Is Russia Reviving Its Electronic Visa?
Russia may reintroduce its eVisa system on July 1, 2023, following a two-year pause amid COVID-19 and geopolitical challenges, offering up to 16-day stays for tourists and business travelers from eligible countries.
News broke on Tuesday, May 23: Russia’s Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Reshetnikov, announced that the government “is working to resume an electronic visa scheme” starting July 1.
The initial eVisa program, introduced via a 2020 law, allowed passport holders from 53 countries—including EU nations—to visit Russia for tourism, business, humanitarian purposes, or to visit family and friends. The electronic visa enabled stays of up to 16 days with single entry through 92 designated border points.
The program was suspended in January 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), the country saw a 96.1% drop in foreign visitor numbers over two years—200,000 tourists in 2022, down from 5 million in 2019.
Beyond the temporary eVisa halt, factors such as restricted airspace with most of Europe and the unavailability of Visa and Mastercard cards issued by foreign banks contributed to the dramatic decline in tourism.
A revived eVisa could help revitalize Russia’s struggling tourism sector, especially with potential expansions to include new eligible nationalities. However, the government has yet to release specifics. Travelers should check for updates in July to see whether the Russian eVisa will make a comeback.
