72-hour Visa-Free Transit (St Petersburg / Kaliningrad e-Visa) — Russia
- Max stay
- 16days
- Processing
- 4–7days
- Fee
- $52.00
Difficulty7/10·Realism10/10Why? ▾
Difficulty
Moderate paperworkSome paperwork and processing time. Start a few weeks ahead.
Why this score?
- —Online e-Visa — no embassy appointment
- +1Strong baseline access — visa-free tourism eases the application footprint
- -0.25Onward / return ticket required
- -0.5Moderate documentation list (6 items)
Approval realism
Approval is likelyMost applicants with the right paperwork get approved.
What drives this score?
- —e-Visa applications are commonly approved when documentation is complete
- +1.5Visa-free baseline access — approval rates are routinely high for this passport
Step-by-step checklist
Your application checklist
- 1
Check your passport validity
41+ days beforeMost countries require 6+ months of validity beyond your travel dates and at least one blank page. If it's close, renew before applying.
- 2
Gather supporting documents
25+ days beforeYou'll need: Russia's general e-Visa programme covers transit, tourism, business, humanitarian, sports for ~50+ nationalities; Stay up to 16 days for tourism / transit purposes; Apply at evisa.kdmid.ru — 4 days standard processing; Visa-required for most non-CIS, non-friendly nationalities (US, UK, most of Western Europe in current context); and others (see full list above).
- 3
Book refundable flight + accommodation
18+ days beforeUse a refundable booking (or a free hold/itinerary service) until your visa is approved — embassies want to see real plans, but you don't want to lose the money on a refusal.
- 4
Submit the e-Visa application online
11+ days beforeApply directly at the official portal. Save the reference number — you'll need it for arrival.
- 5
Track the application; print the approval
7+ days beforeDecisions typically take 4–7 days. Print or save a clear PDF of the approved visa — airlines check this at check-in.
- 6
On the day of travel
day of travelCarry: passport (printed visa if applicable), onward ticket, proof of accommodation, proof of funds, travel insurance. Border officers retain discretion regardless of visa status.
Show full requirements, fees, and source
What you need
- Russia's general e-Visa programme covers transit, tourism, business, humanitarian, sports for ~50+ nationalities
- Stay up to 16 days for tourism / transit purposes
- Apply at evisa.kdmid.ru — 4 days standard processing
- Visa-required for most non-CIS, non-friendly nationalities (US, UK, most of Western Europe in current context)
- St Petersburg & Kaliningrad have separate 72-hour visa-free entry for tour group travellers (cruise / ferry arrivals)
- Limited operational status: many Western consulates closed since 2022; processing times unpredictable
Fee breakdown
- Transit visa fee$52.00