RUSSIAN PASSPORT VISA-FREE COUNTRIES 2022

In the light of recent events in Russia and all over the world, citizens of Russia are still worried about countries they are allowed to travel to without restrictions or even without a visa.

We’ve compiled a list of countries that allow you to visit without getting a visa ahead of time (especially for short-term travel) and another list of European countries that have imposed an entry ban on Russian citizens even with a Schengen visa (with specific peculiarities).

If you hold a Russian passport (or are a dual citizen of Russia and another country), you might find this information useful:

Visa free countries

If you are a citizen of Russia, you can still visit 83 countries without a visa. Russian passport holders also have access to get 29 e-visas or 17 visas on arrival.

Here is a list of Russian Passport Visa-Free countries in 2022 where you can travel to in the absence of a traditional visa.

This also contains countries you can travel to with a visa on arrival or via an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Please keep in mind that the Russia visa-free countries do not require a visa in order for you to enter and travel to them. This list includes states a Russian passport holder could travel to without a visa, by obtaining a visa on arrival, or via an eTA.

 

Europe

🇦🇱 Albania (90 days)

🇦🇩 Andorra (90 days)

🇧🇾 Belarus (Freedom of movement)

🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (30 days)

🇲🇩 Moldova (90 days)

🇲🇪 Montenegro (30 days)

🇸🇲 San Marino (90 days)

🇷🇸 Serbia (30 days)

 

Americas

🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda (180 days)

🇦🇷 Argentina (90 days)

🇧🇸 Bahamas (3 months)

🇧🇧 Barbados (28 days)

🇧🇿 Belize (90 days)

🇧🇴 Bolivia (90 days)

🇧🇷 Brazil (90 days)

🇨🇱 Chile (90 days)

🇨🇴 Colombia (90 days)

🇨🇷 Costa Rica (90 days)

🇨🇺 Cuba (90 days)

🇩🇲 Dominica (90 days)

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic (60 days)

🇪🇨 Ecuador (90 days)

🇸🇻 El Salvador (3 months)

🇬🇩 Grenada (3 months)

🇬🇹 Guatemala (90 days)

🇬🇾 Guyana (3 months)

🇭🇹 Haiti (3 months)

🇭🇳 Honduras (3 months)

🇯🇲 Jamaica (90 days)

🇳🇮 Nicaragua (90 days)

🇵🇦 Panama (90 days)

🇵🇾 Paraguay (90 days)

🇵🇪 Peru (90 days)

🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis (3 months)

🇱🇨 Saint Lucia (6 weeks)

🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (90 days)

🇸🇷 Suriname (90 days)

🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago (90 days)

🇺🇾 Uruguay (3 months)

🇻🇪 Venezuela (90 days)

 

Asia

🇦🇲 Armenia (180 days)

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan (90 days)

🇧🇳 Brunei (14 days)

🇬🇪 Georgia (360 days)

🇮🇩 Indonesia (30 days)

🇮🇱 Israel (3 months)

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (90 days)

🇰🇷 South Korea (60 days)

🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan (Indefinite period)

🇱🇦 Laos (30 days)

🇲🇾 Malaysia (30 days)

🇲🇻 Maldives (90 days)

🇲🇳 Mongolia (30 days)

🇲🇲 Myanmar (30 days)

🇴🇲 Oman (10 days)

🇶🇦 Qatar (90 days)

🇹🇯 Tajikistan (Indefinite period)

🇹🇭 Thailand (30 days)

🇹🇷 Turkey (60 days)

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (90 days)

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan (90 days)

🇻🇳 Vietnam (15 days)

🇵🇸 Palestine (Arrival by sea to Gaza Strip not allowed.)

🇭🇰 Hong Kong (14 days)

🇲🇴 Macau (30 days)

 

Africa

🇧🇼 Botswana (90 days)

🇸🇿 Eswatini (30 days)

🇲🇺 Mauritius (90 days)

🇲🇦 Morocco (3 months)

🇳🇦 Namibia (90 days)

🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe (15 days)

🇸🇨 Seychelles (30 days)

🇿🇦 South Africa (90 days)

🇹🇳 Tunisia (3 months)

 

Oceania

🇫🇯 Fiji (4 months)

🇫🇲 Micronesia (30 days)

🇳🇷 Nauru (15 days)

🇵🇼 Palau (30 days)

🇼🇸 Samoa (60 days)

🇻🇺 Vanuatu (90 days)

🇨🇰 Cook Islands (31 days)

🇳🇺 Niue (30 days)

🇵🇳 Pitcairn Islands (14 days visa free and landing fee US$35 or tax of US$5 if not going ashore.)

 

Nearby countries

The nearest visa free countries to visit for Russian passport holders are Mongolia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Macau.

 

Suspension of facilitated Schengen visas in the European Union

The European Council has suspended the short-stay visa facilitation agreement with Russia effective September 12, 2022. Short-term travel to the EU for all Russian citizens has become more complicated, more expensive, burdensome, and more difficult to secure.

The visa facilitation agreement was already suspended for Russian diplomats, other Russian officials and Russian businesspeople in March 2022.

 

Visa suspensions

Many European countries have suspended issuance of visas to Russian citizens (temporarily), including (but not limited to) the below countries:

Poland and the Baltic States— imposed visa and entry restrictions on Russia

After much debate and calls to ban Russian tourists from entering the territory of the European Union and Schengen Area countries, the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – together with Poland, became the first EU states to impose such a ban on September 19.

 

Finland & the Czech Republic- closed borders to Russian tourists

Immediately after the Baltic States and Poland, feeling the pressure of an influx of Russian tourists, Finland has also moved to close its land borders with Russia.

From October 25, the Czech Republic also imposed a complete ban on Russian citizens holding valid Schengen visas issued by the Czech Republic or other Schengen countries.

 

Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands & Slovakia— Suspended issuing tourist visas for Russians

While entry bans have not been imposed for Russian tourists, several EU and Schengen countries have already suspended the issuance of all types of Schengen visas, instead issuing only visas for humanitarian purposes or long-term visas for students, employees, and family reunions.

Ireland has also removed Russia & Belarus from its short stay visa waiver scheme.

 

Germany, Malta & Slovenia— Still issuing Schengen visas, but under stricter conditions

The German authorities are still issuing Schengen visas to Russian tourists, however, now they are subject to quite tightened restrictions. While Germany has abolished the visa facilitation agreement with Russia, its authorities have also imposed a new visa application requirement – proof of an account in an EU bank account.

On the other hand, the island of Malta accepts applications only from Russian citizens who are family members of EU and EEA (European Economic Area) citizens.

As for Slovenia, the country issues visas to Russian citizens only if they submit a valid air ticket for a direct flight to Slovenia. Train or road tickets are not accepted as proof of travel. The requirement is confusing to many as Slovenia, just like the rest of the EU countries, has closed its sky to flights from Russia.

More European countries continue to temporarily suspend visa issuance and restrict other immigration rules for Russian citizens. The UK and US have even stricter policies for Russian citizens so be careful to check those out too.

Since the situation is constantly changing, there will always be new updates, so make sure to follow up on the news as often as possible.

 

Sources

Wikipedia

Visa Free Countries