Russia

🇷🇺

Prefisso Telefonico

+7

Capitale

Moscow

Popolazione

144 milioni

Nome Nativo

Россия

Regione

Europa

Europa orientale

Fusi Orari

Anadyr Time[4

UTC+12:00

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Denaro e ValutaPanoramica VistiTipi di VistoNote ImportantiCittàAmbasciate all'esteroAmbasciate nel paese

Russia (Russian Federation) is the world's largest country by land area, spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia across 11 time zones from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Moscow serves as the capital and largest city (12+ million, metropolitan 20+ million). Russia has a population of approximately 144 million. The country has complex history as Tsarist Russian Empire, Soviet Union (1922-1991), and modern Russian Federation (1991-present). Russia is culturally and historically significant as a major world power with rich literary, musical, artistic, and scientific traditions. Modern Russia is renowned for iconic architecture including Moscow's Kremlin and Red Square (UNESCO sites), St. Petersburg's Hermitage Museum and imperial palaces, the Trans-Siberian Railway (world's longest railway line connecting Moscow to Vladivostok, 9,289km), Lake Baikal (world's deepest and oldest freshwater lake), Golden Ring historic towns, diverse landscapes from tundra to subtropical Black Sea coast, ballet and classical music heritage, and matryoshka dolls. Tourism attracts millions annually despite complex visa requirements. Major destinations include Moscow (Red Square, Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, Bolshoi Theatre), St. Petersburg (Hermitage, Peterhof Palace, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, White Nights), Trans-Siberian Railway journey, Lake Baikal, Golden Ring (Suzdal, Vladimir, Sergiev Posad), Kazan (Tatar capital), and Kamchatka Peninsula (volcanoes, wildlife). Russia offers e-visa system for 53 countries allowing 16-day stays in specific regions, while traditional visas require invitation letters and complex procedures. Government travel advisories from multiple countries recommend reconsidering travel or advise against non-essential travel to Russia.

Visa Requirements for Russia

Russia has complex visa requirements with two main pathways: e-visa (simplified online system for 53 countries) and traditional tourist visa (requiring invitation letter). The e-visa system, introduced to boost tourism, allows citizens of 53 countries including most EU nations, Singapore, Japan, China, India, and others to obtain 16-day single-entry visas online for specific regions (currently: Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, Far Eastern Federal District including Vladivostok, and some other areas - Moscow NOT included in e-visa zones as of latest information). Application costs approximately $40, processing takes 4 calendar days, requires passport scan, photo, and travel insurance. Passport must be valid 6 months beyond entry. For countries not eligible for e-visa or for longer stays/broader access, traditional tourist visa required through Russian consulates/visa centers. Traditional visa requires hotel booking confirmation or tourist voucher from registered Russian tour operator, travel insurance (minimum €30,000 coverage), invitation letter, visa application form, passport photos, and consular fee ($160-200 depending on processing speed). Processing takes 4-20 business days. Russian visa system is bureaucratic and strict - errors in applications cause rejections. Multiple government travel advisories are in effect: The UK Foreign Office, US State Department, Australian DFAT, German Foreign Office, Swiss FDFA, and Canadian Global Affairs recommend reconsidering travel or advise against non-essential travel to Russia citing various factors. Travelers should consult current official government advisories. Entry procedures involve passport control, customs declarations, and migration card (keep until departure). US and UK citizens face additional scrutiny. Russia has suspended visa-free transit for many countries. Overstaying visas results in fines, detention, and future entry bans.

Tipi di Visto Comuni

E-Visa (Simplified Electronic Visa)

16 days maximum stay, single entry; available to citizens of 53 countries including EU members (except UK which is not eligible), Singapore, Japan, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others; apply online through evisa.kdmid.ru; costs approximately $40; processing 4 calendar days; requires passport scan (valid 6+ months), digital photo, travel dates, entry point selection, travel insurance valid in Russia (minimum coverage); approval sent by email; print and present on arrival; valid for specific regions only: Kaliningrad Oblast, St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, Far Eastern Federal District (Vladivostok, Kamchatka, Sakhalin), and some other designated areas - Moscow and most of European Russia NOT accessible on e-visa; must enter and exit through same federal district; no extensions possible; straightforward online process when eligible; introduced to boost tourism; check current e-visa eligible regions as coverage may expand.

For tourism, business, or humanitarian purposes for citizens of 53 eligible countries in designated Russian regions (NOT including Moscow).

Tourist Visa (Traditional)

30 days typically (single or double entry), up to 1 year for multiple entry available in some cases; apply at Russian consulate, embassy, or visa application center (many countries use VFS Global or similar services); requirements include completed application form (online through visa portal), passport (valid 6+ months with blank pages), passport photos (2, specific size requirements), invitation letter/tourist voucher from registered Russian tour operator or hotel (arranged by traveler or travel agency, costs $20-50), confirmed accommodation bookings, travel itinerary, travel insurance valid in Russia (minimum €30,000 medical coverage), consular fee ($160-200 depending on urgency - standard 4-10 days, express 3 days, urgent 1 day cost more); processing varies by consulate workload; approval grants visa sticker in passport; must enter/exit within visa validity dates; strict adherence to stated itinerary expected though enforcement varies; extensions difficult and expensive (done through Russian migration office); tourist visa process is bureaucratic - errors cause rejections; using visa agencies ($50-150 additional fee) simplifies process for many travelers.

For tourism purposes, requires invitation/tourist voucher, available through Russian consulates for all nationalities, necessary for Moscow access and longer stays.

Business Visa

30 days to 1 year depending on invitation; requires official invitation from registered Russian company or organization (issued through Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs); invitation specifies visa duration and number of entries; application similar to tourist visa but with business invitation instead of tourist voucher; requires company registration documents, purpose of business, meeting details; consular fees $160-300 depending on duration and processing speed; multiple-entry business visas (90 days, 180 days, 1 year) available with appropriate invitations; allows business activities but not employment (work permit required for employment); renewal possible; commonly used by frequent business travelers to Russia; business invitation can be arranged through Russian partners or specialized invitation services ($100-300).

For business meetings, conferences, and commercial activities, requires Russian company invitation.

Transit Visa

Up to 3 days; required when transiting Russia by land, rail (Trans-Siberian Railway passengers transiting Russia to Mongolia/China need transit visas), or in some cases air transit requiring leaving airport; requirements include passport, onward ticket to third country, visa for destination country (if required), transit route details, consular fee; processing faster than tourist visa (1-5 days typically); train passengers on Trans-Siberian crossing Russia need transit visas unless holding Russian tourist visa; transit visa holders cannot leave designated transit route; some nationalities require airport transit visas even without leaving international zone; Chinese and Indian citizens among those requiring airport transit visas for connections; verify requirements as policies change frequently.

For transiting through Russian territory to third country, required for most nationalities even for airport transit in some cases.

Important Travel Information

Government Travel Advisories and Entry Considerations: Multiple governments maintain travel advisories for Russia. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), US Department of State, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), German Federal Foreign Office, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), and Canadian Global Affairs all provide advisories recommending reconsidering travel or advising against non-essential travel to the Russian Federation. These advisories cite various factors that travelers should independently research through official government sources. Some governments note potential for detention of foreign nationals and limitations on consular assistance. US and UK citizens in particular are advised to carefully review their government's current travel advisories. The security situation and entry requirements can change. International payment systems including Visa and Mastercard suspended operations in Russia, making foreign credit cards unusable - cash (Rubles or Euros/USD for exchange) essential. Travelers should consult current official travel advisories from their respective foreign ministries before planning travel to Russia.

Complex Visa Application Process: Russian visa applications are notoriously bureaucratic and detail-oriented. Even minor errors (misspelled names, incorrect dates, missing information) result in rejection and require reapplication with new fees. Key challenges include: invitation letter requirement (tourist voucher from registered tour operator costs $20-50 and must specify exact hotels and dates), travel insurance requirement (must be valid in Russia and show Cyrillic text or Russian company certification), strict photo requirements (specific dimensions, light background, no glasses), multiple-page application forms requiring extensive personal information including employment history and travel history, and varying processing times by consulate (some Russian consulates have backlogs). Solutions: using visa support agencies ($50-150 service fee) streamlines process as they verify documents before submission and have experience with consulate requirements; applying well in advance (6-8 weeks before travel) allows time for corrections if rejected; double-checking all information matches passport exactly; ensuring invitation matches accommodation bookings; having all documents translated to Russian if originals in other languages. Russian consulates are known for strict interpretation of rules. E-visa system is simpler but limited to specific regions excluding Moscow.

Trans-Siberian Railway Epic Journey: The Trans-Siberian Railway is one of the world's great train journeys, connecting Moscow to Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific coast - 9,289 kilometers (5,772 miles) through 8 time zones, taking approximately 6-7 days for the complete journey. Three main routes exist: Trans-Siberian (Moscow-Vladivostok via Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude), Trans-Manchurian (Moscow-Beijing via Harbin, China), and Trans-Mongolian (Moscow-Beijing via Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia). Most travelers take segments rather than the full journey, with popular stops including Yekaterinburg (Europe-Asia border marker, Romanov execution site), Novosibirsk (Siberia's largest city), Irkutsk (gateway to Lake Baikal, 70km away), Ulan-Ude (Buddhist temples, Buryat culture), and Vladivostok (Pacific port city). Train classes range from platskartny (open dormitory, cheapest, $200-400 Moscow-Vladivostok), to kupe (4-berth compartments, $400-800), to spalny vagon/SV (2-berth compartments, luxury, $800-1,500+). Golden Eagle luxury train offers 5-star experience ($15,000-30,000+ for full journey). Tickets bookable via Russian Railways (rzd.ru, Russian language website challenging), or through agencies (Real Russia, Sundowners Overland). Visas required: Russian tourist visa for segments in Russia (or transit visa if only crossing), plus Mongolian and Chinese visas if applicable. Best months: June-September (summer warmth, long daylight); winter offers frozen Lake Baikal and snow-covered landscapes but extreme cold (-30°C common). The journey provides unparalleled views of Russian vastness, encounters with locals, and adventure.

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