Russia: mandatory electronic travel authorization required starting June 30 for visa-free travelers

Who Needs the New Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)?

All foreign nationals entering Russia visa-free—by land, air, or sea—must obtain an ETA with a personalized QR code, at least 72 hours before travel.

Exceptions (ETA Not Required For):

• Visa holders

• Citizens of Belarus

• Children under 6 years old

• Diplomats and their families

• Employees of international organizations accredited in Russia and their families

Countries Eligible for Visa-Free Entry (and therefore ETA)

Up to 90 Days:

• Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

• Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, UAE, Israel, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Venezuela, etc.

Up to 60 Days:

• South Korea, Dominican Republic, Cape Verde, etc.

Up to 30 Days:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina, Thailand, Mongolia, Laos, Montenegro, Botswana, etc.

Up to 14 Days:

• Hong Kong, Brunei, Nauru, etc.

Key Dates

• June 30, 2025: ETA becomes available for all visa-free nationals

• June 30, 2026: End of the pilot period

• During the pilot year, submission of ETA is voluntary, and tourists will not be denied entry without it.

How to Apply for ETA

You can apply in two ways:

1. Via the “ruID” Mobile App (Available by June 24, 2025)

• Register or log in using Gosuslugi account

• Submit the ETA request no earlier than 90 days and no later than 72 hours before travel

  • Emergency cases: Apply at least 4 hours in advance

• Enter:

  • Travel purpose and stay duration

  • Destinations

  • Info about accompanying children

• Upload:

  • Facial photo

  • ID document photo

  • Voice recording

• Receive QR code once verified

2. Via Gosuslugi Web Portal

• Sign in or create an account

• Fill in the same travel details

• Upload a photo for biometric verification

• Get notified upon approval

Note: Biometric data is mandatory. No QR code will be issued without successful verification.

Biometric Screening Upon Entry

Travelers may undergo:

• Facial photo capture

• Fingerprinting

Multilingual Support

The “ruID” app will be available in:

• English

• Russian

• Armenian

• Kazakh

• Kyrgyz

• Tajik

• Uzbek