China, Korea and Singapore: where a visa is needed
Three neighbouring destinations from Bali work in three different ways. China admits Russian citizens for 30 days on a passport alone, Korea for 60 but with a K-ETA authorisation. The surprise of the three is Singapore: a visa is required, and only 96-hour onward transit is free.
Updated: 27 August 2026 · Verified by the Malina Visa team
The short answer for a Russian passport
Three neighbouring destinations work in completely different ways, and intuition misleads here: the most closed of the three is not the one you would guess.
- ✓China — visa-free for up to 30 days. A valid passport is all you need
- ✓Korea — visa-free for up to 60 days, but the K-ETA electronic authorisation is mandatory
- ✓Singapore — a visa is required. Visa-free entry exists only in transit and only up to 96 hours
China: 30 days on a passport alone
The simplest of the three. Russian citizens may stay up to 30 days presenting only a valid passport at the border.
- ✓The arrangement runs as a pilot scheme — open-ended by nature it is not
- ✓Purposes are limited: tourism, business visits, family visits and transit
- ✓No advance forms, no fees, no consulates
- !Work, study and long stays are not covered — those need a separate visa
- !Pilot status means conditions can change: check before buying tickets
Korea: visa-free, but not quite
Formally South Korea is open to Russian passports for up to 60 days. In practice there is a compulsory step in between.
The electronic travel authorisation is arranged online in advance. Without it you will not board.
About KRW 10,000 — a nominal sum.
Up to 60 days, enough for a holiday or a long trip.
Singapore: the real trap
For a Russian passport Singapore is a visa country. Visa-free entry exists but it is transit-only and hedged with conditions.
- ✓Up to 96 hours without a visa when travelling onward to a third country
- ✓Printed flight confirmations are required
- ✓Longer than 96 hours means a tourist visa, with no alternatives
And here is the detail that catches people: transit means flying onward, not returning to where you came from. The classic Bali–Singapore–Bali pattern is not transit.
If you do need a Singapore visa
It is arranged online: applications go through authorised agents or visa centres located in Singapore itself.
- ✓Documents — passport scan, a photo on a white background, accommodation and flight bookings
- ✓Standard processing — 3 to 5 working days
- ✓Expedited — from a few hours to two days
- ✓Cost — roughly USD 60 to 150 depending on the provider and urgency
What is assessed above all is your intention to return. Residency in Indonesia helps here as it does elsewhere: it explains where your life is.
Where else you can file from Bali
- ✓Japan — the visa centre is in Denpasar, but a KITAS is required
- ✓Australia — entirely online, no visit anywhere
- ✓United States — an interview in Jakarta or Surabaya
- ✓Schengen — the Bulgarian route for Russian citizens
Frequently asked questions
Do Russian citizens need a visa for China in 2026?
No, for trips up to 30 days for tourism, business, visiting relatives or transit. A valid passport at the border is enough. The arrangement runs as a pilot scheme.
What is K-ETA and is it compulsory?
It is the electronic travel authorisation for South Korea, arranged online in advance for about KRW 10,000. Without it you will not be allowed to board, despite the 60-day visa-free regime.
Is it true that Russians need a visa for Singapore?
Yes. Only transit remains visa-free, up to 96 hours, when travelling onward to a third country with printed tickets. Everything else requires a tourist visa.
Does a Bali–Singapore–Bali trip count as visa-free transit?
No. Transit means continuing to a third country, not returning to your point of departure. Such a trip needs a visa, and that is worth establishing before buying tickets.
How long does a Singapore visa take?
Typically 3 to 5 working days, with expedited processing from a few hours to two days. Filing is online through agents and visa centres in Singapore.
We will help with the visa and check your route
Tell us where and when you are flying — we will verify the requirements and gather the documents.
About KITAS and KITAP