Russia e-Visa Checklist — Documents, Photo & Processing

The Russian unified e-visa is applied for online through the MFA consular site. This checklist sets out the eligibility, documents, photo rules, application window and validity that the official site publishes. Verified against the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-visa site (evisa.kdmid.ru), October 2026.

What the e-visa is

The unified e-visa is available to citizens of the countries on a list approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. It is a single-entry visa valid for 120 days from the date of issue, and the permitted stay is no more than 30 days from the date of entry. It covers private or business visits, tourism, and participation in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic and sporting events.

Note: the 30-day period is not 720 hours. The day of arrival and the day of departure are each counted as a day, so plan the stay on calendar days.

Documents and conditions

• No invitation, hotel booking confirmation or other proof of purpose is required to apply.
• A machine-readable passport issued by your country of nationality, valid for at least 6 months from the date of application, with enough blank pages for stamps.
• A complete date of birth on the passport — if the passport does not show the full date of birth, the application will not be accepted.
• A digital passport data-page image (JPEG) and a digital portrait photo (JPEG) that meets the specification.
• A bank card to pay the fee (payment is non-refundable).
• Medical insurance valid in Russia for the whole stay (waived for certain reciprocal countries).
• Each accompanying child needs their own separate e-visa application.

Photo requirements

The digital portrait must follow the official specification:

• Taken within the last 6 months, showing your current appearance; a single person, no other objects or people.
• Face forward, head not tilted or turned, looking straight at the camera, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes clearly open, hair not covering the eyes.
• Even lighting, no shadows, no flash reflection, no red-eye.
• A plain light background, with no shadows.
• Headwear is allowed for religious reasons only if it does not cover the face; the face must be clearly visible from the chin to the top of the forehead.
• Glasses: both eyes must be clearly visible, with no reflection and no tinted lenses, and frames that do not obscure the eyes.
• Show the top of the head and the shoulders; the head is centred, full from the hairline/crown to the chin, nose on the centre line, with the face covering 70–80% of the photo.
• No border; a rectangle in a 35×45 ratio; neutral colour with natural skin tones; sharp focus.

How to apply

1. Create a personal account on the site (or via the MFA app).
2. Give consent for automated data processing.
3. Complete the form online — no earlier than 86 days and no later than 4 days before your planned entry.
4. Pay the fee by card (non-refundable).
5. Wait for processing — usually no more than 4 calendar days. If a correction is needed, the application is returned within 2 days of submission and re-submitting restarts the clock.
6. When it shows 'Processing completed', download the PDF.
7. Print or save the e-visa notification and show it at boarding and border control.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an invitation or hotel booking for a Russian e-visa?
No. Applicants for the unified e-visa are not required to submit an invitation letter, hotel booking confirmation or any other document confirming the purpose of travel.

How long before travel can I apply for the Russian e-visa?
No earlier than 86 days and no later than 4 days before your planned entry into Russia.

How long does the Russian e-visa take?
Processing usually takes no more than 4 calendar days. If the application needs correction it is returned within 2 days of submission, and re-submitting restarts the processing time.

How long is the Russian e-visa valid, and how long can I stay?
It is a single-entry visa valid for 120 days from the date of issue, with a permitted stay of no more than 30 days from the date of entry. The 30 days are counted as calendar days — the day of arrival and the day of departure each count as a day.

What photo do I need for the Russian e-visa?
A digital portrait taken within the last 6 months on a plain light background, with no tinted or reflecting glasses, the face clearly visible from chin to forehead and covering 70–80% of the frame, in a borderless 35×45 rectangle ratio.

Does each child need a separate e-visa?
Yes. Every accompanying child must have their own separate e-visa application.

Check any passport photo you need against the rejection reasons guide and the passport photo checker, browse the photo size chart, and shoot at home with the at-home photo guide. Digital upload rules are in the digital file requirements.

Source note: the eligibility, no-invitation rule, document and photo requirements, application window (86 to 4 days), 4-day processing, 120-day validity and 30-day stay are from the Russian MFA e-visa site evisa.kdmid.ru (checked October 2026).