Russia E-Visa Application: Step-by-Step Walkthrough 2026
The whole application takes 15–25 minutes on the official portal evisa.kdmid.ru and costs $40. Follow these 6 steps and avoid the mistakes that cause most rejections.
Last updated: July 2026 · Based on the official portal evisa.kdmid.ru
Before you start — have these ready
- Passport valid at least 6 months from the application date
- A digital color photo on a white background (can be taken with a phone)
- A scan or clear photo of your passport data page
- A bank card for the $40 fee (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay and others)
- Your approximate entry date — you can apply 120 to 4 days before the trip
The 6 steps of the application
Exactly what you will see on the official portal
Create an account on evisa.kdmid.ru
Register with your email, confirm it via the verification link and log in. One account can hold applications for family members too.
Fill in the application form
Personal data, passport details, travel dates, planned regions and hotel (any hotel name is fine — no booking confirmation is required). The form takes about 20 minutes.
Upload your photo
A recent color photo on a plain white background: full face, no glasses with heavy frames, no hats. The portal crops it automatically.
Upload the passport data page
A sharp scan or photo of the page with your photo and personal data. All four corners visible, no glare over the machine-readable zone.
Pay the $40 consular fee
Pay online by card. The fee is non-refundable, even if the visa is refused, so double-check every field before paying. Children under 6 are free.
Receive and print the e-visa notification
Within 4 calendar days (weekends included) you get a PDF notification. Download it, print a copy and carry it with your passport — border officers will scan it on arrival.
Photo requirements — pass the check on the first try
Accepted
- Color photo, plain white or light background
- Face centered, looking straight at the camera
- Neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed
- Taken within the last 6 months
Rejected
- Sunglasses, tinted lenses or heavy frames
- Hats or head coverings (except religious ones)
- Filters, retouching or cropped scans of paper photos
- Shadows on the face or background
The 5 mistakes that cause rejections
- Name spelled differently from the machine-readable zone of the passport
- Passport expiring less than 6 months after the application date
- Applying later than 4 days before the trip — the visa simply will not arrive in time
- Wrong citizenship selected (e.g., country of residence instead of nationality)
- Planning to enter through a checkpoint that does not accept e-visas
Application timeline
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a hotel booking or invitation for the e-visa application?
No. The form asks for planned places of stay, but no booking confirmation or invitation letter is required for the e-visa.
What if my application is refused?
The $40 fee is not refunded, but you can correct the issue and apply again. Most refusals are typos in passport data or bad photos — both easy to fix.
Can I apply for my whole family from one account?
Yes. One account can submit separate applications for each family member, including children (under 6 — free of charge).
How do I check my application status?
Log in to your account on evisa.kdmid.ru — the status updates in real time, and the final decision also arrives by email.
My nationality is not eligible for the e-visa. What now?
You need a regular consular visa, which starts with a visa invitation letter. We issue official invitations online in 5 minutes from $19, accepted by all Russian consulates.
Explore the rest of the e-visa guide
Check whether your country is eligible and compare the e-visa with the regular visa before you apply.