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Russian Visa Requirements
Russian Tourist Visa
Russian Tourist visas allow the applicant to stay in Russia for up to 30 days. Depending on what the applicant applies for, these visas may allow 1 entry or 2 entries into Russia. In order to apply for this type of visa, the documents listed below must be submitted to the Russian Consulate in the country of the applicant’s permanent residence. A Russia visa may also be applied using the services of a visa agency.
A letter that contains the following information should be submitted along with the application:
- Name of applicant as written in the applicant’s passport
- Planned period of stay in Russia (exact dates of entry and exit)
- Which cities the applicant will visit (include up to 6 cities)
- Information of the inviting organization including index of the organization and reference number
The following documents must be included with application package:
- A copy of the Russian tourist visa invitation from the inviting organization. This invite should include the reference number and registration number of the inviting organization.
- The actual passport of the applicant. There must be at least 2 pages next to one another that are blank for the visa to be stamped into the document. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the applicant’s planned exit date from Russia.
- Two visa application forms fully filled in and signed and dated. (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US citizens.)
- Three passport sized photos (all identical).
- A money order or a bank check made out to the Russian Consulate for the fee requested by your local Russian Consulate. Please check with local Russian Consulate to ensure that you have the correct fee amount. Do not send cash or private checks.
Russian Business Visa
Russian business visas can be either multi-entry - issued for a period of 180 days or 1 year and allow multiple entries and exits from Russia. Single entry or double entry Russian business visas can also be applied for that allow the applicant to stay in Russia periods of not more than 90 days. The documents listed below are required by the Russian Consulate when applying for a Russian business visa:
- Visa invitation letter issued either by the Ministry of Internal Affars or by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. This letter should include the applicant’s name, date of birth, passport number, dates of stay and place of work.
- The actual passport of the applicant. There must be at least 2 pages next to one another that are blank for the visa to be stamped into the document. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the applicant’s planned exit date from Russia.
- Two visa application forms fully filled in and signed and dated. (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US citizens.)
- Three passport sized photos (all identical).
- A money order or a bank check made out to the Russian Consulate for the fee requested by your local Russian Consulate. Please check with local Russian Consulate to ensure that you have the correct fee amount. Do not send cash or private checks.
- For stays of longer than 90 days, HIV test results are usually required by the Russian Consulate in order to issue the applicant a business visa. Please check this requirement with your local Russian Consulate.
Russian Private Visa
A Russian Private Visa is valid for up to 90 days and allows only one entry into Russia. To apply for a Private visa to Russia, please submit the following documents:
- The original of the Izveshenie (invitation) which should be given to the applicant by the private Russian citizen that is inviting the applicant. The Izveshenie can be issued by the Russian Immigration Services (OVIR).
- The actual passport of the applicant. There must be at least 2 pages next to one another that are blank for the visa to be stamped into the document. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the applicant’s planned exit date from Russia.
- Two visa application forms fully filled in and signed and dated. (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US citizens.)
- Three passport sized photos (all identical).
- A money order or a bank check made out to the Russian Consulate for the fee requested by your local Russian Consulate. Please check with local Russian Consulate to ensure that you have the correct fee amount. Do not send cash or private checks.
- For stays of longer than 90 days, HIV test results are usually required by the Russian Consulate in order to issue the applicant a business visa. Please check this requirement with your local Russian Consulate.
Russian Transit Visa
Russian Transit Visas allow the guest to travel through Russia en-route to other destinations but do not allow a stay
Transit visas are issued by the Russian Consulate for up to seventy two hours if traveling by airplane or up to ten days if traveling by train. When applying for a transit visa, please submit the following documents:
- A copy of the train ticket or airline ticket that the applicant will use for your transportation in Russia. A visa for the destination country if required.
- The actual passport of the applicant. There must be at least 2 pages next to one another that are blank for the visa to be stamped into the document. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the applicant’s planned exit date from Russia.
- Two visa application forms fully filled in and signed and dated. (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US citizens.)
- Three passport sized photos (all identical).
- A money order or a bank check made out to the Russian Consulate for the fee requested by your local Russian Consulate. Please check with local Russian Consulate to ensure that you have the correct fee amount. Do not send cash or private checks.
Russian Student Visa
The documents necessary to apply for a Russian student visa are as follows:
- An invitation from the institute of higher education that the applicant will be attending. This invitation must be signed by the rector of the institution and then certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- The most recent diploma or other education certificate, notarized by the State or Federal authorities.
- A general certificate of good health stating the condition of the applicant. This must be notarized with an Apostil at the office of the Secretary of the applicant’s state, translated into Russian and then notarized by the Russian Consulate.
- A copy of an HIV health certificate. This must be notarized with an Apostil at the office of the Secretary of the applicant’s state, translated into Russian and then notarized by the Russian Consulate.
- Proof that payment has been made to the institute of higher education that the applicant will be attending in Russia.
- The actual passport of the applicant. There must be at least 2 pages next to one another that are blank for the visa to be stamped into the document. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the applicant’s planned exit date from Russia.
- Two visa application forms fully filled in and signed and dated. (click to download form for US Citizens, click here to download form for non-US citizens.)
- Three passport sized photos (all identical).
- A money order or a bank check made out to the Russian Consulate for the fee requested by your local Russian Consulate. Please check with local Russian Consulate to ensure that you have the correct fee amount. Do not send cash or private checks.
Applying for a Russian Visa
Please apply for your Russian visa personally at the Russian Consulate located closest to your home. In some cases, applications may be accepted by mail as long as the documents are sent using a recognized express postal courier such as Federal Express and a prepaid return envelope from the same courier service is included in the package. This option is not available at all Russian Consulates. Please check with your local Consulate before proceeding with this method of application. In 2011, the Seattle Consulate was still using this method but we must suggest that you check personally with the Consulate on their website or by telephone. In order to receive a Russian visa invitation please contact a travel agency certified by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RussianConsulate.org currently is working through Express to Russia. Click here to contact them.
Important Notice
Russian visas are issued at the discretion of the Russian Consulate. Russian visas are sometimes refused. The Russian Consulate may invite the applicant in personally for an interview if they feel that this is necessary. The visa issuance and review periods listed on this site and on the websites of the Consulates of the Russian Federation may be changed at the discretion of the Russian Consulate. Russian Consulate fees are non-refundable.
Additional Information
Applicants can apply for and be issued a Russian visa only in the country of the applicant’s citizenship. An exception may be made for applicants who hold a permanent residence document or residence permit in the country in which they are applying that has a duration of 90 days or longer. In rare cases, a Russian visa may be obtained in a country outside of the country in which an applicant holds citizenship at the discretion of the Consulate officers. This most frequently occurs with applicants having urgent official business with the Russian Federation.
Russian business visas now allow guests to reside in Russia only up to 90 days out of every 180 days.
Citizens of Israel, Finland and Shengen Agreement States (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and France) should submit national medical coverage certificate valid for Russia or guarantee of medical coverage from a Russian hosting organization for all period of stay.
Citizens of Estonia must submit to the Russian Consulate medical insurance certificate valid for Russia and covering all period of stay.
Applicants who used to be citizens of the USSR or of the Russian Federation and then emigrated from the USSR or from Russia must submit one of the documents which confirms that they are no longer citizens of the Russian Federation (so called "Visa to Israel" or stamp in their passport saying that they left for "permanent residence abroad" before the 6th of February, 1992 or official document certifying that their Russian citizenship was abrogated), otherwise the applications will not be accepted.
The Russian Consulate reserves the right request an interview of the applicant and ask questions on personal, financial, business, corporate related issues as well as on applicant's Russian contacts and relatives.
Besides issuing invitations for Russia visas our partners can help with accommodation, tickets and much more in Russia. Contact us to find out more!
After receiving your Russia visa please check all the details carefully to make sure your personal data is correct