In Saint Petersburg, electronic submission of visa documents for foreign citizens via “Gosuslugi” has been launched in February 2026

Starting February 2026, Saint Petersburg will gradually implement the possibility for foreign citizens to submit visa documents electronically through the “Gosuslugi” service: Visa Processing for Foreigners.

To make an appointment for submission and pre-send the required documents (available only for video conferencing), as well as for visa extension or restoration at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the following is required:

• A personal account on “Gosuslugi” for the foreign applicant or the inviting legal entity;
• The foreign citizen must be present in the Russian Federation at the time of submission;
• Registration with migration authorities at the foreign citizen’s place of stay and information about the inviting party;
• Any other information or documents required for visa submission.

Currently, submitting visa documents and making appointments via “Gosuslugi” may be difficult due to possible technical issues or service interruptions during the initial stage. It is therefore recommended to check information directly with the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.