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I am a EU citizen planning to travel to the Baltic republics this summer and was wondering if I can visit St Petersburg too (I found multiple companies offering bus services between Tallin and St Petersburg). The website https://www.e-visa-russia.com/st-petersburg seems active, stating

In order to ensure state security, to protect public health and not to spread the new coronavirus infection in the Russian Federation, from March 18, 2020 to May 31, 2020 the issuance of electronic visas for visiting the Far Eastern Federal District, Kaliningrad Oblast, Saint‑Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast has been suspended.

Could anyone in the community please confirm if it's possible to obtain a St Petersburg e-visa ? I am aware Russia scrapped the unified e-visa :https://electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/index_en.html.

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    This may not be the best time to travel to Russia. Make sure that you understand what you are getting yourself into and what the moral/ethical considerations are.
    – Hilmar
    Jul 23 at 11:51
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    @Hilmar in terms of actual, physical safety on the ground it's no more dangerous than pre-war travel. Moral/ethical considerations may still exist, of course, and can be taken into account.
    – JonathanReez
    Jul 23 at 13:46
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    @JonathanReez-onstrike It is more than just moral/ethical considerations that need to be taken into account. There are potential monetary issues with bank sanctions (which likely means foreigners carrying cash - making them a bigger target for robbery). Then there is the reduced ability of accessing consular services if something does happen to you. And finally, I don't know how much anti-western sentiment there currently is there, but I would expect it to be higher than pre-war.
    – Peter M
    Jul 23 at 16:24
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    Also one should double check any exclusions on travel insurance policies.
    – jcaron
    Jul 23 at 16:37
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    Or they might arrest you, so they can exchange you for a prisoner of their choice.... Jul 23 at 20:26

2 Answers 2

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Russian Ministry of International Affairs just issued news piece that e-visas will make a comeback starting from August 1, 2023.

From August 1, 2023, a practical launch of the system for issuing unified electronic visas to foreign citizens valid throughout the territory of the Russian Federation will be carried out. At the same time, the list of foreign countries whose citizens are issued such a visa will be preserved and expanded, which currently includes 52 countries.

That makes it a "yes", though the web site of e-visa still does not work.

Update Sep 2023: The website is now live, and it promises that:

FAST An e-visa is issued within 4 calendar days, including week-ends and bank holidays.

EASY There is no need for any invitations or confirmations. Just fill in the application form on the website.

CONVENIENT There is no need to waste your free time or working hours to visit the consular agency during its business hours. The website works 24/7.

Looks like it would now be country-wide and not restricted to SPb region.

With regards to country list, as per 2023 there are most of EU, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, but neither USA nor Canada. Latin America, Thailand and South Korea are not on the list, but I believe they have visa waiver when travelling to Russia.

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No, it is still suspended .

The embassy of Russia in France states :

POUR DES RAISONS SANITAIRES, LES VISAS ÉLECTRONIQUES NE SONT PAS DÉLIVRÉS.

For sanitary reasons, electronic visas aren't supplied

The link given by the embassy for that visa kind now is a 404

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