{
  "id": "visa/unified-e-visa-2023",
  "signature": "AI tells a traveler that Russia only issues visas through a slow embassy invitation process",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(russia.*visa|visa.*russia|russia.*e.?visa|russian.*evisa|russia.*electronic.visa)",
  "domain": "visa",
  "category": "administrative_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Since August 2023 Russia issues a unified electronic visa (e-visa) to citizens of around 55 countries for short tourism, business, or visits - applied for online a few days ahead, valid 60 days with a stay of up to 16 days. Other nationalities still need a consular visa with an invitation. Check current eligibility and travel advisories.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Assume every traveler to Russia needs a consular visa with an invitation letter",
      "why_fails": "Russia launched a unified e-visa in 2023 for around 55 eligible nationalities; for them the slow invitation-based consular process is no longer required for short stays.",
      "fail_rate": 0.55,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/",
        "https://www.mid.ru/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Overstay the 16-day e-visa limit or use it for work/long stays",
      "why_fails": "The e-visa permits a stay of up to 16 days for tourism/business/visit only; working or overstaying breaches it and risks penalties.",
      "fail_rate": 0.5,
      "condition": "Work or stay beyond 16 days",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "If eligible, apply for the unified e-visa online a few days before travel via the official MID portal.",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "Use only the official electronic-visa.kdmid.ru site; apply at least 4 days ahead and carry the approved e-visa.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "If your nationality is not e-visa eligible, apply for a consular visa with the required invitation in advance.",
      "success_rate": 0.78,
      "how": "Arrange a consular visa and invitation if you are not on the e-visa list.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.75,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.8,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-01",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-06-14",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "visa/unified-e-visa-2023/ru"
  ]
}