The Russian government is expected to announce the Visa program restart date by 1 June. Citizens of the specified countries may get a visa for up to six months if they have a hotel reservation.
The countries include: India, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Türkiye and the Philippines.
Getting a visa to travel internationally can be a tedious process for citizens of China sometimes. The e-Visa program designed for Russian entry usually requires many documents and at least 4 days for processing. Chinese residents do not have access to this program yet.
Once you do, you can get a visa online. Until the program is opened up to Chinese citizens, you will have to go to a consulate or embassy to apply for a Russian visa.
Questions and Solutions | The e-Visa Program for Russia for Citizens of China
Length of Stay Allowed with a Russian e-Visa
8 days is the limit for being in Russia with an e-Visa. Depending on your circumstances and travel restrictions and your visa policy, it could be a little longer or a little shorter.
Crossing Regional Borders with a Russian Visa
Most regions require their own visa to enter them. For example, you cannot use a Kaliningrad visa to cross into the Far East region of Russia.
The Russia e-Visa Application: Documents & Information Required
For the online application for the Russia e-Visa, you will at minimum, need:
- Passport-Style Photos - Colored photos only, white background, ratio of 3.5 x 4.5
- Valid Passport - Your passport needs to be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the last day you plan to be in Russia. Have a couple of blank pages for stamping purposes.
- Health Insurance Policy - For the length of your stay in Russia, you must prove you have adequate health insurance for emergencies.
- Invitation Letter - You can request an invitation letter from your Russian tour operator or the hotel or hostel you plan to stay at while in the country. In many cases, an invitation letter from a natural or legal person who currently lives in Russia is also accepted and can be used for business, study, tourism, or personal reasons. If you are lodging in different regions of Russia, you will need an invitation letter from each host of your stay.
Are there areas of Russia that require special permits?
You’ll need a special travel permit to enter some or all of the following areas of Russia:
- Part of Astrakhan Oblast
- Part of Kamchatka Krai
- Part of Primorsky Krai
- Part of Krasnoyarsk Krai
- Part of Orenburg Oblast
- Part of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
- Parts of Chelyabinsk Oblast.
- Within Leningrad Oblast region - all Russian islands of the Gulf of Finland, except Gogland, and a 12-mile (20 km) strip along the south coast of the Gulf of Finland
- Parts of Moscow Oblast
- Around 15% of Kaliningrad Oblast
- Part of Volgograd Oblast
- Part of The Republic of Mordovia
- Parts of Murmansk Oblast and the Republic of Karelia. Transit to and from Norway is likely by the primary roadway.
- Parts of Arkhangelsk Oblast (include South part of Novaya Zemlya island) and the Komi Republic
- Parts of Sverdlovsk Oblast
- Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, yet the Bilibino region is an exception
- Part of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug
- The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, 45% of the territory. Transit to the border with Georgia and to the border with South Ossetia are possible along the main roads. Tsey Gorge is open to foreigners since 2012.
Expiry Date for Russian e-Visas
Find the “Date of Issuance” on the visa and add thirty days. There is a 30-day window to use your e-Visa for Russia once it is issued.
It is currently required to apply no less than 4 days before you travel to Russia and no more than 20 days before your intended arrival date even though you have a 30-day window.
Crimea, Ukraine, and the Russia e-Visa Program
While Crimea is contesting Russia over its independence, Russia legally has dominion over Crimea, so a Russian e-Visa may work if you plan to go there. It is always good to talk to a Russian consulate representative before planning to go to Crimea.
You will need to meet the requirements for Ukraine’s distinct visa program if you plan to go there. Use our Visa Checker Tool to see if you must get a visa for Ukraine.
Entry Limits for the Russia e-Visa
You’re allowed one entry into Russia if you are holding a “single entry” visa.
What regions of Russia currently accept e-Visas?
The following regions of Russia currently allow foreign citizens to enter the borders with a valid e-Visa:
- St. Petersburg
- Leningrad
- The Far East
- Kaliningrad Oblast
You can use our Visa Checker Tool to see if you qualify for any regional e-Visas for Russia.
Russian e-Visa: Valid Travel Reasons
Currently, the Russian e-Visa can be used for various purposes: business travel, tourism, and humanitarian reasons (in sports, culture, science, and technology).
The e-Visa Program of the Russian Federation | Getting Started for China Citizens
We know that traveling from China to Russia seems like it should be easy. And it usually is, but you need to have the right documentation or you could be turned away at the border.
The e-Visa program is expanding all the time for tourists going to Russia. Be sure to check back frequently to see when China nationals can use this innovative program.
