This step-by-step Russian e-visa guide covers Tourist only, the visa requirements, and the entire online application process, based on my personal experience. This focuses on desktop application via their website.
Russia is the largest country in the world by area. Though spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, it is still not a popular destination among Filipinos due to recent events. Despite that, my wandering spirit didn't stop me to take a chance visiting this country, which I first heard playing a popular real-time strategy game where they're the antagonists (stereotypes you know).
Russia started issuing e-Visas on 1 August 2023. Pre-pandemic, the e-Visa includes only Saint Petersburg and its surrounding region, but due to recent changes, the unified e-visa is now valid countrywide.
The 16-day e-Visa is issued for private or business visit, tourism, as well as for participating in scientific, cultural, socio-political, economic, sporting events. The application can be submitted no earlier than 40 days and no later than 4 days before the expected date of entry.
ATTENTION! The permitted period of stay in the Russian Federation on the basis of a unified e-visa of up to 16 days DOES NOT IMPLY the possibility of staying for 384 hours net time (24 hours x 16). The day of arrival and the day of departure are counted as two days. We recommend using the visa calculator to calculate the permitted period of stay.
If the purpose of your trip to the Russian Federation is none of the above, you have to apply to a diplomatic mission or consular post of the Russian Federation for a regular (not electronic) visa.
E-Visa applications will be processed within no more than 4 calendar days from the date of application. The consular fee is 40 USD (children under 6 years of age get a visa free of charge).
E-Visa allows arrival and departure only through designated border crossing points:
Luckily, our country Philippines is one of the foreign States whose nationals can apply for e-visa. In this guide, I will
RUSSIAN E-VISA REQUIREMENTS
- Make sure you have the following:
- Web browser with JavaScript installed on your device. Our website currently supports the following browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge. We cannot guarantee the correct functioning of our site in other browsers.
- Software for PDF files viewing and printing. Adobe Acrobat Reader is recommended.
- Your valid national passport that you intend to use when crossing the state border of the Russian Federation.
- Digital photo of your passport data in JPEG format.
- Digital photo of your face (passport size with the 35x45 aspect ratio) in JPEG format that meets the requirements.
- Bank card for paying the visa fee (Mastercard or Visa).
HOW TO APPLY FOR A RUSSIAN VISA ONLINE
1. Sign up for an E-visa Account.
E-visa Account means an account with evisa.kdmid.ru, the Russian government's official consular department website. It is important to create an E-visa Account because the whole process will be done on this website.
Important: Make sure you use a working email address. Any update about your application will be sent to this email (including the acknowledgment of receipt of your application and the actual visa grant). You will also get notified every time you log into your account.
To register, go to this site.
2. Accomplish the Application Form.
Once you have an account, you'll receive a Russian e-Visa Application Form number popping in your screen. Save it so you can log on your newly created account.
Once confirmed, do the following:
- Click on NEXT. Here, you'll be asked to upload your passport-size photo.
- Click on NEXT. Then upload the passport page. Once uploaded, check if there are corrections needed on the form. Fill-up the rest of the form especially the mandatory ones (with *).
- Continue filling out all 7 pages of the form.
What if you start accomplishing the form but can't complete right then? It's okay. You can SAVE DRAFT the changes and continue editing in the future. As long as you SAVE it (and NOT SUBMIT), you can keep on editing the form.
DO NOT SUBMIT THE FORM if you're not done yet.
Important Notes:
Purpose of the trip to the Russian Federation: Tourism
Intended date of entry into Russia: Enter your intended date of entry into Russia in the DD/MM/YYYY format. To calculate the time you can spend in the Russian Federation you can use the the visa calculator.
Which organization or which person are you going to visit? Choose ORGANIZATION of you're staying in a hotel in Russia. It doesn't need to be a booked accommodation. Check from Google Maps or ZenHotels site for information of a sample accommodation. See sample below.
Where are you planning to stay? You can put the same information above if staying in Moscow, or add another city with information of hotel you tend to stay, like in Saint Petersburg. Click on the ADD button at the lower right to add another city.
Do you have a health insurance policy valid on the territory of the Russian Federation? If you availed one, click YES. Otherwise, NO. It's fine if you don't have one, but highly encouraged to get travel insurance. Standard Insurance (within GCash mobile app) offers Travel Insurance that includes Russia. You can check that if you like.
Source of funds for your visit to the Russian Federation: Independently (as a solo traveler)
Have you visited any countries in the last 3 years? Put all the countries you've visited within past 3 years.
Do you use social networks, messengers? I put Facebook and Instagram, since I use these frequently.
That's it! Once you thoroughly reviewed the summary your application, click the PAY button on the lower rights corner to proceed.
4. Pay the Application Fee.
Online payments are done via credit card only.
The fee is AED 191 (PHP 2922). A credit card surcharge was also collected. (In my case, the billed amount in my card was PHP3129.55.)
Once successful, you should receive an Acknowledgment of Application Receipt in your email as well as the receipts of your payment. I got mine on the same day of submission.
5. Wait for the result.
You can check the status of your application here.
If 4 days after the registration of your e-visa application you have not received a notification of the result of its consideration, please contact them via e-mail evisa_info@kdmid.ru.
We kindly request you to indicate your application ID, your citizenship and your passport number in the message.
I waited for four days to check the result. I was super happy it was granted (as a first-timer)! At first, I was anxious not getting one because I thought they still ask me more supporting documents for my visa application, but I was wrong. Yahoo! 🙂
What does a Russian E-Visa look like?
Here's what the Russian E-Visa looks like when you receive it online. It doesn't get attached to the passport. Download the PDF file after logging in your e-Visa account. Just bring a copy and show the Immigration Officer when you arrive:
Posts about my recent Russian adventure coming soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment