St Louis to Shakhtyorsk (STL–EKS) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders need a visa to enter Russia. Apply through the Russian embassy or consulate in the US or through an authorized visa agency. A tourist visa requires an invitation letter (voucher) from a Russian travel agency or hotel, a completed application form, a passport-sized photo, and a valid passport with at least 6 months validity beyond the visa expiration date and at least 2 blank pages. The single-entry tourist visa allows stays up to 30 days and costs $160 for US citizens. Processing takes 4 to 20 working days depending on the service tier selected.

Russia introduced an eVisa in 2023 for citizens of certain countries, but US citizens are not eligible for the eVisa and must apply through the traditional consular process. At Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DMO), or Pulkovo (LED), immigration scans your visa and stamps your passport. Keep your migration card (issued at the border) until departure. Register with local authorities within 7 working days of arrival; hotels handle this automatically for their guests.

No direct flights connect the US to Russia as of early 2026. Route through Istanbul (about 3 hours to SVO on Turkish Airlines or Aeroflot), Dubai (about 5 hours 30 minutes), or Abu Dhabi (about 5 hours 30 minutes). Total travel time from the US East Coast runs 14 to 20 hours. Russia uses the Russian ruble (RUB), trading at roughly 92 RUB per $1. International Visa and Mastercard cards do not work in Russia since 2022. Bring cash (US dollars or euros) and exchange at banks or licensed exchange offices. The Mir payment system operates domestically. Moscow's Metro covers 263 stations across 16 lines at RUB 57 ($0.62) per ride using a Troika card.