South Ossetia does not issue visas. However, visitors are required to receive approval from the South Ossetian government in advance of their visit unless they are citizens of an exempt country. South Ossetia may only be entered through Russia. Visitors are required to hold a valid Russian visa that permits them to return to Russia unless they are Russian citizens or citizens of countries that are exempt from Russian visa requirements.

2. Visa Exemption

Citizens of the following country and citizens belonging to the members of the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations may enter South Ossetia without a visa for an indefinite period:

Visa-Exempt Countries (Indefinite Period)
Abkhazia	Russia	Transnistria

These citizens can also enter using an internal passport in lieu of a passport.

A visa exemption agreement between South Ossetia and Nauru was signed on February 3, 2018, that would allow citizens of Nauru to travel to South Ossetia without prior approval and for citizens of South Ossetia to travel to Nauru without a visa, both for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. However, the agreement has yet to be ratified.

3. Entry Requirements

All visitors, except for citizens of exempt countries, must be invited by a party in South Ossetia (a private citizen or a South Ossetian organization, such as a government department or business) prior to their arrival. The key requirements are as follows:

• Inviting parties must submit their invitation letters to the Immigration Control Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
• Processing invitations takes up to 30 calendar days.
• Tourists must obtain an invitation from the Committee on Youth Policy, Sports, and Tourism.
• Journalists must receive approval from the State Committee on Information and Press prior to arrival.
• All visitors must register with the Immigration Control Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs within three days after their arrival.

4. Visitor Statistics

Approximately 95% of the population of South Ossetia has citizenship of the Russian Federation, and many of them leave the territory and enter it with Russian passports. Almost half of them permanently reside in Russia. South Ossetia is mostly visited by Russian citizens living mainly in Republic of North Ossetia–Alania (part of the Russian Federation).

Russian Federation Citizens Visiting South Ossetia
Year	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
Russia	381,473	206,260	407,694	443,646	451,918	450,753
Year	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010
Russia	472,443	502,108	500,682	511,715	528,223	537,080

Disclaimer: This document is for informational purposes only. South Ossetia is a partially recognized state. Entry requirements and policies are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with relevant authorities before travelling.