On April 1, 2025, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled a draft federal law to significantly expand the flexibility of its single-entry electronic visa (e-visa) regime. Under the proposed amendments, the maximum period of stay on an e-visa would increase from 16 days to 30 days, while the validity period of the visa itself would rise from 60 days to 120 days (tass.ru, pnp.ru). This adjustment comes after the successful rollout of the e-visa system in August 2023 and reflects Russia’s ambition to attract more tourists, business travelers, and participants in cultural, economic, and sporting events.
1. Background: The Single-Entry Electronic Visa System
Russia introduced the unified single-entry e-visa on August 1, 2023, with the aim of simplifying short-term travel for citizens of 55–64 eligible countries, including much of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The e-visa permits entry by air, land, or water and is intended for visits such as tourism, business meetings, cultural or sporting participation, and humanitarian purposes (РБК, Рамблер/новости).
Initially:
- Validity: 60 days from date of issue.
- Maximum Stay: 16 days per entry.
- Entries: Single.
- Eligible Nationals: Citizens of 55 countries, covering markets like Germany, Italy, Turkey, Singapore, and others.
By design, the e-visa system replaced traditional consular visas for short visits, enabling applicants to complete the entire process online—uploading a digital photo, travel details, and paying a nominal fee. Approval was typically granted within four calendar days, after which travelers could print their e-visa and present it to border authorities. This marked a considerable leap in convenience over previous procedures, which required embassy visits and lengthy paperwork.
2. Legislative Proposal: Key Amendments
On March 31, 2025, the Russian government’s Legal Drafting Commission approved the bill submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The principal changes are:
- Validity Extension
- From 60 days to 120 days from the date of issuance.
- Stay Duration Increase
- From 16 days to 30 days per single entry, while retaining the one-time entry restriction.
The draft bill proposes amendments to Article 25.16-1 of the Federal Law “On the Procedure for Exit from and Entry into the Russian Federation,” inserting new thresholds for e-visa duration and stay limits (Коммерсантъ, iz.ru). Proponents argue that doubling the validity window gives travelers greater flexibility in planning their trips without fearing that delays or cancellations will invalidate their visas.
3. Success Metrics: Uptake Since Launch
According to official figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of July 31, 2024, a total of 541,000 e-visas had been issued to citizens from all eligible countries—a figure representing 70% of all short-term visas granted in the same period (Рамблер/новости, tass.ru). This rapid adoption underscores the system’s popularity:
- Launch to July 2024:
- E-Visas Issued: 541,000
- All Other Short-Term Visas: 771,000
- Market Share: 70%
Legal experts and tourism authorities interpret these data as strong evidence that demand for a simple, digital visa process outstrips that for traditional consular channels. They expect that the planned extensions will further boost e-visa uptake, particularly from travelers keen to maximize their time in Russia.
4. Strategic Objectives: Tourism and Business Development
4.1 Tourism Growth
Russia has set ambitious targets to increase inbound tourism to 40 million visitors annually by 2030. The Federation’s vast geography—from the historic streets of Moscow and the White Nights of Saint Petersburg to the natural wonders of Siberia and the Far East—offers diverse attractions for international travelers (РБК, BFM.ru – деловой портал). However, cumbersome visa procedures have long been cited as a barrier to reaching Russia’s tourism potential.
By allowing stays of up to 30 days and granting a four-month validity, the e-visa becomes more attractive for:
- Multi-city Itineraries: Travelers can visit Moscow, then proceed to Kazan, Sochi, or Vladivostok without needing a separate visa extension.
- Extended Cultural Exchanges: Participants in festivals, exhibitions, or conferences requiring multiple weeks on the ground.
- Family and Friend Visits: Guests visiting relatives for longer durations.
Industry stakeholders—hotels, tour operators, and transport providers—welcome the changes, forecasting a surge in mid- to long-stay bookings, off-peak travel, and exploration beyond the major urban centers.
4.2 Business and Investment
Beyond tourism, a lengthier stay window benefits business travelers attending seminars, trade fairs, or corporate meetings, especially in specialized sectors such as energy, aerospace, and agriculture. The updated e-visa could:
- Facilitate Market Research: Experts can spend a full month engaging with potential partners, visiting facilities, and attending multiple events.
- Encourage Foreign Participation: Greater flexibility may entice more startups, investors, and delegations to choose Russia as a destination for soft-landing programs and industry forums.
- Strengthen Regional Development: Extended stays allow deeper engagement with regions outside Moscow and Saint Petersburg, aligning with government strategies to boost the economies of the Volga, Ural, and Siberian Federal Districts.
In combination with Russia’s visa-free regimes for certain nationalities and reciprocity agreements, the extended e-visa moves into a central position within a broader campaign to streamline business travel and foreign direct investment.
5. Legal and Security Considerations
While the e-visa regime prides itself on simplicity, it also incorporates robust security measures. The proposed law retains key safeguards:
- Single-Entry Restriction: The visa remains valid for one entry, preventing continuous multiple re-entries that could circumvent longer-stay visas.
- Data Verification: All applicants submit biometric photographs and passport scans, which are cross-checked against Interpol and national databases to flag security risks.
- Information Sharing: Border guards receive real-time access to application data, enabling pre-arrival risk assessment.
Officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Security Service have reviewed the draft, assuring that a 30-day stay does not compromise migration control or national security. The visa’s term still falls short of the 90- or 180-day stays permitted under traditional multiple-entry visas, preserving a clear differentiation between e-visas and longer-term residence or business visas.
6. Legislative Process and Timeline
After approval by the government’s Legal Drafting Commission, the bill now proceeds to the State Duma (lower house of parliament) for first reading. The key steps include:
- First Reading: Initial debate on policy goals and broad provisions.
- Committee Review: Detailed examination by the Duma’s Committee on International Affairs, which may suggest amendments.
- Second and Third Readings: Formal adoption of specific articles and final vote.
- Federation Council: Endorsement by the upper house.
- Presidential Signature: Final promulgation into law.
Parliamentary sources estimate the entire process could conclude by late summer 2025, enabling implementation in autumn—well ahead of Russia’s peak tourist season in late 2025 and major international events scheduled thereafter (РБК, Коммерсантъ).
7. Comparing Russia’s E-Visa to Global Analogues
Russia joins a growing list of countries that offer electronic visas with extended validity and stay durations:
| Country | E-Visa Validity | Max Stay | Entries | Eligible Countries (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia (Proposed) | 120 days | 30 days | 1 | 60+ |
| UAE | 60 days | 30 days | 2 | 175 |
| India | 120 days | 90 days | 1 | 169 |
| Australia | 12 months | 90 days | Multiple | 50+ |
| Turkey | 180 days | 90 days | Multiple | 96 |
| Kenya | 90 days | 90 days | Multiple | 180 |
While each system reflects national security, diplomatic, and tourism-promotion priorities, Russia’s proposed 120/30 model aligns closely with India’s e-tourist visa and fits squarely between the shorter European schemes and the highly permissive Australian Electronic Travel Authority. The single-entry limitation underscores Russia’s cautious approach, balancing openness with border integrity.
8. Potential Challenges and Considerations
Despite the benefits, stakeholders identify several areas to monitor:
- System Capacity: The e-visa platform must scale to handle increased traffic, especially around seasonal peaks and major events like St. Petersburg’s White Nights Festival.
- User Support: Multilingual call centers and online helpdesks will need reinforcement to address queries and technical issues.
- Awareness Campaigns: Effective marketing is essential to ensure that travel agents, airlines, and tourists in eligible markets understand the updated provisions.
- Integration with Transport Providers: Airlines, bus companies, and ferry operators must update their check-in systems to recognize the extended validity and stay parameters.
- Data Privacy: As personal information volumes grow, Russia must maintain strict compliance with its Federal Law on Personal Data (No. 152-FZ) to avoid breaches and maintain public trust.
Proactive investment in IT infrastructure, staff training, and cross-agency coordination will be crucial to a smooth transition when the law takes effect.
9. Expert Perspectives
- Maria Ivanova, Head of Tourism Development at Russia’s Federal Agency for Tourism, commented: “Extending the e-visa validity to 120 days and the stay limit to 30 days represents a transformative step for our inbound tourism strategy. It gives travelers the freedom to explore Russia’s vast regions at their own pace, which could lead to significant growth in off-season and secondary-city travel.” (РБК)
- Dr. Peter Schmidt, International Migration Policy Analyst, noted: “The single-entry design keeps migration control robust, while offering a generous window for short-term visits. It’s a competitive move that brings Russia’s e-visa in line with global peers like India.” (BFM.ru – деловой портал)
- Olga Petrova, CEO of a Moscow-based Tour Operator, warned: “The technical rollout must be flawless. Any system downtime or application backlogs could undermine traveler confidence just when they’re excited about extended stays.” (Рамблер/новости)
Conclusion
The proposed expansion of Russia’s single-entry electronic visa—from 60 to 120 days’ validity and from 16 to 30 days’ maximum stay—marks a bold effort to modernize the country’s travel infrastructure, stimulate tourism growth, and facilitate international business exchanges. Building on a promising first year that saw over half a million e-visas issued, the draft legislation awaits parliamentary approval, with industry and diplomatic stakeholders optimistic about its swift enactment.
If adopted as planned, travelers arriving from eligible countries will enjoy greater flexibility, more time to discover Russia’s cultural and natural treasures, and streamlined entry procedures. At the same time, authorities will preserve secure migration controls through biometric verification and a single-entry restriction. As Russia positions itself alongside global e-visa leaders, the extended e-visa regime is set to become a cornerstone of its strategy to welcome the world back to its cities, landscapes, and business opportunities.
