Russia e-Visa for citizens of Switzerland: online application, fees and processing time 2026
Yes, an e-Visa is required: citizens of Switzerland apply online before departure, for stays up to 30 days.
Data updated on
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Allowed stay
30 days
Our guide to the Russia visa from Switzerland
Swiss travellers need a visa for Russia; a unified electronic visa (e-Visa) can be applied for online before departure for short stays. Longer stays or other purposes require a traditional consular visa.
Swiss nationals travelling to Russia are not visa-exempt and submit their application on the Russian Foreign Ministry's official e-Visa portal before travelling. The process is online and the approval is presented at an e-Visa-eligible entry point. The Swiss passport must be valid for at least six months.
Do you need a visa?
Yes. Swiss citizens must obtain a visa to enter Russia. For a short tourist stay the unified e-Visa is usually sufficient; for a longer stay, business or family purposes, a consular visa issued by the Russian mission is required. Check the FDFA Consular Directorate for up-to-date travel advice.
How much does an e-visa for Russia cost from Switzerland?
The official fee for an e-visa for Russia is not published in a source we can verify. Check the amount on the official portal before paying anything, third-party sites often add service fees on top.
What does a visa for Russia really cost?
The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.
- Government feeNot published in a source we can verify
Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.
We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.
What documents are required for an e-visa for Russia?
Documents required for an e-visa for Russia:
- Passport valid 6 months beyond stay
- Completed application form
- One passport-size photo
- Travel medical insurance
- Proof of accommodation
- Visa fee payment
Documents and fees
Prepare a passport valid for at least six months, a recent photo, travel insurance and, depending on the purpose, an invitation or a booking. The visa fee is not fixed here: refer to the official rate on the e-Visa portal or from the consulate. Check that your point of entry is among those that accept the e-Visa.
How to apply for an e-visa for Russia from Switzerland
- 1Fill in the form on the destination’s official portal.
- 2Upload the required documents (passport, photo, supporting papers).
- 3Pay the fee online by card.
- 4Receive the authorisation by email, usually without a consular visit.
- 5Show the authorisation, printed or on your phone, at boarding.
How and where to apply
For the e-Visa, apply from Switzerland at evisa.kdmid.ru: an online form, a digital photo and a copy of the passport page. Payment is made on the portal and the approval is sent by email. For a consular visa, contact the relevant Russian consulate with an invitation or a confirmed booking.
Where do you apply for a visa for Russia from Switzerland?
An e-visa for Russia is filed entirely online: there is no counter to visit and no file to hand in. The only address that matters is the official portal.
- The application, the supporting documents and the payment all go through the official portal, from any country.
- Lookalike sites copy the portal’s name and layout, then resell the same application with a margin. Check the domain before you type in a passport number.
- The authorisation arrives by email. Keep a printed copy, some airlines ask for it at boarding.
You live in Switzerland on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Switzerland but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does an e-visa for Russia take?
No verified processing time is published for this route. Apply as early as your travel dates allow, and never book non-refundable travel before the e-visa is granted.
Processing and tips
For the e-Visa, apply several days before departure to cover processing. Check that the data matches the passport exactly, as any error can invalidate the visa. Take current Swiss travel advisories and restrictions for Russia into account before booking.
Before you fly, and at the border
- Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
- A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
- Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
- Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
- Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.
Common mistakes
Use only the official portal evisa.kdmid.ru: third-party sites overcharge for the same service. Arriving at a point not authorised for the e-Visa, or choosing the e-Visa for a stay that exceeds its duration, causes refusals. Finally, ignoring FDFA travel advice or travelling with a passport valid for less than six months leads to blocks.
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Other visa types for Russia
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
Official sources
- Russia Unified e-Visa: Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA/FDFA): Reisehinweise Russland
Guide generated automatically on July 26, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Short-stay (tourism)
eVisa / authorization
Entry regime
eVisa / authorization
Duration
30 days
Official websiteVerified
Work visa
Work visa
Duration
1-3 years
Price
80–185 USD
Processing time
20 business days
Official websiteVerified
Business visa
Consular visa
Duration
1 year
Price
80–185 USD
Processing time
10 business days
Official websiteVerified
Private/family visit visa
Family reunification
Duration
90 days
Price
80–185 USD
Processing time
20 business days
Official websiteVerified
Transit visa
Transit visa
Duration
10 days
Price
80–185 USD
Processing time
10 business days
Official websiteVerified
Student visa
Student visa
Duration
Duration of programme
Price
80–185 USD
Processing time
10 business days
Official websiteVerified
Highly Qualified Specialist visa
Work visa
Duration
3 years
Price
80–185 USD
Processing time
14 business days
Official websiteVerified
Tips for extending your stay in Russia
- Request the extension before your initial visa expires with the local migration authorities in Russia.
- Always keep a copy of your passport, visa, and registration documents in Russia.
- Strictly adhere to your visa conditions to avoid penalties or refusal of extension.
- Contact the Russian consulate in Switzerland for any specific questions or situation changes.
For example, a tourist arriving with a 30-day visa can request an additional 30 days extension by providing a valid reason and valid medical insurance at the local migration office before the initial visa expires.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa to travel to Russia from Switzerland?▾
Yes, an e-visa (electronic visa) is required. It is applied for online before departure and allows a stay of 30 days.
What documents are required for a visa to Russia?▾
For the tourist visa application, you will need: Passport valid 6 months beyond stay, Completed application form, One passport-size photo, Travel medical insurance, Proof of accommodation, Visa fee payment.
How do you apply for a visa for Russia from Switzerland?▾
The application is fully online and made before departure: form on the official portal, documents uploaded, card payment, then the authorisation arrives by email. In most cases no consular visit is needed.
How long can you stay in Russia?▾
The tourist visa allows a stay of 30 days.
What other visa types exist for Russia?▾
Depending on the purpose of stay, Russia offers among others: Business visa, Work visa, Highly Qualified Specialist visa, Student visa, Private/family visit visa, Transit visa.
Data verified on 28/10/2026 · Our methodology
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Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
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