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Russia

Recent reports of entry without significant problems.

This rating rests on little or old data, so treat it as a rough guide.

Based on 3 reports. Score 1.00 on a scale from −1 (always refused) to +1 (always admitted), with recent reports counting most. The newest report is more than three years old, so conditions may have changed. How scoring works

What to expect

All four reports, three from 2023 and one from 2024, describe entry or transit without problems.1–4 Three involved cruise stops at St. Petersburg, where travelers presented passports and went ashore; one traveler said officials hand-wrote visas and copied details without any verification check.2–4 The only non-cruise account is a 2024 airport transit through Moscow, where the traveler stayed airside and was not stopped; there are no reports of regular air or land arrivals.1

Written by an AI model from the reports below on September 19, 2026. The numbers link to the reports each sentence is based on. Read those before you decide.

Law restricts entry for people with criminal records

Russia bars entry to people with an unspent conviction for an intentional grave or especially grave crime, and may refuse entry for any unspent intentional conviction. Sex offenses and registries are not named.

Does this apply to you?

It applies if any of these is true:

  • An unexpunged or unspent conviction for an intentional grave or especially grave crime (Russian statutory maximum over 5 years), in Russia or abroad where the act is a crime under Russian law — entry is not permitted (mandatory)
  • An unexpunged or unspent conviction for any intentional crime, with no sentence threshold — entry may be refused (discretionary)

Read the law itself before relying on this. Sentence length usually means the sentence imposed, not the time served, and a suspended sentence often counts.

Federal Law No. 114-FZ of 15 August 1996, 'On the Procedure for Exit from the Russian Federation and Entry into the Russian Federation', Art. 26(1) cl. 3 and Art. 27(1) cl. 3 · mandatory

We haven't confirmed this citation against the official text yet.

Last checked against official sources on September 21, 2026.

Common questions

Can registered sex offenders enter Russia?

It's rated Open, but there are no trips reported in the last two years, so treat that as a rough guide.

Do Russia's border officers know about US registrants in advance?

None of the reports on file describe officers appearing to know in advance.

How do travelers usually arrive in Russia?

Reports on file describe 3 by sea or cruise. Outcomes can differ by how travelers arrive; each report below says which.

Reports

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  1. 1Oct 2024 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · Changing planes, Moscow

    The traveler transited a Moscow airport, staying in the transit area, and continued on without being stopped.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  2. 2Jul 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By sea or cruise, St. Petersburg cruise port

    The traveler went ashore for two days from a cruise ship; officials hand-wrote visas for all passengers disembarking and simply copied passport details without any verification check, despite the traveler believing they held a marked passport at the time.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  3. 3Jun 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By sea or cruise, St. Petersburg

    On a cruise stop the traveler had to present a passport at this port and was allowed ashore without problems.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand

  4. 4Feb 2023 (reported)

    Admitted, no issues · By sea or cruise, St. Petersburg (cruise port)

    On a cruise stop, the traveler's passport was one of only two ports where documents were examined; there were no issues going ashore despite a marked passport and advance federal travel notice.

    ACSOL (Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws) · archived copy · Forum post · Firsthand