New Zealand passport → Russia

Russia visa for New Zealand citizens

Visa required

Visa required

New Zealand citizens need a visa for Russia, arranged before the trip. Several governments, including the UK, advise against all travel to Russia. Foreign bank cards (Visa, Mastercard) do not work there, so bring US dollars or euros in cash.

Official details are shown in English.

Status
Visa required
Max stay
Not fixed in our data
Last checked
30 October 2026

What it means in practice

Apply well before the trip: visa processing for Russia depends on the embassy or consulate handling your application. The length of stay is the one printed on your visa.

How Russia counts your stay: As stated on the visa (e-visa: up to 30 days). Register your stay if it is longer than 7 working days; hotels usually do this, private hosts must do it themselves. Show proof of registration when leaving. Overstaying brings fines, deportation and an entry ban.

Before you go

Official details are shown in English.

  • Russian visa (consulate / visa centre) — Cost: Depends on visa type; Stay: As stated on the visa. Apply on the official site
  • Regular visa via a Russian visa centre — Well before travel; Depends on visa type and country of application. Applicants aged 12 and over give fingerprints in person at the visa centre. Your passport must be valid at least 6 months after the visa expires; a visa in an expired passport cannot be used. Official site
  • Bring cash in US dollars or euros — Before departure; —. Visa and Mastercard do not work in Russia: foreign cards fail in shops and ATMs. Exchange money only at banks, hotels or exchange offices; street exchange is illegal. Exporting more than US$10,000 in cash is prohibited. Official site

At the border

Official details are shown in English.

  • Passport valid at least 6 months after the visa expires; signed if issued after January 2017
  • Sign a migration card on every entry; keep your half and show it when leaving — it is also needed for hotels and currency exchange
  • Declare cash over US$10,000 and items such as medicines with controlled substances
  • Some travellers face long questioning, fingerprinting and requests to inspect phones and other devices
  • CBD products and any amount of cannabis are illegal

How to avoid overstaying

  • Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
  • Extend before you run out. An e-visa can be extended only for emergency treatment, force majeure or natural disasters.
  • What overstaying costs. Overstaying brings fines, deportation and an entry ban.

Good to know

Official details are shown in English.

  • Unpaid Russian debts, fines or penalties can stop you from leaving the country.
  • Children under 18 leaving Russia without a parent or guardian need notarised permission from a parent or guardian.

Questions

Do New Zealand citizens need a visa for Russia?

New Zealand citizens need a visa for Russia, arranged before the trip.

Can I extend my stay in Russia?

An e-visa can be extended only for emergency treatment, force majeure or natural disasters.

What do I need at the border in Russia?

Passport valid at least 6 months after the visa expires; signed if issued after January 2017; Sign a migration card on every entry; keep your half and show it when leaving — it is also needed for hotels and currency exchange; Declare cash over US$10,000 and items such as medicines with controlled substances.

When was this checked?

Bordr last checked the entry rules for Russia against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.

Sources and last check

Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.

Includes visa data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), retrieved 1 November 2026; Bordr's official-source checks take precedence.

More destinations for New Zealand passports

Popular with nomads

Europe

All destinations for New Zealand passports

Russia for other passports