It is possible to travel to Russia for tourism, humanitarian purposes, business or to visit relatives using the electronic visa or e-visa. How do you obtain an e-Visa? What are its prerogatives? Is it possible to extend a business trip for tourism with the same e-Visa?
How do I obtain an e-Visa for Russia?
There are two ways to obtain a Russian e-Visa. Either through the platforms of the authorities (Russian institutions) dedicated to this purpose, or by requesting the services of platforms specialising in issuing electronic visas. Whichever procedure you choose, all you need is the contact details of theaccommodation (no voucher required), a passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of application,a passport photoin any format and with a travel insurance repatriation + medical expenses. You must apply for an e-visa within 10 days of your departure, and you have 60 days to enter the country once it has been issued. Once you have obtained your e-Visa, you need to print it out and present it for inspection.
Obtaining an e-Visa via the authorities' website
If you choose this option, simply visit the relevant platforms and follow the procedure. Ideally, you should use the website of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation to apply for an e-Visa.
Once on the platform, you enter the information requested and upload your photo. Make sure you enter your details correctly on the site to avoid any complications. If there is a discrepancy between the information on your passport and that entered on the site, or if the format of your passport photo is incorrect, your e-visa application may be rejected.
Obtaining an e-Visa through an agency
The steps involved in obtaining an e-Visa are simple, but tricky. A single error when entering your personal details, or failure to respect the dimensions of the passport photo, can result in your e-Visa being refused. So it's best to entrust the procedure to a specialist platform. By using its services, you can be sure of applying for your e-Visa with complete peace of mind. The fees for this service are as follows 49 € for consular fees only, the difference being the service.
Is it possible to extend a business or tourism stay with the same Russian e-Visa?
The Russian e-Visa is open to 56 countries, including all the countries of the European Union (France), and is issued for a maximum stay of 16 days. The e-Visa is valid for one of four reasons: tourism, business, humanitarian or visiting relatives. Since 1 January 2021, the Russian government has introduced an unified electronic visa The purpose of the e-Visa cannot be changed, nor can it be extended, and certainly not while you are in Russia.
An agency service 