Saudi Arabia to Russian Federation visa requirements

As of 11 May 2026, Saudi Arabia ordinary passport holders can visit Russia visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days per calendar year under a mutual visa exemption agreement that entered into force that date. A mutual visa exemption agreement between Saudi Arabia and Russia, signed on 1 December 2025 in Riyadh, entered into force on 11 May 2026 after both governments completed ratification and the required 60-day notification period. It is the first Saudi visa-waiver agreement to include ordinary (regular) passports, in addition to diplomatic and special/service passports. Saudi ordinary passport holders may now enter Russia without any visa for tourism, business, visiting relatives and friends, cultural/scientific/sports events, and transit. The permitted stay is up to 90 days within one calendar year, which may be used in a single trip or split across multiple visits. The exemption does NOT cover work, study, permanent residence, or Hajj pilgrimage, which still require the appropriate Russian visa. Because the visa-waiver is now in force as of the 30 May 2026 reference date, the standalone Russian unified e-visa (which costs about USD 52, allows a single entry and a 30-day stay) is no longer necessary for short Saudi tourist trips, though it remains an alternative. Russia is not part of the Schengen area, so Schengen 90/180 rules and ETIAS do not apply. Travelers should carry a passport valid for the duration of stay (a 6-month validity buffer is strongly advised), proof of onward/return travel, and confirmation of accommodation.