I received a Russian visa. When can I cross the border of the Russian Federation?

If you have an electronic visa, you may enter Russia the day after it is issued and within 119 days from that date. Please note that the electronic visa is valid for only one entry into the country and for a stay of no more than 30 days.

If you have a visa sticker affixed in your passport, carefully check the visa's validity start date.

The visa must be valid at the scheduled time your flight lands at a Russian airport. For example, if the visa is valid from December 5 to January 3 (see the photo — these dates are underlined in green), you may enter Russia from 00:00 hours on December 5. If you arrive even a few hours earlier, it may result in administrative liability for both the airline and the passenger, who could be deported.

A common mistake passengers make: they mistake the visa issuance date (underlined in red in the photo — this is December 2, 2020) for the date the visa becomes valid and arrive in the country earlier than legally permitted. Please be careful when planning your trip!