Russian express visa fees now up to four times the standard rate

A single-entry ordinary or business visa costs $50 USD €45.36 with normal processing, but $200 USD €181.43 for express processing within three working days. The updated fee schedule applies to all applications submitted at consulates from 14 October 2026, regardless of the traveler’s nationality.

New fee schedule set by Decree No. 1292

Decree No. 1292, signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, revises the consular fee structure established in 2010 by Decree No. 889. It was published on 6 October on the Russian government’s official legal portal and took effect from 14 October.

The updated decree replaces the old ordinary and transit visa fee tables entirely. It now only lists two processing timelines: from 4 to 20 working days (normal), or express within 3 working days. All amounts are now in US dollars.

Russian media reported the change as a doubling of emergency fees. The decree itself does not reference the old fees but sets new rates where the express procedure is now four times the normal price for most visa types, including business visas.

What a Russian visa costs from 14 October 2026

The new fees fall into three main categories: work, study, and “other ordinary visas.” The “other” category covers visitor, private, humanitarian, and (most commonly) business and tourism visas—applying to most travelers.

A single-entry work visa now shares the same normal and express fee structure as a temporary residence permit.

Express costs four times more, except for study visas

For single-entry work and transit visas, the fee multiplier remains consistent—four times the normal rate. Urgent processing on a single-entry tourism visa adds $150 USD €136.07 to the base cost, while the highest gap is seen in a multiple-entry work visa where applicants now pay an extra $900 USD €816.43].

Study visas are the exception. The express fee is only double the normal rate, ranging from $100 USD €90.71] for a single entry to $300 USD €272.14 for multiple entries.

The normal processing period stays a wide range: 4 to 20 working days. Submitting early secures the standard fee—only express processing within three working days guarantees the quoted higher rate.

The actual fee charged at the consulate may differ

The new decree sets base rates in US dollars, without adjustments based on nationality or separate bilateral agreements. It does not specify which currency each consulate will use to process payments. Since introduction, consulates have already seen discrepancies between posted fees and what travelers were charged since 14 October. Officials have not detailed how these differences occur but conversion rates and handling fees may play a role.

Always compare both fee amounts for normal and express processing against the official schedule published by the Russian consulate where you submit your application.

Electronic visas are unaffected

The updated fee schedule applies only to ordinary and transit visas issued at consulates. It does not impact the Russian unified electronic visa (e-visa), which allows stays of up to 30 days for eligible nationalities, as explained in our guide on opening the e-visa to Yakutsk Airport.

An official e-visa portal Russia’s foreign ministry website lists non-refundable fees payable in advance online. Though press reports mentioned an e-visa price increase of roughly 18%, officials have not confirmed this at the time of writing.