Do Indians need a visa for Russia?

The rule

Unified e-visa (USD 52), single entry, valid 120 days from issue, issued within 4 calendar days.

• Official source

What "E-visa before travel" means for Indians

An e-visa is applied for and issued online before travel, with the approval linked to the passport number. Indians upload a passport scan, a photo and, depending on the route, proof of accommodation, funds and a return booking, then pay the government fee of ₹4,920. Decisions for Russia typically take 4–6 days; the approval must exist before the airline lets you board, and the stay is up to 30 days.

Before you apply

Apply as soon as the dates are fixed. Check that the passport has two blank pages and six months of validity, that the name on the booking matches the passport exactly and that bank statements cover the last three to six months without a sudden large deposit. Print or save the approval: airlines verify it at check-in and some borders ask to see it again. Vistolane runs the document checks before filing and shows the guaranteed filing date before you pay.

At the Russia border and during the stay

Russia sets a stay of up to 30 days, single, on a visa valid for 120 days from issue. The date written at the border is the one that counts, not the visa validity. Overstaying, even by a day, is recorded, usually fined and can lead to a refusal on the next application for Russia and for countries that share immigration data. Extensions, where they exist, are applied for inside the country before the stay ends; a new entry is not an extension and repeated back-to-back visits are refused at many borders.

When this rule does not apply

This answer is for ordinary India passports and short visits: tourism, visiting family and friends and business meetings without local employment. Study, work, family reunion, medical treatment and long stays follow different routes with their own fees and documents, listed on the Russia destination page. Note for this rule: Unified e-visa (USD 52), single entry, valid 120 days from issue, issued within 4 calendar days. Diplomatic and official passports, dual nationals travelling on a second passport and holders of a residence permit for a third country can fall under different rules; when in doubt, the official source linked above decides.

How this answer is kept current

The rule comes from Russia's own immigration authority or official e-visa portal and was last verified on 2026-10-22. The Vistolane operations team re-checks it when the government announces a change, and the page updates the same day. Airline summaries, travel forums and agency websites are never used as the source.

Russia for India passport holders: costs, documents and timing

Russia's unified e-visa is issued online within 4 calendar days for USD 52: single entry, valid 120 days from issue, stay up to 30 days. Only a scan of the passport data page and a digital photo are needed; the passport must be valid 6 months beyond the e-visa's expiry.

Russia's unified e-visa is issued online within 4 calendar days for USD 52: single entry, valid 120 days from issue, stay up to 30 days. Only a scan of the passport data page and a digital photo are needed; the passport must be valid 6 months beyond the e-visa's expiry.

How much does a Russia visa cost? From ₹6,950 per traveller all-in: ₹4,920 government fee plus ₹2,030 Vistolane filing fee. Premium ₹0, Business ₹0.

How long does a Russia visa take? 4–6 days (about 6 days); electronic-visa.kdmid.ru publishes 4 days. Vistolane shows the document deadline and filing date before you pay; the decision itself is the authority's.

What documents do I need for a Russia visa? Stay is up to 30 days within the 120-day validity; the e-visa is single entry. Hotel and flight bookings are not uploaded to the e-visa; carry them for the border. Passport valid 6 months beyond arrival with one blank page. The Russia checklist in your portal is built from the official list, so nothing extra is asked for.

How much bank balance do I need for a Russia visa? About ₹85,158 for a tourist visit, rising to ₹1.04 crore for the most demanding route, held steadily over three to six months rather than deposited last week. This is Vistolane's planning guideline, not an official minimum: Russia publishes no fixed figure unless its checklist states one.

Can I apply for the Russia visa online, or is it visa on arrival? Online. Russia issues the Unified e-visa (tourism, business, humanitarian) before you fly; it is not a visa on arrival.

How long can I stay in Russia on this visa? Up to 30 days; entry: single; validity 120 days from issue. Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.

Is an interview or biometrics required for Russia? No. Russia decides on the documents; there is no interview and no biometrics appointment for this route.

Applying for the Russia visa

Why are Russia visas refused? Bank statements that do not match the trip, weak evidence of ties or purpose, inconsistent bookings and form errors that contradict the passport. Each document is checked against the Russia list before Vistolane files it, and a refusal letter is decoded within 24 hours if you were refused before.

Can I apply for the Russia visa myself? Yes. The checklist on this page is the one Vistolane uses. Most applicants let Vistolane file the tourist and student routes because the guaranteed filing date and document checks remove the two main causes of refusal; other routes are matched with a licensed specialist.

Where else Indians travel without a visa

• Thailand: Visa-free
• Malaysia: Visa-free
• Nepal: Visa-free
• Bhutan: Visa-free
• Maldives: Visa on arrival
• Mauritius: Visa-free
• Qatar: Visa on arrival
• Jordan: Visa on arrival
• Hong Kong: Visa-free
• Philippines: Visa-free

Questions, answered