Russia transit visa

Unless your nationality is visa-exempt, holders of ordinary passports enter Russia on a visa issued under Russian law. Nationals of the 64 countries on the official e-visa list can replace the consular visa with the unified e-visa for private, business or tourist trips of up to 30 days; other nationals should ask the Russian mission responsible for their country of residence which rules apply to their passport.

Under Article 25.7 of the Law on Exit and Entry, a transit visa is issued for up to ten days. Article 29 says transit through Russia is normally made without the right to stop, and border guards expect a Russian transit visa, or the visa of the next country on your route or of the destination country, together with onward tickets valid for leaving Russia or a confirmed guarantee of buying them at the transfer point.

Article 31 allows visa-free transit when you fly over Russia without landing, or when you change planes at a Russian airport on an international route, hold the documents needed to enter your destination and have a ticket with a confirmed departure from that airport within 24 hours of arrival. If you want to stop in a Russian city, Article 30 allows a visa with the right to stop on a reasoned request with supporting documents; for a stopover of up to 30 days the e-visa is often simpler, provided you use the listed border points.

Passport, application form, photo, onward tickets showing the route through Russia, the visa for the destination country if needed and medical insurance.

The fee depends on your nationality, the number of entries (single, double or multiple) and the processing time you choose; urgent processing costs more than standard processing. Check the fee table published by the Russian mission where you apply and confirm it when you book.

Regular visas are applied for at the Russian embassy or consulate responsible for your country of residence. Each mission publishes on its website how to book an appointment and where to hand in the file. Complete the Foreign Ministry's electronic visa application form first, then lodge the file in person.

The data entered online must match the documents exactly. The decision to issue or refuse the visa always rests with the Russian consular post that examines it.

Within seven working days of arriving at your place of stay, the receiving party (a hotel, landlord, employer or university) must notify the migration authorities of your arrival under the Law on Migration Registration. Keep the tear-off part of the notification and your migration card, which you receive at the border, until departure. Overstaying or working outside your visa purpose can lead to fines, expulsion and an entry ban.

Article 32 treats a stay of more than 24 hours in a town as a forced stop when it is caused by a natural disaster delaying the train, car, ship or plane, repair of a damaged vehicle, an illness that makes onward travel dangerous according to a doctor, or unforeseen delays when changing from one means of transport to another. In that case the local office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs registers your stay and extends the transit visa on your application.