Russia to waive entry visas for Vietnamese citizens from October 15
The exemption will remain in force until October 15, 2027, with exclusions for employment, study and settlement.
Vietnamese citizens will no longer need entry visas for eligible visits to Russia starting October 15, 2026, under a decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Interfax reported. The measure will remain valid until October 15, 2027.
Russia’s official legal portal has published the document. The waiver excludes students and people arriving for employment or settlement. Journalists entering for work are also outside its scope.
Vietnam currently permits Russian passport holders to stay without a visa for up to 45 days, beginning on their entry date. Vietnam recorded 742,000 arrivals from Russia during the first half of 2026, representing 2.8 times the number in the corresponding period a year earlier.
Airlines in both countries have restarted direct routes connecting their cities. Travel in the opposite direction also increased, with Russia recording a year-on-year rise of 21.4 per cent in Vietnamese arrivals during the first half of 2026.
In September, News.ru reported a forecast from a representative of Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development that Vietnam would receive a record 1.5 million Russian visitors in 2026.
