Russian Passport Power: Exploring Travel Freedom

As of 2024, Russian citizens can travel to around 116 countries and territories either visa-free, with an eVisa/e-visa, or with a visa on arrival. This includes countries in Europe, Africa, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.

Russian citizens can enter the following countries without a visa:

- Andorra

- Belarus

- Bosnia and Herzegovina

- Moldova

- Montenegro

- San Marino

- Serbia

- Angola

- Botswana

- Cape Verde

- Eswatini

- Malawi

- Mauritius

- Morocco

- Mozambique

- Namibia

- São Tomé and Príncipe

- South Africa

- Tunisia

- Antigua and Barbuda

- Argentina

- Bahamas

- Barbados

- Bolivia

- Brazil

- Chile

- Colombia

- Costa Rica

- Cuba

- Dominica

- Dominican Republic

- Ecuador

- El Salvador

- Grenada

- Guatemala

- Guyana

- Haiti

- Honduras

- Jamaica

- Nicaragua

- Panama

- Paraguay

- Peru

- Saint Kitts and Nevis

- Saint Lucia

- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

- Suriname

- Trinidad and Tobago

- Uruguay

- Venezuela

- Armenia

- Azerbaijan

- Brunei

- China

- Georgia

- Iran

- Israel

- Kazakhstan

- Kyrgyzstan

- Laos

- Malaysia

- Maldives

- Mongolia

- Myanmar

- Oman

- Philippines

- Qatar

- Tajikistan

- Thailand

- Turkey

- United Arab Emirates

- Uzbekistan

- Vietnam

- Hong Kong

- Macao

- Fiji

- Kiribati

- Micronesia

- Palau

- Samoa

- Vanuatu

- Cook Islands

- Niue

- Pitcairn Islands

Visa-free countries

As of December 2024, Russian passport holders can enter a total of 80 countries without a visa. These include:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Palestinian Territories
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Sao Tome and Principe
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates

In addition to these, there are 32 countries where Russian citizens can obtain a visa on arrival, and 4 countries where they can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) prior to visiting.

It's important to note that the duration of stay and permissible purposes for travel may vary depending on the visa regulations of each country. Russian passport holders should always verify the specific entry requirements of their destination country before planning their trip.

The nearest visa-free countries for Russian passport holders include Mongolia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Macao.

Countries offering e-visa or visa on arrival

As of December 2024, Russian passport holders can travel to 46 countries that offer e-Visas or visas on arrival. This is in addition to the 79 countries that Russian citizens can visit visa-free, bringing the total number of accessible countries to 125.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Central African Republic
• Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America

Other Notable Countries:

Russian citizens can also obtain visas on arrival in the following countries:

• Australia
• Bahrain
• Benin
• Gabon
• Guinea-Bissau
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Myanmar
• Oman
• Papua New Guinea
• Rwanda
• Saint Helena
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zimbabwe

Countries requiring a traditional visa

As of 2024, Russian citizens require a traditional visa to enter 88-89 countries. This includes the following:

• Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba
• British Virgin Islands
• Central African Republic
• Northern Mariana Islands
• St. Pierre and Miquelon
• United States of America

To obtain a traditional visa, Russian citizens typically need to apply at the destination country's embassy or consulate, providing the necessary documentation such as a passport, photographs, itinerary, and proof of financial means. It is important to note that visa requirements can change over time, so Russian citizens should always check the latest information before planning their travel.

Travel requirements and restrictions

As of December 2024, Russian citizens can travel to 85 countries without a visa. This includes nations such as Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and the United Arab Emirates. However, it is important to note that the duration of stay permitted in these countries varies.

In addition to visa-free travel, Russian passport holders can obtain e-visas for 41 countries, streamlining the application process and enabling quicker travel.

Furthermore, Russian passports allow for visas on arrival in 16 countries. The relevant paperwork and visa fee must be presented at the immigration checkpoint in the destination country, and the visa will be issued upon arrival.

However, traditional visas are required before travelling to 88 countries. Russian citizens can apply for these at the destination country's embassy or consulate, providing necessary documentation such as photographs, proof of financial means, and an itinerary.

It is always advisable to check the specific entry requirements of your destination country before planning your trip, as these requirements may change over time due to temporary travel restrictions or new visa agreements.

Nearest visa-free countries

As of 2024, Russian passport holders can travel to a number of countries without a visa, with some sources stating 79, 80, 85, or 116 countries offering visa-free access. This allows Russian citizens to travel freely to these destinations, with some countries imposing time restrictions.

• Belarus: Unlimited stay
• Mongolia: 30 days
• Moldova: 90 days
• Montenegro: 30 days
• Kazakhstan: 90 days
• Kyrgyzstan: 90 days
• Tajikistan: Unlimited stay
• Georgia: 1 year
• Armenia: 180 days
• Azerbaijan: 90 days
• Iran: 15 or 30 days
• Turkey: 60 days
• Vietnam: 45 days
• Thailand: 60 days
• Laos: 60 days
• Myanmar: 30 days
• Macao: 30 days
• China: 15 days
• Hong Kong: 14 days

Please note that visa requirements and time restrictions may change, so it is always best to check the latest information before travelling.

Frequently asked questions