Russia's electronic visa has become nearly 18% more expensive as of October 14, 2026, according to applications processed by VisasNews and Action-Visas. The country has also introduced higher consular visa fees, with particularly steep increases for...
As the European Union considers additional visa restrictions for Russian nationals, Russia is making changes to its own visa fees. Since October 14, 2026, travelers eligible for the country’s electronic visa have been paying more to obtain one.
The increase was identified by VisasNews and visa services specialist Action-Visas while processing applications through the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official e-Visa platform.
Until October 13, the fee for Russia’s unified electronic visa (e-Visa) was 202 United Arab Emirates dirhams (AED), equivalent to approximately $55 (€49).
Since October 14, the same visa has cost 238 AED, or approximately $65 (€58). That represents an increase of 36 AED, or nearly 18%.
The higher fee is visible during the payment process on Russia’s official e-Visa application portal, which allows applicants to pay in UAE dirhams. This foreign-currency payment system operates against the backdrop of international financial sanctions that have complicated banking transactions involving Russia.
Russian authorities have not yet issued a specific public statement explaining the increase in the final e-Visa price. However, it coincides with a broader revision of the country’s consular fees.
Russia’s electronic visa program remains available to nationals of 64 countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, India, and Mexico, for tourism, business, private visits, and participation in certain events.
U.S. passport holders are not currently eligible for Russia’s e-Visa program. American travelers must therefore follow the regular visa application process through a Russian embassy or consulate, unless they qualify for another visa exemption.
For eligible travelers, the e-Visa’s main conditions remain unchanged:
- Validity: 120 days from the date of issuance;
- Maximum permitted stay: 30 days;
- Number of entries: Single entry;
- Processing time: Up to four calendar days.
The Russian e-Visa therefore remains a convenient alternative to a traditional consular visa for eligible travelers planning a short stay, eliminating the need to submit a passport to a Russian diplomatic mission.
Russia doubles expedited consular visa fees for European travelers
The price increase extends beyond electronic visas.
Russia’s Consulate General in Strasbourg, France, has published an updated fee schedule confirming that new consular visa charges for European nationals took effect on October 14, 2026.
The biggest changes affect traditional visa applications submitted for expedited processing.
For standard visas, including tourist and business visas, regular processing fees remain unchanged. Expedited processing fees, however, have doubled.
The following rates apply to European applicants, according to the Russian consulate’s published fee schedule. Amounts are shown in euros, as listed by the consulate, and should not be confused with visa fees specifically applicable to U.S. citizens.
Russian visa typeRegular processingExpedited before Oct. 14Expedited from Oct. 14Single-entry€80€160€320Double-entry€128€256€512Multiple-entry€240€480€960Standard processing generally takes 4 to 20 business days, compared with up to 3 business days for expedited applications.
In practical terms, a European traveler seeking a single-entry Russian tourist visa through expedited processing must now pay €320 in consular fees, up from €160.
For an eligible multiple-entry visa processed on an expedited basis, the fee has climbed to €960, compared with €480 before October 14.
Even steeper increases for Russian work visas
Work visas are subject to a separate fee schedule, with increases affecting both standard and expedited applications.
The Russian Consulate General in Strasbourg now lists the following charges:
- Single-entry work visa: €160 for regular processing or €640 for expedited processing;
- Double-entry work visa: €256 for regular processing or €1,024 for expedited processing;
- Multiple-entry work visa: €480 for regular processing or €1,920 for expedited processing.
Compared with the previous general fee schedule, regular processing charges have doubled for work visas, while expedited fees have increased fourfold.
Student visas, meanwhile, follow a different fee structure. Standard processing fees remain at €80, €128, and €240 for single-, double-, and multiple-entry visas, respectively. Expedited processing costs €160, €256, and €480.
Another round of Russian visa fee increases following the 2024 changes
The latest increases are part of a series of changes Russia has made to its consular visa fees in recent years.
By January 2024, Russia had already increased visa fees for European nationals following the European Union’s suspension of its visa facilitation agreement with Moscow.
At the time, Russian authorities eliminated preferential visa fees previously granted to European travelers, increasing the regular single-entry visa fee from €35 to €80.
The latest revision stems from a Russian government decree adopted on October 2, 2026, updating consular fees across several visa categories.
The implementation of the new rates on October 14 was also confirmed by Russia’s Consulate General in Toronto in an announcement published on October 13.
While the Russian Consulate General in Strasbourg has already updated its published fee schedule, the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. had not yet posted an equivalent update detailing the revised rates for European applicants at the time of the initial review.
Travelers applying through Russian diplomatic missions in the United States should therefore verify the fees applicable to their nationality with the embassy or the consulate responsible for their application.
For U.S. citizens, a key distinction applies: Russian visa fees are subject to separate arrangements, including the bilateral visa facilitation framework between Washington and Moscow. The European consular fee increases outlined above should not be interpreted as an automatic change to the amounts charged to American passport holders.
For European travelers, however, the financial impact is clear. Standard tourist and business visa fees remain unchanged, while choosing expedited processing now comes at a substantially higher cost.
And although the nearly 18% increase in Russia’s e-Visa fee makes the digital application more expensive, it remains generally the most affordable and straightforward option for eligible travelers planning a short visit.
VisasNews Take
Two significant visa fee changes have taken effect in Russia since October 14, 2026. First, the electronic visa price has increased from 202 to 238 AED, a rise confirmed through applications processed by VisasNews and Action-Visas on the official government portal. Second, Russia has doubled expedited processing fees for standard consular visas, with even sharper increases for work visas. Processing timelines remain unchanged, but travelers now face a much wider cost difference depending on the visa type and processing speed they choose. Importantly, U.S. passport holders are not eligible for Russia’s e-Visa and are subject to separate consular visa arrangements.