FAQ
Common questions.
How many countries can Russians visit without a visa?
24 of the 73 places we have checked let Russians in with no visa and no online pass, like Argentina, Chile and China. Another 4 let them in with an online pass first, like Israel, Kenya and South Korea. We have checked 73 of 199 places so far.
Where do Russians need a visa?
43 of the 73 places we have checked ask for a visa first, like Albania, Australia and Austria. 2 of them take applications online.
Where can Russians get a visa on arrival?
Indonesia and Maldives. You get the visa at the border, often for a fee.
How long can Russians stay?
30 days in 8 of the places they can enter without a visa. Each place sets its own limit, so check the table above. Schengen days count across all its states together.
How strong is the Russian passport?
It ranks 97th of 199 passports in our index, with 82 points. A passport gets 3 points for each place it can enter visa-free, 2 with an online pass, and 1 with a visa on arrival or a pass you must qualify for.
Is this every country?
Not yet. We have checked 73 of 199 places so far, each on its own official government page, and we add more as we go. Rules change, so check the official page before you travel.
Sources
- Albania: Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania: visa regime for foreign citizens (table by country) (punetejashtme.gov.al)
- Albania: Visa regime for foreigners (rules) (punetejashtme.gov.al)
- Albania: e-Visa portal (e-visa.al)
- Argentina: Dirección Nacional de Migraciones: Régimen de Visas (migraciones.gob.ar)
- Argentina: Argentina.gob.ar: Extranjeros, turistas (argentina.gob.ar)
- Argentina: DNM: AVE Global (Autorización de Viaje Electrónica) (migraciones.gob.ar)
- Argentina: Embajada en Alemania: visas de turismo (ealem.cancilleria.gob.ar)
- Argentina: Consulado General en Houston: visas (chous.cancilleria.gob.ar)
- Australia: Department of Home Affairs: Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
- Australia: Home Affairs: eVisitor (subclass 651) (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
- Australia: Home Affairs: Special Category visa (subclass 444) (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Visas, one page per country (choose a state from the list) (mvp.gov.ba)
- Canada: Justice Laws: Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227), s. 7.01, 7.1, 183, 190 and Schedule 1.1 (laws-lois.justice.gc.ca)
- Canada: Justice Laws XML of SOR/2002-227 (the copy read in full) (laws-lois.justice.gc.ca)
- Canada: IRCC: Find out if you need a visa or eTA (entry requirements by country), modified 2026-07-31 (canada.ca)
- Chile: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile (Consulado en línea): Información sobre Visas para ingresar a Chile (consulado.gob.cl)
- Chile: Consulado en línea: visa data file (SI/NO per nationality, stay, fee) (consulado.gob.cl)
- Chile: Consulado en línea: notes to the visa table (consulado.gob.cl)
- Chile: Servicio Nacional de Migraciones: tourists (serviciomigraciones.cl)
- China (mainland): National Immigration Administration: List of Countries Covered by Unilateral Visa Exemption Policies; and Details of Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements (en.nia.gov.cn)
- China (mainland): NIA: Details of Mutual Visa Exemption Agreements (as of April 2025) (en.nia.gov.cn)
- China (mainland): NIA: Q&A on visa-free entry under mutual agreements (30 days, 90 in 180 rule) (en.nia.gov.cn)
- China (mainland): MFA notice: Russia trial 15 Sep 2025 to 14 Sep 2026 (mfa.gov.cn)
- Colombia: Cancillería de Colombia: Lista de países que exigen visa de turismo a colombianos y nacionalidades a las que Colombia les exige visa de turismo (mayo 2026) (cancilleria.gov.co)
- Colombia: Cancillería: Países que exigen o eximen (cancilleria.gov.co)
- Colombia: Cancillería: ¿Necesito una visa? (cancilleria.gov.co)
- Costa Rica: Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería: Directrices Generales de Visas, published in Alcance 148 a La Gaceta 216, 17 Nov 2025 (Imprenta Nacional) (imprentanacional.go.cr)
- Costa Rica: DGME copy of the same directive (403 to curl and WebFetch, Cloudflare) (migracion.go.cr)
- Cyprus: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus: Categories of persons and countries whose nationals do not require a visa (checked against Regulation (EU) 2018/1806) (gov.cy)
- Cyprus: Cyprus MFA: countries whose nationals need a visa (gov.cy)
- Cyprus: Cyprus MFA: types of visa (gov.cy)
- Cyprus: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, consolidated 30 Dec 2025 (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Cyprus: EUR-Lex summary: EU visa waiver agreements (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Cyprus: EU-Micronesia visa waiver agreement (text of art 2 and 4) (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Cyprus: Official ETIAS site (Cyprus is on its country list as an EU member state outside Schengen) (travel-europe.europa.eu)
- Dominican Republic: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MIREX): Condiciones para extranjeros ingresar (consulta de requisitos, pasaporte ordinario, visa de turismo) (servicios360.mirex.gob.do)
- Dominican Republic: MIREX consulta de requisitos (iframe inside the servicios360 page); queried once per nationality with pasaporte Ordinario and Visa Turismo (TS) (consultas.mirex.gob.do)
- Dominican Republic: MIREX: Visas (Ley 875 de 1978 and Decreto 691-07) (servicios360.mirex.gob.do)
- Dominican Republic: Consulate in The Hague: Listado de países y condiciones de visado (dated 12 Feb 2015, out of date) (nld.mirex.gob.do)
- Georgia: Legislative Herald of Georgia (matsne.gov.ge): Ordinance No 255 of 5 June 2015, On Approval of the List of Countries Whose Citizens May Enter Georgia without a Visa, with its 8 amending ordinances (2017 to 2026) (matsne.gov.ge)
- Georgia: Same ordinance, Georgian page listing the 8 amending acts (matsne.gov.ge)
- Georgia: Latest amendment, 24 Feb 2026 (Ukrainian transitional stay to 24 Feb 2027) (matsne.gov.ge)
- Georgia: MFA e-Visa portal (no eligible country list published) (evisa.gov.ge)
- Hong Kong: Hong Kong Immigration Department: Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the HKSAR (immd.gov.hk)
- Hong Kong: Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals (immd.gov.hk)
- Hong Kong: Entry Arrangements for Mainland, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese Residents (immd.gov.hk)
- India: Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs: Visa free Regime & Visa on Arrival; and Indian e-Visa portal (eligible countries) (boi.gov.in)
- India: Indian e-Visa portal (eligible countries, FAQ) (indianvisaonline.gov.in)
- India: e-Arrival card (indianvisaonline.gov.in)
- Indonesia: Directorate General of Immigration (imigrasi.go.id): Daftar Subjek VoA, BVK & Calling Visa, with the official e-Visa site (evisa.imigrasi.go.id) (imigrasi.go.id)
- Indonesia: Visa on arrival subject list (imigrasi.go.id)
- Indonesia: Calling visa subject list (imigrasi.go.id)
- Indonesia: Official e-Visa site, visa selection (per passport) (evisa.imigrasi.go.id)
- Indonesia: All Indonesia arrival card (allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id)
- Ireland: Irish Immigration Service Delivery: Visa and Non-Visa Required Nationalities (checked against S.I. No. 473 of 2014 Schedule 1 as amended to S.I. No. 242 of 2026) (irishimmigration.ie)
- Ireland: Irish Statute Book: Visas Orders made under s.17 Immigration Act 2004 (list updated to 17 Sep 2026; latest is S.I. No. 242 of 2026) (irishstatutebook.ie)
- Ireland: Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 473 of 2014) (irishstatutebook.ie)
- Ireland: ISD: Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme (irishimmigration.ie)
- Ireland: ISD: British Irish Visa Scheme (irishimmigration.ie)
- Ireland: ISD: Common Travel Area (irishimmigration.ie)
- Israel: Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA): ETA-IL eligibility check (nationality, regular passport, tourism) (israel-entry.piba.gov.il)
- Israel: PIBA eligibility API behind the checker (POST per nationality: regular passport, biometric true and false); every passport queried 2026-10-11 (israel-entry.piba.gov.il)
- Israel: PIBA country table (NEED_PERMIT fields match the checker answers for every passport) (israel-entry.piba.gov.il)
- Israel: gov.il Tourist Visa Requirements for Foreign Nationals (Cloudflare 403 to curl and WebFetch) (gov.il)
- Japan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay) (mofa.go.jp)
- Japan: MOFA Japanese version (dated 令和7年9月1日 = 1 September 2025), same 74 places (mofa.go.jp)
- Kenya: Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya eTA portal (etakenya.go.ke): General Information (exemptions under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Rules, 2025) and the Eligibility country list (etakenya.go.ke)
- Kenya: How to Apply (same exemption list) (etakenya.go.ke)
- Macao: Macao SAR Government Portal (service of the Public Security Police Force): Immigration Clearance of Non-residents of Macao (gov.mo)
- Macao: PSP: Application for Macao Visa through Diplomatic Missions of China (same 6 countries) (fsm.gov.mo)
- Macao: Prior Authorization to Enter (for the same 6 nationalities, limited cases) (gov.mo)
- Malaysia: Immigration Department of Malaysia: Visa Requirement by Country (imi.gov.my)
- Malaysia: IMI: FAQ Malaysia - China Mutual Visa Exemption (imi.gov.my)
- Malaysia: Malaysian Consulate Los Angeles (MFA): MDAC within 3 days before arrival (kln.gov.my)
- Maldives: Maldives Immigration: Tourist Visa - On Arrival (immigration.gov.mv)
- Maldives: IMUGA portal (Traveller Declaration) (imuga.immigration.gov.mv)
- Montenegro: Government of Montenegro: Uredba o viznom režimu, consolidated text up to Official Gazette 108/26 (published on gov.me 6 August 2026) (gov.me)
- Montenegro: MFA: Visas and visa regime (types of visa, says the regime is set by the Decree) (gov.me)
- Montenegro: Official Gazette: amendment of 30 April 2026 removing Qatar from Article 1a (sluzbenilist.me)
- Morocco: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, consular portal (consulat.ma): Liste des pays dont les ressortissants sont dispensés du visa d'entrée au Maroc (consulat.ma)
- Morocco: Same list in English (one entry fewer: no Dominican Republic) (consulat.ma)
- Morocco: Official eVisa and AEVM portal (eligibility checker only, no list) (acces-maroc.ma)
- New Zealand: Immigration New Zealand: New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) and Visa waiver countries and territories (immigration.govt.nz)
- New Zealand: Immigration NZ: Travellers who do not need an NZeTA (immigration.govt.nz)
- New Zealand: Immigration NZ: Chinese and Pacific Island visitors travelling from Australia (immigration.govt.nz)
- New Zealand: Immigration NZ: Australian Resident Visa (immigration.govt.nz)
- New Zealand: Immigration NZ: Visa Waiver Visitor Visa (immigration.govt.nz)
- North Macedonia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia: Do you need a visa? (per-country checker, Visa for foreign citizens) (mfa.gov.mk)
- North Macedonia: Visa requirements for entering North Macedonia (residence and visa holder exemptions) (mfa.gov.mk)
- Oman: Royal Oman Police: List of countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the Sultanate of Oman with a tourist visa (rop.gov.om)
- Oman: Oman government media site: Entry visas (two groups, 14 day rule, GCC rule) (fm.gov.om)
- Oman: Oman to exempt Philippines citizens from tourist visa requirements from 2026 (fm.gov.om)
- Oman: ROP eVisa eligibility wizard (other nationalities) (evisa.rop.gov.om)
- Panama: Servicio Nacional de Migración de Panamá: Clasificación de visas en la República de Panamá, ¿Necesita visa para entrar a Panamá? (uploaded 5 Oct 2026) (migracion.gob.pa)
- Panama: SNM: Visas Autorizadas (page marked 'Borrador para revisión institucional' but published) (migracion.gob.pa)
- Peru: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores del Perú: Requerimientos y exoneración de visas para ciudadanos extranjeros que cuenten con pasaportes ordinarios (16 Jul 2026) (cdn.gob.pe)
- Peru: gob.pe: Solicitar visa de turista para ingresar al Perú (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) (gob.pe)
- Philippines: Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Embassy in Tokyo: Visa-Free Entry for Temporary Visits (tokyo.philembassy.net)
- Philippines: Philippine Embassy in Berlin: Visa-Free Entry (same 157-country list, older India rule) (philippine-embassy.de)
- Philippines: eTravel, Philippine electronic travel declaration (etravel.gov.ph)
- Philippines: Bureau of Immigration advisory on eTravel (immigration.gov.ph)
- Qatar: Visit Qatar (Qatar Tourism): Visas, 'What visa do I need to travel to Qatar?' wizard (visitqatar.com)
- Qatar: Hayya platform (e-visa applications, named on the page) (hayya.qa)
- Qatar: MOI visa waiver page (content loads by script, not read) (portal.moi.gov.qa)
- Saudi Arabia: Visit Saudi (Saudi Tourism Authority, official): Visa regulations, 'Find out what type of Visa you need' (visitsaudi.com)
- Saudi Arabia: Visit Saudi country list API used by the visa widget (visaGroup per nationality) (visitsaudi.com)
- Saudi Arabia: Visit Saudi visa widget content API (rules, fees, stays per group) (visitsaudi.com)
- Saudi Arabia: Saudi eVisa portal (403 bot check to curl) (visa.visitsaudi.com)
- Saudi Arabia: MoFA Unified Visa Platform, visa waiver (Ireland) (visa.mofa.gov.sa)
- Saudi Arabia: KSA Visa: Electronic Travel Authorization (UK) (ksavisa.sa)
- Schengen area: EUR-Lex record for Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (amendment table, consolidated versions) (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Schengen area: Schengen Borders Code, consolidated 12 Oct 2025 (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Schengen area: European Commission: Schengen area (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu)
- Schengen area: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/496 (Georgia diplomatic, service and official passports) (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Schengen area: European Commission: visa policy (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu)
- Schengen area: Your Europe: travel documents for EU nationals (europa.eu)
- Serbia: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia: Visa regime (one page per country) (mfa.gov.rs)
- Serbia: Visa Requirements (visa holder exemption, Digital Travel Authorization) (mfa.gov.rs)
- Singapore: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA): Check if You Need an Entry Visa (ica.gov.sg)
- Singapore: ICA: Entering Singapore (general entry requirements, SGAC within 3 days before arrival) (ica.gov.sg)
- Singapore: ICA: SG Arrival Card (ica.gov.sg)
- Singapore: ICA: Extension of short-term visit pass (ica.gov.sg)
- South Africa: Department of Home Affairs: Countries exempt from South African visas (Visa Exemption List, issued 09 December 2025) (dha.gov.za)
- South Korea: Ministry of Justice K-ETA: countries that can apply for K-ETA, with stay per country (k-eta.go.kr)
- South Korea: MOJ K-ETA notice: temporary exemption extended to 31 Dec 2026 (k-eta.go.kr)
- South Korea: Korean Embassy in Spain (MOFA): list of the 22 K-ETA exempt countries and regions (overseas.mofa.go.kr)
- South Korea: MOJ K-ETA notice: who does not need a K-ETA (k-eta.go.kr)
- Sri Lanka: Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka: official ETA website (home and fees pages) (eta.gov.lk)
- Sri Lanka: ETA fees and the 40-country free ETA list (eta.gov.lk)
- Sri Lanka: ETA exceptions (diplomatic and official passports) (eta.gov.lk)
- Taiwan: Bureau of Consular Affairs, MOFA (Taiwan): Visa-Exempt Entry (boca.gov.tw)
- Taiwan: NIA: Online Application for Travel Authorization Certificate (India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos) (niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw)
- Taiwan: BOCA: Landing Visa (boca.gov.tw)
- Thailand: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles, MFA site): Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival to Thailand, with the MFA infographic 'Visa Exemption Measures' (thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org)
- Thailand: MFA infographic: Visa Exemption Measures, effective 15 September 2026 (image.mfa.go.th)
- Thailand: Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), Immigration Bureau (tdac.immigration.go.th)
- Thailand: Thai e-Visa official website (MFA) (thaievisa.go.th)
- Turkey: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa Information For Foreigners (mfa.gov.tr)
- Turkey: Official e-Visa application site (named on the MFA page, not opened) (evisa.gov.tr)
- United Arab Emirates: UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa information to enter the country (Visa Exemptions For Non Citizen) (mofa.gov.ae)
- United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi Residents Office: Visas (adro.gov.ae)
- United Arab Emirates: ICP: Six new nationalities added to the Entry Visa for Nationals of Certain Countries (India was the only one before) (icp.gov.ae)
- United Arab Emirates: u.ae: Check if you need a visa to enter the UAE (u.ae)
- United Kingdom: GOV.UK Immigration Rules: Appendix Visitor: Visa national list (with Appendix ETA National List) (gov.uk)
- United Kingdom: Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List (who needs an ETA) (gov.uk)
- United Kingdom: Immigration Rules Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation (gov.uk)
- United Kingdom: Immigration Rules Appendix V: Visitor (stay length) (gov.uk)
- United Kingdom: GOV.UK: Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) (gov.uk)
- United Kingdom: Immigration Act 1971 s. 3ZA (Irish citizens) (legislation.gov.uk)
- United States: Department of Homeland Security: U.S. Visa Waiver Program (current program countries), with 8 CFR 217.2 and 8 CFR 212.1 (dhs.gov)
- United States: 8 CFR 217.2 (eCFR, up to date as of 7 Oct 2026) (ecfr.gov)
- United States: 8 CFR 212.1 (eCFR): Canada, Bermuda, Freely Associated States (ecfr.gov)
- United States: CBP: Visa Waiver Program (cbp.gov)
- United States: CBP: Electronic System for Travel Authorization (cbp.gov)
- United States: 8 U.S.C. 1187 (govinfo, 2024 edition) (govinfo.gov)
- United States: USCIS: Status of Citizens of the Republic of Palau fact sheet (uscis.gov)
- United States: USCIS fact sheet on FSM and RMI citizens (govinfo copy, Sept 2020) (govinfo.gov)
- Vietnam: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam: Viet Nam's visa exemption list (30 Jun 2025), with the MOFA notice on Resolution 229/NQ-CP (13 Aug 2025) and the Immigration Department e-Visa portal (mofa.gov.vn)
- Vietnam: MOFA: Resolution 229/NQ-CP, visa exemption for 12 European countries (mofa.gov.vn)
- Vietnam: Embassy of Viet Nam in Belgium: notice on Resolution 229/NQ-CP (English and Vietnamese) (vnembassy-bruxelles.mofa.gov.vn)
- Vietnam: MOFA: Danh muc mien thi thuc (Vietnamese version of the list) (mofa.gov.vn)
- Vietnam: Vietnam National Electronic Visa system (Immigration Department) (evisa.gov.vn)
- Vietnam: Immigration Department: e-Visa general information (immigration.gov.vn)
General information, not legal advice. Last checked 11 Oct 2026.