If you’re planning a trip to Russia, you’ll probably need a visa to enter the country. As applying for a Russian visa is a very strict and often complicated process, it is recommended that you start at least one month before your intended trip. The following is a comprehensive guide to obtaining a Russian visa.
Types of Russian visas
1. Tourist
The cheapest and easiest type of visa to obtain is a Russian tourist visa. This is a good option if you’re planning to visit Russia for 30 days or less. It is important to note that tourist visas cannot be extended. To avoid complications, it is recommended that you give yourself some leeway by booking your trip for less than 30 days. You can apply for either a single or double entry visa to Russia, but remember that double entry visas are only issued for travel to and from Russia’s neighbouring countries.
2. Business
If you’re planning to stay in Russia for more than 30 days, you may want to apply for a business visa. Although it can be more complicated and costly than a tourist visa, a business visa offers travellers a longer and more flexible trip. You can apply for this visa for periods of three, six and 12 months. If you’re a US citizen, you can also apply for a three-year business visa. These visas are also non-renewable.
If you’re planning a trip to Russia, you’ll probably need a visa to enter the country. As applying for a Russian visa is a very strict and often complicated process, it is recommended that you start at least one month before your intended trip. Below is a comprehensive guide to obtaining a Russian visa.
Types of Russian visas
There are several types of Russian visas, which vary in terms of length of validity, number of entries and requirements.
1. Tourist
The cheapest and easiest type of visa to obtain is a Russian tourist visa. This is a good option if you’re planning to visit Russia for 30 days or less. It is important to note that tourist visas cannot be extended. To avoid complications, it is recommended that you give yourself some leeway by booking your trip for less than 30 days. You can apply for either a single or double entry visa to Russia, but remember that double entry visas are only issued for travel to and from Russia’s neighbouring countries.
2. Business
If you’re planning to stay in Russia for more than 30 days, you may want to apply for a business visa. Although it can be more complicated and expensive than a tourist visa, a business visa offers travellers a longer and more flexible trip. You can apply for this visa for periods of three, six and 12 months. If you’re a US citizen, you can also apply for a three-year business visa. These visas are also non-renewable.
3. Private
If you have a friend or family member who is a Russian citizen, he or she can submit a written request for you to obtain a private visa. Private visas are valid for up to 90 days and can be single- or double-entry. It is generally not recommended that you apply for a private visa over a tourist or business visa since it is usually more complicated and can take up to three months to process. Private visas are also not extendable.
4. Transit Visas
Transit visas are a good option for travellers passing through Russia. These visas are valid for up to 72 hours for passengers travelling by air and 10 days for those travelling by train or car. You do not need to apply for a transit visa if you do not plan to leave the customs area of the airport. These visas cannot be extended. If you think you may be transiting through Russia for longer than the above periods, it is recommended that you apply for a tourist visa instead.
5. Students
Student visas are available for people entering the country to study at a registered educational institution. Before you can apply, you must obtain a letter of acceptance from a Russian school and be able to prove that you can cover the costs of your studies. These visas are usually valid for three months and can be extended depending on the length of the programme.
6. Employment
You must have a job offer from a Russian company or organisation before applying for an employment visa. Employment visas are renewable, but are generally the most complicated and expensive type of visa to obtain.
How to get a Russian visa
Regardless of the type of visa, there are a few general steps that everyone must follow to obtain a visa to Russia.
Applying
Once you’ve received your official invitation letter, it’s time to apply for a Russian visa. This must be done through a Russian consulate or embassy in your home country. Regardless of where you apply, you will need to submit a completed Russian visa application form, which is provided online by the Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
You will also need to present your passport, invitation letter, passport-sized photograph and proof of travel medical insurance at the consulate. Depending on the type of visa and the length of your stay, you may also be asked to provide documentation to show that you can cover the costs of your stay in Russia. It is recommended that you contact your local Russian consulate or embassy to find out whether you need to provide any additional documents or meet any special requirements at the time of your application.
Registration
Finally, you must register your visa within seven days of your arrival in Russia. This step may seem trivial, but should your visa status be questioned by a police officer or other government official, you will want to avoid the fees and complications associated with being unregistered.
Cost of Russian Visas
The cost of obtaining a visa to Russia varies depending on your nationality, the type of visa, the number of entries, and the visa agency and consulate through which you apply. For example, if you are a US citizen applying for a single entry tourist or business visa, you can expect to pay around $160 USD in application fees, and an invitation letter may cost you an additional $20 USD. The cost of a Russian visa in the UK is about the same, and applying in most EU countries will be slightly cheaper. You can expect to pay more for longer stays, more entries and faster processing. Employment visas are the most expensive type of visa to obtain, costing an average of $1,100 USD.
Exceptions
Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter Russia, with a few exceptions. Passport holders from 58 countries in Asia, the Caribbean and Central and South America may enter Russia without a visa for limited periods. For a list of countries that qualify for visa-free entry and the permitted length of stay, please visit the website of the Federal Agency for Tourism.
Foreign citizens transiting through Russia and staying in the airport customs zone do not need a visa if their stay does not exceed 24 hours. Cruise passengers visiting Russia as part of an organised group tour for 48 hours or less are also exempt from the visa requirement.
Areas with restricted access
Please note that there are a number of regions in Russia where foreign nationals are not permitted to travel without prior permission. When completing your application form, make sure that
that you fill in every city you want to visit, to avoid problems later on.
There you have it, a complete guide to getting a Russian visa. Hopefully we’ve answered some of your questions and brought you one step closer to travelling to Russia!