Russians Face Travel Restrictions

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, international travel for Russians has become increasingly difficult and expensive. Many countries have closed their airspace to Russian aircraft, and some have banned Russian citizens from entering altogether. Russians can still fly to certain countries, including Turkey, Egypt, the Caribbean, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Belarus, Armenia, Abkhazia, and some former Soviet republics. However, the options are limited and the prices are high. The war has also impacted Russians living or travelling abroad, with many facing difficulties in accessing their finances and being denied service by hotels, shops, and restaurants.

Russians can travel to Turkey, Egypt, the Caribbean, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Belarus, Armenia, and Abkhazia

Russian citizens can still take some international flights, although their options are limited. While Western countries' sanctions on Russia have made it harder for Russian citizens to leave the country, they can still fly abroad on the national carriers of a few countries that have not sanctioned Russia and do not require visas for Russians to enter.

In addition to these countries, Russian citizens do not need visas to enter the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar or Serbia, nor do they need visas to enter neighbouring countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan or Mongolia.

The British government says there are no direct flights from Russia to the UK or the European Union, but a few commercial airlines are operating indirect flights through the Middle East and Turkey. The US State Department says direct flights are currently operating from Moscow and other major Russian cities to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Thailand and India, among other destinations.

Russians are denied entry to 36 countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK

In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, many countries have restricted entry to their territories for Russian citizens. As of June 2023, Russians are banned from entering at least 36 countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK.

The US Department of State has issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for Russia, citing the unpredictable consequences of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, the potential for harassment, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law. The US Embassy in Russia has reported an increasing number of airlines cancelling flights to and from Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines. Additionally, the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency has recommended that Russian airlines avoid international flights due to the risk of planes being seized on foreign soil.

The European Union (EU) and Canada have imposed similar restrictions, denying access to their airspace for Russian-owned, registered, or operated aircraft. The EU has also implemented sanctions that prohibit the importation of cars registered in Russia and certain personal items for Russian citizens, such as suitcases, bags, wallets, clothing, cosmetic products, and electronic devices. These items can be confiscated by EU customs officials at checkpoints.

As a result of these sanctions and restrictions, Russian citizens' options for international travel are limited. However, they can still fly abroad on the national carriers of a few countries that have not sanctioned Russia and do not require visas for Russians to enter, such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Thailand, and India. Some Russians are also choosing to travel to former Soviet countries that do not require visas, such as Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan.

In addition to travel restrictions, Russians also face challenges when attempting to bring personal belongings and cars into the EU. The termination of the agreement on a simplified visa regime between Russia and the EU has further complicated the process of obtaining a visa for Russians wishing to enter Europe.

Visa requirements for Russians have changed in several countries

As of 2024, Russian citizens can travel to 88 countries without a visa, according to the VisaGuide Passport Index. However, several countries have changed their visa requirements for Russians in recent years.

Visa-free countries

Russian citizens can enter the following countries without a visa:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates

EVisa countries

The following countries offer eVisas to Russian citizens:

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Visa on Arrival countries

The following countries offer visas on arrival to Russian citizens:

• Iran
• Zimbabwe
• Bahrain
• Guinea-Bissau
• Mozambique
• Gabon
• Rwanda
• Benin
• Taiwan
• Sierra Leone
• Saudi Arabia
• Myanmar
• Iraq

Countries with reinstated visa requirements

The following countries have reinstated visa requirements for Russian citizens:

• Estonia
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• North Korea
• Turkmenistan
• Slovenia
• Czech Republic
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Bulgaria
• Poland
• Cyprus
• Romania
• Croatia
• Kosovo
• Guam
• Northern Mariana Islands
• North Macedonia
• Ukraine
• Taiwan

Countries with cancelled visa-free entry

The following countries have cancelled their visa-free entry agreements with Russia:

• Estonia and Latvia (holders of an alien passport and a non-citizen passport)
• Vietnam
• Lithuania
• Mongolia
• North Korea
• Turkmenistan
• Slovenia
• Czech Republic
• Georgia
• Estonia and Latvia (holders of an alien passport and a non-citizen passport)
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Bulgaria
• Poland
• Cyprus
• Romania
• Croatia
• Turkey

International travel has become more expensive for Russians

Prior to the conflict in Ukraine, 59% of Russians could not afford to travel abroad, with 52% of respondents to a 2019 poll by travel service Tutu.ru stating that they could not afford such travel as it was too expensive. However, the depreciation of the ruble in recent years has made Russia a more affordable destination for foreign tourists, and it is likely that the country will become more expensive for Russians too. The devaluation of the ruble has also generated high inflation in the country, which stood at 7% in 2016.

In addition to the limited flight options, Russians also face challenges when it comes to obtaining visas and dealing with currency exchange rates. The process of obtaining a visa can be complicated and expensive, with some travellers opting to use agencies that can double or triple the price. Currency exchange rates can also impact the cost of travel, as the value of the ruble fluctuates.

Despite these challenges, some Russians are still able to travel internationally. According to the U.S. State Department, direct flights are currently operating from Moscow and other major Russian cities to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Thailand, and India, among other destinations. Wealthier Russians are opting for flights to the United Arab Emirates, while others are travelling to former Soviet countries that don't require visas for Russian citizens, such as Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan.

Russians face difficulties in paying for services and withdrawing money abroad

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russians living abroad have faced difficulties in accessing their money and transferring funds. Western sanctions targeting Vladimir Putin's inner circle have inadvertently impacted ordinary Russian citizens, including those who are not direct targets of sanctions. Banks have been taking extra precautions with Russian money, and there have been reports of banks freezing accounts or payments and rejecting applications for bank accounts from Russian clients.

The sanctions have made it harder for Russians to open bank accounts and conduct financial transactions abroad. Some Russians have reported difficulties in making purchases, with some opting to use cash instead of cards to avoid issues. There are also challenges in transferring money out of Russia due to restrictions on the purchase of Western currencies. The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has imposed restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be withdrawn from foreign currency accounts or deposits, and banks are only allowed to sell certain currencies to citizens.

The difficulties in accessing money have not only affected Russians living abroad but also those within Russia. There are reports of cash shortages within the country, and US credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia. Additionally, options for electronically transferring funds from the United States to Russia are extremely limited due to sanctions on Russian banks.

To circumvent these challenges, some Russians have turned to alternative methods of transferring money, such as through personal contacts or money transfer systems similar to hawala. Others have explored opening credit cards in countries like Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan or opening foreign accounts in countries like Georgia or Turkey. However, the information available is often incomplete and inconsistent, making it challenging for Russians to find reliable solutions.

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