Getting a Russian Visa: Step by Step Guide

Every foreigner needs a visa to go to Russia. In order to get it, you need to get an invitation (aka visa support letter) from Russia first and then apply for the visa at the Russian consulate. You can also have a local agent do all this for you. Be careful, however, because some agents and hotels "lock" people into a fixed itinerary or limit their visa validity to the period they're staying at the particular hotel.

Use our step-by-step guide below to get your Russian visa online. It is designed for independent travelers who want to have a flexible itinerary and be free of any hotel commitments. We also provide some insider's info on the Russian consulates, so that you know how to increase your chances of getting the visa.

Step 1: Get an Invitation   First, you need an invitation (aka visa support letter) to apply for a Russian visa. You can get it online on Way to Russia through one of our carefully selected advertisers – they all cater to independent travelers, provide 24h support, and guarantee that your visa will be issued by the consulate.   It's the same price and process as when you use them directly, but doing it through our site you support our free guide to Russia and get the backup of our quality monitoring managers in dealing with providers.   Option 1: Tourist Invitation         Period of stay: 1 to 30 days Entries: Single- or Double entry Flexibility: No hotel reservations required [?] Processing time: 1 to 24 hours Comprises: Fax or e-mail (scanned) copy of the Reservation confirmation and the Tourist voucher (usually a copy is sufficient to get the visa) These are all the documents needed to get a Russian visa. Originals can be sent by post if required by the consulate. [?] Price:   $30 (24 hours processing) $45 (urgent processing) Option 2: Business Invitation    Period of stay: 1 day to 12 months Entries: Single-, Double or Multiple entry Flexibility: No reservations, no business in Russia required [?] Processing time: 1 to 18 working days Comprises: Fax or telex of the official invitation from Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, itinerary & cover letter (upon request). Originals can be sent by post. [?] Price:   $80 to $250 • If you're not sure which type of visa you need, try our Russian Visa Troubleshooter. • There are also private and student invitations available. In order to get them, you have to contact your friends / education instituation (e.g. language schools) in Russia. Be aware that these invitations usually take about a month to process, require lots of paperwork, and the originals should be presented to the consulate. But with student visas you get visas with unlimited stay, so it may be an advantage.   Step 2: Prepare the Documents   Once you have your invitation (Russian visa support), you need to prepare the following documents to apply for your Russian visa:   • Your Passport (Should be valid at least 3 months after your Russian visa will expire and contain at least one clear page - for the visa) • Passport-size Photograph (Should be recent and good quality) • Consulate Application Form (Available either at the Russian consulate where you will apply or through a travel agency if you choose full visa processing services) • Consulate-Specific Documents (Almost all consulates will require an HIV certificate if you are traveling to Russia for 3 months or longer or require a multiple-entry visa. In case you apply for a business visa, some consulates may require a letter from your employer)   Step 3: Apply for a Russian Visa   Finally, you need to submit all your documents, including your visa support, to the Russian consulate. You can either do it by yourself, or through a local travel agency. Travel agencies usually charge from $30 to $80 for their services but allow you to save your time and usually know the consulate's requirements very well, so you won't have to research that.   Option 1: Personally to the Russian Consulate       Step 1: Download the latest visa application form from the Russian consulate's website in your country and fill it out. Step 2: Prepare all the documents above and check with the consulate website if that is enough. Make sure whether the consulate accepts a copy of invitation (visa support) or needs an original. Step 3: Apply to the consulate in person or by post. You will need to pay the consular fee and present (send) the documents and the invitation (visa support). Step 4: Get your visa and have a nice trip to Russia! Timing: The whole process will take you approximately: 1 day (research) 1 day (queue at the consulate - if you apply in person) 1 hour to 15 working days (depending on your visa type and how much you pay)  Prices:   You will need to pay the consular fee, which depends on the type of visa, the country where you apply, and your citizenship. Single-Entry, processing time 6 - 8 business days: USA: $100 UK: £30 France: 54 EUR Single-Entry, same-day processing: USA: $300 UK: £90 Multiple-Entry, processing time 6 business days: USA: $100 UK: £100 Multiple-Entry, same-day processing: USA: $450 UK: £150 Option 2: Full Russian Visa Processing   For UK only. Just use our online form to choose the most appropriate visa processing company for your situation. We will forward you to our partner's website, where you will need to fill out one form. That's it. No queues, no worries, no hassle at the consulate. Our partner company will do everything for you and you will receive your passport with visa by post.   Step 4: Once in Russia, Register Your Visa   So you obtained the Russian visa, finalized your travel arrangements, and now arrived to Russia. You have 3 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) to register your visa.   • If you are staying in a hotel: The hotel will usually register your visa. The charges are from $0.5 to $20. • If you are staying in an apartment or with friends: The landlord of the apartment you're staying in should fill out a special registration form and submit it to any post office or immigration authorities office. It will cost them about $5 and take about an hour of their time. More about it on our Visa Registration blog post. For more information on Russian Visa regisration, see the short version Registration Flyer, or a full comprehensive information on Russian Visa Registration procedures.