Kenya, Eswatini, Zimbabwe
For a permitted one-entry trip of up to 30 days through approved checkpoints. No invitation is required.
See the Kenya route{ a continent is not a passport }
Africa reaches Russia through more than one door.
A Kenyan can qualify for e‑visa. A South African can currently travel visa-free. A Nigerian needs a regular visa. “African citizens” is a useful search phrase and a dangerous immigration category.
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Find the passport row before the product.
The examples below are current starting points, not a substitute for the full official table. Purpose, duration, entries and passport type can still change the result.
South Africa, Namibia, Seychelles, Cabo Verde
Each agreement has its own duration and conditions. Do not buy an invitation for a trip already covered by an exemption.
See South AfricaNigeria, Ghana, Egypt, North and West Africa
Tourism normally needs the regular application and accepted tourist support. The receiving post can require more than a generic instant PDF.
See the Nigeria route{ citizenship is not residence }
Paris can be the filing city without being the passport.
An Algerian, Cameroonian or Senegalese citizen resident in France may be able to lodge a regular application there. The French residence permit can prove jurisdiction; it does not transfer France's e‑visa eligibility.
Ask two separate questions: what route belongs to the passport, and what post may receive the file from this resident?
{ regular route, extra care }
“Invitation” may not mean the same document at every desk.
Some posts or nationalities can have specific expectations about an original, an electronic document, residence evidence, interview or additional itinerary records. Confirm the exact checklist before buying support.
- 01
Name the passport precisely
DR Congo and Republic of the Congo are different. South African residence and South African citizenship are different. Ordinary and diplomatic passports are different.
- 02
Name the real activity
Tourism, meetings, employment and study use different routes even when the trip has the same length.
- 03
Name the receiving post
Confirm that it accepts the applicant and what invitation format and residence evidence it currently requires.
- 04
Only then supply identity data
A preliminary route needs nationality, residence, purpose, dates and entries—not an unsolicited passport scan sent to several sellers.
{ Russia visa calculator }
Which document actually fits your trip?
The calculation uses trip facts only. No passport number, upload or personal data is saved.
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Questions people ask before they commit
Is there one Russia visa rule for African citizens?
No. Visa status follows the specific citizenship and passport. Current examples include e-visa eligibility for Kenya, Eswatini and Zimbabwe, visa-free routes for South Africa, Namibia, Seychelles and Cabo Verde, and regular visas for many other passports.
Does residence in France make an African passport e-visa eligible?
No. Residence can affect where a regular application is accepted. E-visa and visa-free status follow the citizenship and passport used.
Do all African regular-visa applicants need the same invitation format?
Do not assume so. Application posts can differ on originals, residence evidence, interviews and supporting documents. Confirm the receiving post before ordering support.
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Primary sources
Rules can move. These are the official pages used for this guide; check them again before you submit or travel.
- Entry and stay conditions by foreign citizenship and passport type Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Current official country-by-country visa, e-visa and visa-free status overview.
- Unified e-visa: application instructions Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Eligibility, timing, validity, permitted stay, insurance and checkpoint rules.
- Invitations to enter the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Official overview of invitation channels and responsible authorities.
- Russian visa application form Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
Official form used for regular visa applications.