How to Apply for a Russian Visa: Consulate Requirements
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Fill out and print the Russian visa application form on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website.
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Bring the both documents to one of the Russian visa application centers, depending on the country you're in.
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Wait for about 3 to 15 days and get your Russian visa.
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Don't forget to register your visa once you arrive
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What Documents are Needed to Get a Russian Visa
Russian Tourist Visa requirements:
2. Russian visa application form completed and signed (you should fill it out on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs page http://visa.kdmid.ru and read the instructions how to fill out the Russian visa application form).
3. Three passport-type photographs (make sure you have no glasses and hats on).
4. For individual travelers: a letter of invitation (also called "visa support" or "tourist voucher and tourist reservation confirmation") issued by a Russian travel agency authorized in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), or directly from a Russian hotel, showing the reference number of the company in the MFA and the confirmation number for the visa (see Types of Visa section).
5. Citizens of Schengen countries (Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands etc), US, Canada, Australian and Israeli citizens need to present an insurance valid in Russia (more info on travel insurance for Russia here).
UK citizens don't need to present the insurance documents as NHS is valid in Russia.
6. French citizens sometimes are also requited to present bank statements for the last 3 months and a copy of their return tickets (as well as insurance, as above). If you're applying for a tourist visa in France, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, or Taiwan you will need to present an itinerary that details every day of your stay in Russia. Simply detail your journey using the format here (download doc or pdf document) and send it to your visa support agency, so they get it back to you signed and stamped. If you're getting a visa for longer than 10 days in Sweden, the Russian consulate in Sweden may ask you to provide a proof that you fully paid your accommodation, so either get those proofs, try a shorter stay or get a business visa instead :)
Most Russian consulates do not require originals of the invitation papers: a fax or a scanned copy (sent to you via e-mail) is enough. Only the consulates in Switzerland, Sweden and sometimes in Germany ask for originals. Also note that a consulate has the right to request the originals of the papers, if they need them.
For cruise passengers or group travelers: the Russian visa should be arranged with your cruise organizers. You will be able to leave the port only together with the cruise organizers.
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Russian Business Visa requirements:
1. A valid passport with at least one blank page (for a visa), the expiration date should be not earlier than 3 months after your visa validity ends. Sometimes you may be required to present two photocopies of your passport (copy all the most important pages of the passport -- showing your name, birth date, photo, passport number, expiration date).
3. Three passport-type photographs (make sure you have no glasses and hats on).
4. Official invitation from an organization authorized to invite business visitors to Russia. The Invitation to Russia must be issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its regional representatives, or Russian
travel agencies authorized to process invitations for business visas
The Russian consulate where you will apply has a right to ask for an original copy of the invitation.
5. If you're applying for a visa longer than 6 or 12 months or a multiple entry visa, an HIV test may be required by some consulates.
6. Some consulates may require to present a letter from your employer confirming your trip to Russia and itinerary.
7. Shengen countries, Estonian, and Israeli citizens need to present an insurance valid in Russia (more info on travel insurance).
8. French citizens sometimes are also requited to present bank statements for the last 3 months and a copy of their return tickets (as well as insurance, as above).
Most Russian consulates do not require originals of the invitation papers if you are getting a single or double-entry business visa: a fax or a scanned copy (sent to you via e-mail) is enough. Only the consulates in Switzerland, Sweden and sometimes Germany ask for originals. Note, however, that a consulate has the right to request the originals of the papers, if they need them. Originals of multiple entry business visa invitations are always required by all consulates.
Russian Private Visa requirements
2. Russian visa application form completed and signed (on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs page http://visa.kdmid.ru).
3. Three passport-type photographs (make sure you have no glasses and hats on).
4. A private invitation certificate ("izveshchenie" or "priglashenie") from the local OVIR office (immigration officials) in Russia (for Moscow this certificate is issued by a local police department). The person who's inviting you must obtain this certificate for you in OVIR and send the original certificate to you. When you come to Russia, you can only live at this person's place.
American male citizens also need to fill in a very strange paper (called "a supplement to visa application form") to make sure they will not be spying in Russia. It should be presented along with the other documents to paranoid consulate officials. You can see it here (Adobe Acrobat format).
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How to Increase Your Chances
To increase your chances of getting the visa, the data you specify in the visa application form should be the same as in your invitation (e.g. the purpose of the trip, the place of stay, etc.).
Also, while having an interview with a Russian consulate official, you'll increase your chances if you say things that don't contradict to what's written in your application form and your invitation (e.g. if you say that you want to come to Russia only to make the Trans-Siberian and to camp for 3 months around lake Baikal, when you're applying for a business visa it will definitely not increase your chances).
How to Submit the Documents
There are three ways to submit your documents: either you can do it all by yourself (going to the consulate), by post (this is convenient, because you can send your papers from any country), or through a travel agency in your country (they'll take all your documents, send them to the consulate and charge you an additional fee for that).
If you apply for a business visa, the invitation can be sent by telex to the Russian consulate where you will apply. It's really easier for you when it's done like that, so we recommend to use this option. Some travel agencies charge additional fees for telex, some don't.
In case you don't want to go to the Russian consulate yourself you can use the services of an authorised Russian consulate partner in the country you are applying. If applying in USA, use ILS center, for UK use VFS Global, for France use VHS France, for Germany use VHS Germany, for all other countries check the list of available countries on use ILS center website.
Russian Visa Prices
The price of a Russian visa can also vary depending on which country you are applying in. For example, if an American citizen applies for a business visa in Finland, it may cost more than $200, however, in Romania it will cost $80. So, if you are planning to get your visa somewhere in Europe it is worth calling a few Russian consulates to search for the best bargain.
Here's a breakdown of visa application fees by country:
Visa Prices in the Russian consulate in USA for USA citizens:
For single entry visas:
$100 for not less than six business days processing;
$150 for not less than three business day processing;
$200 for next business day processing or two business day processing;
$300 for same day processing;
For double entry visas:
$100 for not less than six business days processing;
$200 for not less than three business day processing;
$250 for next business day processing or two business day processing;
$350 for same day processing;
For multiple entry visas:
$100 for not less than six business days processing;
$300 for not less than three business day processing;
$350 for next business day processing or two business day processing;
$450 for same day processing;
£30 - for not less than 8 working days processing
£40 - for 6 working days processing (£100-multiple entry visa)
£60 - for 3-5 working days processing
£80 - for next day processing (£130-multiple entry visa)
£90 - for the same day processing (£150-multiple entry visa)
£120 - for express visa
Additional charge for double-entry visas is £10.
£30 - any correction in visa or visa duplicate.
The citizens of other countries pay an additional £18 consular fee on top of the price for a business, tourist, or transit visa, or additional £84 for a multiple entry visa.
Visa Prices in the Russian consulate in France for French citizens:
Single-entry or multiple-entry tourist, business, or private visa:
54EUR - 5-7 working days processing
Transit visa (or any visa valid for 3 days or less):
28EUR - 5-7 working days processing
Where and When to Apply for a Russian Visa
Therefore, if you're planning a long journey, you should always apply for the Russian visa before you leave. It's possible to get a tourist visa support at any moment before your journey, however, you can only apply for a tourist visa not earlier than 90 days before the date of your first entry to Russia. Business visa support can be obtained not earlier than 45 days before your first entry to Russia. These rules, introduced a couple of years ago, make it very complicated to get a visa for Australian citizens who usually go on a long journey through Asia and Russia into Europe and leave their country earlier than 90 days before their travel (so they simply can't apply in Australia, and the Russian consulate in China will not accept their documents either because they don't have a residency permit there. However, according to our own information, the consulates in Austalia and New Zealand are often willing to make exceptions and issue visas beforehand. But check with them first.
If you have a problem with this 90-day rule, there are several ways to solve it.
First, you can apply for a Russian visa by post. Make sure you get all the documents together first and once you're 90 days before your journey, simply send it off to the Russian consulate in your country, ask them to send it back to your address back home, and ask your friends or relatives to forward the documents wherever you are at the moment. This may not always work, though, because not all consulates receive applications by post. In that case you could try to find a local travel agency and send the documents to them, so they can apply on your behalf.
Second, you can try to get a temporary residence in the country where you want to apply. For example, if you are an American, you are automatically entitled to stay 90 days in any EU country. So, say, if you're staying in Russia on a multiple-entry visa and need to prolong it, you would not be able to travel to Helsinki for a visa run, because you don't have a residency permit for Finland valid for longer than 90 days. The best solution in this case would be to either find a country where as a US citizen you can stay longer than 90 days or try to get a local residency. It's usually possible if you bring your bank accounts to the local immigration office and tell them you need to stay longer to start a business, for example.
Finally, there are some countries where the Russian consulates are not that strict about the 90-day rule. You should always try to call them before. Also, from our own experience, if you're getting a business visa this rule is not so strictly enforced, so this may be an option as well.
Need a Russian Visa? Order online, no reservation ties, ready in 24 hours:
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What If Your Russian Visa Expires?
Before you leave Russia, get the invitation you need (tourist or business) and then, when you come to one of the Baltic State countries, you can directly apply for a new Russian visa in the Russian consulate there. Besides, the Baltic States is a beautiful place to visit... and... we have a guide to Riga on Way to Russia, as it's a popular "visa-run" destination.
Need a Russian Visa? Order online, no reservation ties, ready in 24 hours:
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