How to Travel to Russia During Coronavirus

Author: waytorussia (on 21 Sep 2022)
Russia has closed its borders due to Coronavirus since March 2020. However, there are some ways to travel to Russia especially if you are a national of the countries that are exempt from the entry restrictions (for instance, USA and UK). In this article, we explain who can travel to Russia, how to get your Russian visa, and what are the legal procedures you have to fulfill after you enter.

 

Step 1. Check the Allowed Countries List to Travel to Russia

Currently (as of 09 July 2021) Russia allows entry only to both the citizens and the residents of the following countries and only by air (according to the corresponding Russian law N635R and a special decree 1745-p from the 28th of June 2021):
 
In Europe:
  • United Kingdom (no need to quarantine anymore)
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Germany (since the 1st of April)
  • Greece
  • Finland
  • Italy
  • Ireland
  • Lichtenstein
  • North Makedonia
  • Switzerland
  • Serbia
  • Turkey
In Asia:
  • Japan
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Republic of Korea
  • Maldives
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Tajikistan
  • Sri-Lanka
  • Vietnam (since March 2021)
  • India
  • Qatar
  • Singapore
  • China
  • Jordan
In Africa:
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Tanzania
  • Seychelles
In Americas:
  • Cuba
  • Venezuela
  • USA / United States of America
Other countries:
You may still be able to travel to Russia if you are
  • a close family member (a spouse) or if you have
  • an urgent legitimate medical reason.
  • a student studying in Russia (you need to contact your university to get permission to travel)
  • have a permanent residency in Russia
There are also some other ways to travel to Russia if you want to see your friends or loved ones, which we explain here on our Russian #loveisnottourism page.
 
It is important to note that you don't have to be a national of the country above to enter Russia. However, you do need a residency of that country (a document that allows you to stay in this country for longer than 90 days: e.g. a temporary long-term residency permit). Also, this works only if you travel to Russia by air. We also recommend you to take a direct flight from the country that is on the list above in order to avoid any problems at the border. We heard many reports of the citizens of the countries mentioned above entering from another country and they would not be allowed.
 
You cannot cross the border by car, by train, by boat, or by train — you won't be allowed to enter unless you fall into a special category listed above (e.g. visiting a close relative, medical reasons — e.g. eye surgery, sports or transport worker). 
 
Note, that the airline clerks usually use this IATA map to check the regulations and it has pretty up-to-date information on all the restrictions around the world.

 

Step 2. Get a Russian Visa

If you fulfill the requirement above, you can get a tourist or business Russian visa to travel to Russia, following the standard procedure. You will first need to get a visa support document online and then use it to apply for the visa in one of the visa processing centers in your country of residence. If you already have a Russian visa, you can enter Russia using that visa as well. 

 

Step 3. Get a Negative Covid PCR Test

You will need a negative COVID-19 PCR test issued not earlier than 72 hours before your arrival. This test can be in English or in Russian. If it is in any other language you need to translate it to Russian and have a notary proof of that translation. This notary proof can be ordered at the Russian consulate when you obtain your visa.
 
The test that you take should not be the antibody or express test, it should be a PCR test (which is taken with a swab from the mouth or nose area). Also, while the regulations are not clear on that, it is better if your test is actually _taken_ not earlier than 72 hours before your arrival time. The regulation says "issued", but it's better to be safe and to bring the most recent test you can. 
 
Even though the regulations for entry state 72 hours we recommend you to have a negative test that is made about 44 hours before you arrive. This gives you time to check into a hotel, because they might not accept you with a negative PCR test made more than 48 hours before your actual check-in (we're allowing about 4 hours for all your travels and additional tests upon arrival).

 

 

Step 4. Flight Procedures: Residency + Negative Test Proof

Before you fly to Russia you will need to prove that you are a resident in the country you're flying from, before you board the flight. So make sure you bring all your residency documents that prove that you are actually a resident in that country. Also, bring your negative Covid-19 PCR test. We also recommend not to use any connecting flights as the Russian authorities might not let you in if you have changed your flight in a country that is not on the allowed countries list.


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Step 5. Arrival Procedures: Covid Test Upon Arrival in Russia

Once you arrive in Russia (most likely through an airport), you have 72 hours to take an obligatory Covid-19 test. Before you get the results, you should be in self-isolation. However, it usually takes about 3-4 hours to get the results of the test, so by the time you reach the city by public transpor, you don't have to self-isolate if you have the negative result. If you get a positive result, you need to self isolate for 14 days. This can be done at your accommodation or a hotel. 
 
You can make the test directly at the airport (plan an extra hour for that) or in one of the city labs: Invitro or Gemotest. Gemotest is English-speaking friendly and you can order their service online. The test costs 3000 R (€35) and you will usually get the results within 24 hours (if you pay the express fee, which is worth it) or in 3-4 hours if you make a test at the airport upon arrival. One good thing about the tests in Russia is that they take the swabs in the throat, not in the nose, so it's not too painful or invasive.
 
Before you obtain a negative test result you will need to go on quarantine. So, for instance, if you made your test at the airport, you have to go on quarantine until you get the negative test results by email (usually the next day). If you made a test at a lab, you have to be on quarantine before and after. If you obtain a positive test result you have to stay on quarantine for 14 days. If you do have to quarantine, don't worry as all major cities have very good delivery infrastructure, so you'll be able to order food, restaurant meals, and anything else you might wish.

 

Step 6: Second PCR Test Upon Arrival

Once you arrive in Russia, you need to obtain a Covid PCR test result no later than the 3rd day after your arrival. Technically, before you get this test you need to be on a quarantine, but in reality you can get the results 4 hours after you arrive if you do the test at the airport, in which case you don't need to quarantine (provided the result is negative). You do not have to upload it to a Russian government services website: this requirement is valid only for Russian citizens. Just in case, we recommend that you carry your negative test result with you in case there's a routine document check (unlikely). If you obtained a positive test result, then you will have to stay 14 days on quarantine. You don't have to do the test if you're vaccinated within the last 12 months with a Russian vaccine or if you had Covid in the last 6 months and have a proof in Russian of that. 
 
Note, that most hotels will not let you in without a negative PCR test result. They might accept the test that you made in your country of origin, but some hotels might only accept the newer, Russian test. So you need to plan for a plan B for the period that will pass between the test you will have made in Russia and the time you obtain the new, updated results (usually 24 hours). We advise you to stay with friends or rent an AirBnB apartment — at least for the first couple of days — or check with your hotel if they will accept you with a negative PCR test made in the country you're traveling from _before_ you will have obtained your Russian one. Usually, they should be fine with that, but you need to check with and warn them. Also, make sure your first test is made not earlier than 48 hours before you are checking in as the hotels have different regulations and they might simply not check you in if it's older.
 

 

Step 7: Enjoy Russia: Almost No Covid Restrictions

Now that you've passed all the steps, feel free to enjoy Russia. All the sights, restaurants, clubs, bars, and cafes are open with minimum restrictions. The only restriction that is still in place is that you have to wear masks in transport and in public places (like trading centers or shops). If you break this rule you may get fined up to 5000R (€60), but the rule is only really enforced in public transport. 
 
Note, that if you travel to some regions the local hotels may have a requirement to see a recently made negative Covid-19 test. The Russian-language Telegram group "Nu che narod, pognali" usually has all the up-to-date info on the restrictions, so you can use DeepL or Google translate to read through the info there before traveling to another region. Or simply make another test, just in case, before you travel (it's not so expensive and is very fast).
 
 
Nationals of which countries are allowed to travel to Russia

 




 

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