Q: You say that no hotel reservations are needed to obtain a Russian visa, but the Russian consulate website says that I need a hotel reservation confirmation (among other documents) in order to get my visa. Who is right?

A: In order to get a tourist Russian visa, you need to have an invitation (also called visa support) which comprises two papers: reservation confirmation and cover letter (or travel voucher). When you apply for visa support through our site, our partner visa agency provides complete visa support papers to you: the reservation confirmation and the travel voucher. Officially you have a hotel reserved, but you simply don't have to stay there. So, to make things easier, we write that you need no hotel reservation to get a visa. However, when you fill out the visa application form for the consulate, you should specify this hotel(s) (that is specified in your invitation) as a place of your stay (obviously, as it's reserved for you).



Q: The consulate says that they need a Cover Letter from a travel agency in my country and the Itinerary. Where can I get it?

A: The cover letter is required only if you got your visa support documents from a local travel agency (in your country). If you get it from this site, the letter is not required.
In the very unlikely case the consulate asks you to present the cover letter after you submitted all the documents, our partner company will provide it to you for free. Again, this is very unlikely and may only happen in Japan or Australia.
The itinerary is a special paper that is required only by the Russian consulate in Japan. In case you will be applying in Japan, let the agents know and they will send you the Itinerary (free of charge).



Q: Are the visa dates completely fixed, that is, do I have to travel to Russia on the date my visa starts and leave on the date it expires?

A: No, you can enter and leave Russia anytime within the time span specified by your visa start and expiry date. For example, if your visa starts on 5 December 2004 and expires on 25 December 2004, you can enter Russia on the 5th of December or anytime after this date, and you should leave Russia anytime before 25th December on on that date.
We always recommend to give yourself a time span and to apply for your visa to expire 1-2 days after you intend to leave Russia - in case there's a problem with your flight or a sudden change in plans.



Q: I received only one document for visa support. Where is the rest?

A: What you received is all visa support (invitation) documents you need to apply for your visa. It comprises the reservation confirmation (see above) and travel voucher. It can be printed on one A4 (Letter size) piece of paper - that is OK. The business invitation is usually printed on A5 paper (half of normal A4 - Letter size), that is also OK. Our partner company processes more than 10,000 visa support requests every year, so you can rest assured that everything is done correctly. :-)



Q: I want to travel for longer than 1 month or need multiple-entry visa.

A: Then you can apply for a business visa (you don't need to be in a business to get it).



Q: Can I enter Russia after the date my visa starts?

A: Yes. The dates you specify is simply the time span during which you have to enter and leave Russia. You don't have to travel on these dates.



Q: Can the visa be extended?

A: No, it's so complicated and expensive there's no point. If you're not sure when you want to leave, just put your visa end date a few days later in this application.



Q: Any comments about the consulate in the country where I will apply?

A: Sweden - problems getting tourist visas at the moment (solution: either apply in another country or get a business visa). Australia - consulate in Sydney is hard to deal with, apply in Canberra. China - better to apply Shanghai. Mongolia - do not apply, better try Shanghai in China. Japan - the consulate requires cover letter and itinerary that can be provided for free by our partner company. Switzerland - requires originals of all invitation papers. All other consulates seem to be fine at the moment.



Q: Do I need originals of the invitation papers?

A: In most cases - No. It is sufficient to present copies (fax or scanned copy received by e-mail) of tourist or business visa support documents (invitations). Only if you are applying for a multiple-entry business visa (6 to 12 months validity) will the consulate require originals. Also, consulates in some countries (Sweden, Switzerland) require originals.



Q: How long before my travel dates can I apply for the invitation and the Russian visa itself?

A: You can get tourist visa support from most travel agencies at any moment, however, you can apply for a tourist visa at a Russian consulate not earlier than 90 days before your requested visa validity start date. So, say if you want to go on a 4-month trip to Asia and then travel to Russia, it's better to get visa support now and then once it's less than 90 days before your visa start date, apply in one of the Russian consulates in Asia, for example in Thailand or Hong Kong (they are the easiest to deal with).
Business visa support cannot be processed earlier than 45 days before requested visa validity start date (the processing is handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or PVU and it's their limitation). However, you can apply online on this site earlier than 45 days before business visa start dates and the processing will automatically start 45 days before your visa requested validity start date, provided the order is paid.



Q: Can I travel where I want?

A: Yes, as long as it's not some secret military base. And you can stay as long as you wish in each city as well. There are some restricted territories where you may be not allowed if you are travling there directly (e.g. taking a flight or crossing the border at these territories), they include Sakhalin island and Chukotka at far east and Murmansk region (north Russia).



Q: How to make sure I get the visa at the consulate?

A: The main rule is to provide the information that is consistent to this visa support letter you're getting. So for example if you are getting a tourist visa support you should specify the purpose of your visit "tourism" and not "visiting friends".



Q: Do I need an insurance to get a visa?
A: UK - no, USA, EU (Shengen countries) - yes. Your credit card insurance might be enough in most cases.



Q: Do I need a flight to be booked in order to get a tourist visa?
A: No.



Q: Is this service legal and reliable?

A: Yes, 100%. Thousands customers get their visa support through Way to Russia. We are recommended by Lonely Planet, BBC, Rough Guides, and the leading national newspapers in UK, USA, Australia. You can see our Russian Visa forum - there are lots of reports from satisfied customers.



Q: I have a question that is not listed here. What do I do?

A: Look through our Talk Lounge Forums / Russian Visa section and if the answer is not there, post your question and we will reply in 1 day. If it's urgent, send an e-mail at hotline@waytorussia.net.





Last revised: 19 January 2006 © WayToRussia.Net

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