The key facts
- In the first nine months of 2026, 12,463 US citizens visited Russia — 712 fewer than a year earlier
- Tourism is the most common purpose: 5,235 people, with another 4,613 indicating a private visit
- Meanwhile, in the first quarter of 2026, according to Life.ru, American trips to Russia grew compared with 2025
Entry statistics for nine months
From January to September 2026 12,463 US citizens crossed the Russian border — 712 fewer than in the same period last year. The figures come from TASS, whose statistics were examined by Life.ru. The most common purpose of travel was tourism — 5,235 Americans, while another 4,613 indicated a private visit, such as visiting relatives or acquaintances. 1,823 people made business trips, 537 came to work, 80 to study, 153 arrived as service personnel, and 22 were in transit.
How they traveled and the logistics situation
The vast majority of travelers chose air transport: 11,505 people arrived by plane, 547 by car, 358 on foot, 48 by rail, and only five by water transport. As Life.ru notes, Americans still need a visa to visit Russia, and there is no direct air service between the two countries, so routes have to be planned with layovers.
Contradictory dynamics
The nine-month figures are declining, but the picture over shorter periods looks different: Life.ru previously reported that in the first quarter of 2026, the number of American trips to Russia increased compared with the first quarter of 2025 — 2,743 entries versus 2,556. Thus, the growth at the beginning of the year did not hold through the remaining months: the final nine-month figure turned out lower than last year's. Full data for the fourth quarter of 2026 are not yet available, so it is too early to judge the dynamics for the entire year.
