Russia to relaunch e-Visa on August 1
Russia will resume its electronic visa service on August 1, 2023, after a three-year suspension, allowing travelers from 52 countries—including EU and non-friendly nations—to enter for tourism or business.
Russia will resume its electronic visa (e-Visa) service on August 1, 2023, the Kremlin announced. The online visa, suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, will once again be available to eligible travelers from the start of August.
Is this a public relations push?
For months, Russia has signaled to the international community—through repeated claims of an imminent e-Visa relaunch—that it seeks a swift return to normalcy. Yet multiple delays have cast doubt on these assurances, until now. While many countries restored digital visa systems long ago, Russia persisted with in-person embassy applications until this year. That is set to change, as the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a web statement that international travelers will soon be able to obtain e-Visas starting August 1.*
Who qualifies for the Russian e-Visa?
According to the ministry’s announcement, citizens from 52 countries will be eligible for the electronic visa. During its previous launch in 2020, more than 50 nationalities were included. It is expected that most, if not all, of these nationalities will be able to apply in August—including nationals from "non-friendly" countries (as officially designated by Russia). Eligible nationalities include those from the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), as well as China, India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, and others. Myanmar and Cambodia may also be added to the list.
Under the upcoming e-Visa rules, travelers will apply online and receive a visa allowing a single entry for purposes such as tourism, business, sports, cultural, scientific, socio-political, or economic events. The visa will be valid for 60 days, during which time the holder must enter Russia. Once inside, the e-Visa allows a stay of up to 16 days. Russia has equipped 92 border crossing points with the necessary scanning technology to verify e-Visas, enabling access by air, land, or sea.
The Russian mission in Turkmenistan has stated that it will no longer accept paper visa applications after August 1, 2023, citing a "major change" in processing procedures.
With the August 1 launch date imminent, further delays appear unlikely. The e-Visa will serve as a unified entry permit across Russia, aligning with the country’s push to facilitate travel and boost international visitor numbers to support its tourism sector.
*The announcement was made via the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website.
A specialist in regulatory monitoring and a content destination expert, she analyzes daily changes in entry formalities to turn complex administrative processes into practical guides. Her role blends ground-level expertise with technical precision to ensure the reliability of the information provided to travelers.
