your biometrics. After translating your documents as per the embassy or consulate requirements and obtaining apostille stamps where possible, you can proceed with the submission. Following this step, it will take several weeks for a decision regarding your visa application.

What countries issue eVisa to Russian citizens?

Russian passport holders can obtain e-Visas for entry into 22 countries:

Albania	Burkina Faso	Kenya	Nigeria
Angola	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Papua New  Guinea	South Sudan
Benin	Ivory Coast	Lesotho	Togo
Bhutan	Equatorial Guinea	India	Uganda
Cameroon	Ethiopia	Malawi	-
Djibouti	Guinea	Montserrat	-

Here are some important considerations for e-visa applications:

• To obtain an e-visa, you must complete an application on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and this should be done no earlier than 40 days and no later than four days before your planned trip.
• The e-visa provided is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and permits a stay in Russia for up to 16 days.
• To apply for an e-visa, you must provide a digital photo and a scan of your passport's information page.
• This e-visa allows for various purposes, including tourism, business, and guest visits, and participation in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, and sporting events.
• The e-visa extension process will be handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation or its regional offices. This extension can occur at the location where a foreign citizen is registered for migration purposes. In cases where there is no migration registration at the place of stay, the extension may take place at the actual place of stay by obtaining a regular (non-electronic) visa.

Steps to apply for an e-Visa:

• Find the country's embassy or consulate online and submit an online application. On their Foreign Ministry websites, certain nations may also offer eVisa applications. Make sure you look at every legitimate source online.
• Fill out the application form, ensuring you have an active email address and your passport readily available for input.
• Attach the required documents, scanning and uploading them as file attachments according to specified size and format instructions during the application process.
• Once you've completed your application and attached the necessary documents, the next step is to proceed with the payment of the application fee. Payment is conducted through a credit card.
• Upon successful application, you'll receive a confirmation email from the embassy/consulate, which usually contains a numerical code for border crossings to verify your visa status. Additionally, you'll receive a confirmation document that should be printed and carried during travel, as it may be needed at border patrol. In some cases, the visa receipt may suffice.

How to buy Travel Insurance from Policybazaar.ae

To acquire travel insurance through Policybazaar.ae, follow these steps:

• Visit the official Policybazaar.ae website.
• Opt for the travel insurance purchase option.
• Fill out the online application form, including essential information such as travel dates, destination, and email address.
• Pick the preferred health insurance plan for purchase.
• Complete the premium payment securely online.
• The traveller will subsequently receive the policy document's digital copy via email.

Policybazaar.ae helps in facilitating hassle-free travel insurance for Russian passport holders visiting visa-free countries. The platform offers various travel insurance plans, allowing travellers to select coverage tailored to their specific needs, whether it's medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost baggage, or other concerns.