Visa requirements for South Ossetian citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of South Ossetia by the authorities of other states.
South Ossetia has mutual visa-free agreements with Russia in 2010 [1] and Abkhazia in 2015. [2] South Ossetians can either use their domestic or international passport to enter Russia and Abkhazia. South Ossetia and Venezuela are preparing to sign a mutual visa-free agreement. [3]
The Republic of South Ossetia – the State of Alania is a partially recognized state in the South Caucasus that declared independence from Georgia during the South Ossetia War (1991–1992). At the time, the Soviet Union had only just recently collapsed. Since 1991, South Ossetia has sought recognition as a sovereign state from the international community. South Ossetia is considered by most of the international community to be a part of Georgia.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are separatist regions of Georgia in the Caucasus. Most countries recognise them as part of Georgia, while Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria regard them as independent. Russia's initial recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occurred in the aftermath of the Russo-Georgian War in 2008. The government of Georgia considers the republics to be Russian-occupied territories.
Russia–South Ossetia relations refers to the bilateral relationship between Russia and the Republic of South Ossetia, a disputed region in the South Caucasus, located on the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations are bilateral foreign relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia, whose international status is disputed – they are both considered part of Georgia by the majority of the world's states.
The visa policy of Russia deals with the requirements which a foreign national wishing to enter the Russian Federation must meet to obtain a visa, which is a permit to travel to, enter, and remain in the country. Visa exemptions are based on bilateral or multilateral agreements.
Visitors to Kyrgyzstan must obtain an e-Visa unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries or citizens who may obtain a visa on arrival.
Visitors to Kazakhstan must obtain a visa from one of the Kazakh diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries or citizens eligible for an e-Visa.
Visitors to Belarus must obtain a visa from one of the Belarusian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries.
South Ossetian passports are issued to inhabitants of South Ossetia for the purpose of international travel and for the purpose of legal identification within South Ossetia. They were first issued on August 15, 2006. Since South Ossetia is only recognised by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria, many South Ossetians also have Russian passports, which are more practical for international travel.
Visitors to Tajikistan must obtain a visa unless they are citizens of one of the visa-exempt countries, or citizens who may obtain a visa on arrival, or citizens eligible for an e-Visa.
Visitors to Uruguay must obtain a visa from one of the Uruguayan diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
Visitors to Nauru must obtain a visa unless they come from one of the countries eligible for free visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 3 months. Transit visas are not required if the connecting flight leaves within three hours of arrival in Nauru. Business visitors must have a local sponsor.
All visitors to Palau may generally obtain a visa on arrival, unless they are a citizen of one of the visa-exempt countries or a citizen of a country whose nationals must obtain a visa in advance.
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 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.
Since Abkhazia is only recognised as a sovereign state by a handful of nations, most countries do not accept Abkhaz passports and impose administrative entry restrictions on citizens of Abkhazia.
The visa history of Russia deals with the requirements, in different historical epochs, that a foreign national had to meet in order to obtain a visa or entry permit, to enter and stay in the country.
South Ossetia–Transnistria relations Russian: Приднестровско-югоосетинские отношения) is the bilateral relationship between South Ossetia and the Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic (Transnistria). South Ossetia is recognized by five United Nations member states and Transnistria by none. The bilateral relations are mostly symbolic.
Parliamentary elections were held in South Ossetia on 9 June 2024 to determine the composition of the South Ossetian Parliament, the legislature of the partially recognized Caucasian Republic of South Ossetia, which most of the United Nations recognizes as part of Georgia. In the 2022 presidential elections South Ossetia's opposition came to power for the first time since 2012, however, the government has been plagued by scandals.