Restrictions for travelers and passengers on international flights entering Russian Federation

Restrictions for travelers and passengers on international flights entering Russian Federation.

Due to Covid-19 pandemic the international borders of all countries including the Russian Federation implemented travel restrictions.

Below you can find a summary of regulations related to foreign travelers that are currently in place in the Russian Federation. However, we strongly advise you to check the latest updates on the websites of the airlines and the Government of the Russian Federation

Global travel continues to be impacted by Covid-19 and remains unpredictable. Your plans may be disrupted at short notice. Be aware of the risk of traveling at this time and make informed decisions by regularly checking the advice of local authorities.

COVID-19 test requirements.

Foreign citizens traveling to the Russian Federation, including passengers in transit though Russian airports upon check-in and boarding must submit a medical document - certificate in Russian or English showing a negative Covid-19 PCR test result obtained no earlier than three (3) calendar days before arrival to Russian Federation.

The validity of the PCR test certificate is calculated starting from the date the biological material was collected. In most cases all airlines implement same rules for passengers who cannot present a valid certificate. Those passengers will be denied boarding the flight to Russian Federation.

Foreign nationals arriving for work purposes are required to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival regardless of the provided medical tests results. The cost of compulsory self-isolation is not covered by the government of Russian Federation and must be self-organised before arrival to final destination.

Following the updates on the gradual restoration of scheduled air traffic, please refer to the list of countries with which the Russian Federation resumed international air service.

Visas of all categories shall be issued only to citizens and residents of the below listed countries. Citizens and residents of the below mentioned countries will be allowed to travel to Russia from any of the below listed countries, provided that they can present a valid identification document, a document confirming their right to permanent residence in one of the below listed countries and a visa (unless entering through a visa-free regime as stipulated by international agreements with the Russian Federation).

• Albania
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• China (inlcuding Hong Cong, Macao and Taiwan)
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Djibouti
• Dominican Republic
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kuwait
• Kenya
• Kyrgyzstan
• Lebanon
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Moldova
• Mongolia
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Oman
• Peru
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Republic of Korea
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Thailand
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• UAE
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Uzbekistan
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

VISA requirement for all foreign nationals entering the Russian Federation:

Travelers are reminded that they must obtain a visa (unless entering through a visa-free regime as stipulated by the international treaties of the Russian Federation).

Russian Government had lunched several initiatives to boost international tourism, including designing a new unified E-visa for eligible travelers. The issuance of electronic E-visa has been suspended in Russia to allow for better screening procedures against COVID-19. Suspension will remain in place until further notice.

Currently the entry to the Russian Federation of foreign citizens of other countries, as well as stateless persons, is restricted until further notice. Due to travel restrictions only limited visa categories are being issued.

Categories of persons authorized to enter the Russian Federation:

1. Accredited or appointed employees of diplomatic missions and consular posts of foreign states in the Russian Federation, as well as their family members.
2. Citizens of countries with which the Russian Federation has entered into international agreements on visa-free entry for citizens entering the Russian Federation with valid diplomatic and service passports, as well as diplomatic couriers.
3. Employees of international organisations and their representative offices, other official foreign representative offices located in the Russian Federation, as well as their family members.
4. Members of official foreign delegations entering the Russian Federation provided that they can present a visa (or through a visa-free regime as stipulated by international agreements with the Russian Federation).
5. Permanent residents of the Russian Federation who have a residence permit for a foreign/stateless person.
6. Family members (spouses, parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, adoptive parents, adopted children), legal guardians and caregivers of Russian citizens provided that they can present printed documentation confirming their relationship and a visa (or through a visa-free regime as stipulated by international agreements with the Russian Federation).
7. Individuals travelling to Russia due to the death of a close relative (spouses, parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, adoptive parents, adopted children) provided that they can present documentation confirming the death and relationship to the deceased
8. Individuals travelling for medical treatment provided that they can present documentation from the medical institution indicating the period of treatment and a visa (or through a visa-free regime as stipulated by international agreements with the Russian Federation).
9. Foreign citizens and stateless persons employed in the Russian Federation as highly qualified specialists, as well as their family members (spouses, parents, children, adoptive parents and adopted children), included on the list (indicating the state border checkpoint of entry into the Russian Federation and date of entry) that has been provided to the Federal Security Service of Russia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia by the federal executive authority that has charge of the organisation that has employed or contracted the person (the list can also be provided by the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom). Entry into the Russian Federation is only allowed if the persons can present a valid identification document and a visa (unless entering through a visa-free regime as stipulated by the international treaties of the Russian Federation).
10. Persons participating in the adjustment and maintenance of foreign-made equipment specified in the list sent to the Federal Security Service of Russia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia by the federal executive authority that has charge of the organisation that is a customer of the foreign-made equipment (the list can also be provided by the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom).
11. Persons participating in quality control of equipment manufactured by Russian legal entities and supplied in accordance with contracts regulating the construction of nuclear facilities abroad, and within the framework of the implementation of international treaties of the Russian Federation, according to lists sent by the State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom" to the Federal Security Service of Russia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
12. Persons participating in the certification of new aircrafts and maintaining the airworthiness of domestically produced aircrafts of Russian operators according to the lists sent by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia to the Federal Security Service of Russia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
13. Persons entering the Russian Federation in order to carry out labor activities specified in the lists directed by Rostrud (Federal Service for Labour and Employment) through the Federal state information system "Unified portal of state and municipal services (functions)" to the departmental segment of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the State System responsible for Migration, Registration Accounting, issuing identity documents and control over their circulation, for subsequent sending to the corresponding departmental segment of the Federal Security Service of Russia.
14. Citizens of Ukraine and stateless persons who are permanent residents of specific areas of the Donetsk Region and Luhansk Region of Ukraine provided that they have a resident registration stamp of the Donetsk Region and Luhansk Region of Ukraine.
15. Individuals who were voluntarily resettled in the Russian Federation provided that they can present a visa (or through a visa-free regime as stipulated by international agreements with the Russian Federation).
16. Drivers of trucks of international road traffic, crews of air, sea and river vessels, train and locomotive crews of international transport communications, personnel included in the category of international agreements of the Russian Federation in the field of railway transport.
17. Persons crossing air border checkpoints of the Russian Federation for aircraft crew rotation, provided that they can present a valid identification document, a visa (unless entering through a visa-free regime as stipulated by the international treaties of the Russian Federation), a flight crew licence and an operational flight plan or an aircraft general declaration for this specific flight.
18. Passengers travelling for the rotation of crew on sea and river vessels in Russian ports provided that they have a visa (or through a visa-free regime as stipulated by international agreements with the Russian Federation), a seafarer's identity document, a crew list record or a crew list extract.
19. Foreign citizens travelling transit visa-free through Moscow (Sheremetyevo) to third countries with a confirmed onward ticket and a medical certificate (in Russian or English) confirming negative Covid-19 results (PCR test) from a test conducted no earlier than 72 hours before the scheduled departure.
20. Persons who have obtained a permit for resettlement in the Russian Federation (in accordance with Agreement Between the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan on the Regulation of Resettlement and Protection of Immigrants' Rights dated 23 December 1993) and their family members provided that they are specified on the permit and can provide identification documents and resettlement permits obtained in accordance with the Agreement mentioned above.
21. Persons who have obtained a permit for resettlement in the Russian Federation (in accordance with Agreement Between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Latvia on the Regulation of Resettlement and Protection of Immigrants' Rights dated 2 June 1993) and their family members provided that they are specified on the permit and can provide identification documents recognized by the Russian Federation in this capacity, and a visa.
22. Persons employed in the Russian Federation as highly qualified specialists in the field of sports and their family members (spouse, parents, children, adopted children, adoptive parents), as well as persons who are taking part in sports events in the Russian Federation and their family members (spouse, parents, children, adopted children, adoptive parents) included on the list (indicating the state border checkpoint of entry into the Russian Federation and date of entry) that has been provided to the Federal Security Service of Russia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) by the Russian Ministry of Sports (Minsport) provided that they can present a valid identification document and an ordinary work visa or an ordinary humanitarian visa obtained to attend a sporting event (or through a visa-free regime as stipulated by international agreements with the Russian Federation).
23. Persons who travel to the Russian Federation for the purpose of caring for their close relatives (spouses, parents, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, adoptive parents, adopted children), legal guardians or caregivers who are ill and need care, subject to the presentation of valid identification documents recognised by the Russian Federation and visas (or through a visa-free regime as stipulated by international agreements with the Russian Federation), as well as documents (printed copies) issued by a medical facility and proving their condition and printed copies of documents confirming the relationship.
24. Genetic parents of children born on the territory of the Russian Federation by surrogate mothers entering the Russian Federation for the purpose of state registration of the birth of a child, whose details were sent by the Ministry of Health of Russia to the Federal Security Service of Russia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, provided that these persons present valid identification documents recognized by the Russian Federation in this capacity, and visas (or through a visa-free regime as stipulated by international agreements with the Russian Federation).

Please note! As the rules and restrictions of international travel during the Covid-19 pandemic changes, we will keep updating the information as it comes and available. Nevertheless, we strongly recommend you to check the latest updates provided by your airline and respective authorities.

Migration card upon arrival to Russia

All foreign visitors receive a migration card on arrival in Russia. If you receive a paper migration card, keep the stamped exit portion of the card with your passport. You will need to show the stamped card to passport control when leaving the country. If you lose your migration card your departure could be delayed or/and you could be stopped from staying at a hotel in Russia. You can get a replacement from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Registering your stay in Russia

If you stay for more than seven (7) days including days of arrival and departure, you will need to register with the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and pay a registration fee. Most hotels can do this for their guests, but you remain legally responsible. Please confirm with check-in staff on arrival to make sure that they have completed your registration. If you are not staying at a hotel, you can register at the nearest post office.

In case if you are traveling on a work visa, registration can be done by your employer. You will need to check with your employer/sponsor whether they have completed your registration. Registration of your stay in Russia is important, please make sure you don´t overlook your registration to avoid eventual delays during your departure.