05.08.2020

Statistics of the MFA on issued visas to Russia by year

Consular department

Please note: Entry and exit on an e-visa by means of rail transport is currently unavailable.

Russian private visa for the EU citizens

In the EU national plans to stay at relatives or friends, he has to obtain a private visa. To do it, the receiving party issues a private invitation in the FMS local authority. The original form of invitation has to be sent to the foreigner.

The invitation issuance occupies 30 days. Within this period the foreigner is going through checking for previous violations of the visa regime or any other criminal records. If something is wrong the AFMS has a right to deny the entry. The reason has to be explained in writing.

A private visa can be single-entry or double-entry. It is issued for a period up to 90 days.

In cases of business purposes (negotiations, contracts, etc.) a foreigner has to obtain a business visa. Only a Russian legal person can issue a business invitation. It can be issued in the AFMS form or in the form of telex.

Statistics

First 20 countries of origin of visa applicants in Italy 2018, by number of visas
Tourist visas issued in Italy 2008-2016
Number of group sightseeing visas issued to Chinese tourists Japan 2013-2019
Number of visas issued in Japan 2019, by nationality
Breakdown of visas issued in Japan 2019, by diplomatic mission
Number of visas issued to Chinese tourists Japan 2019, by type
Breakdown of visas issued in Japan 2019, by nationality
Number of multiple-entry Tohoku region visas for Chinese visitors Japan 2013-2019
Number of substantially high income multiple-entry visas issued Japan 2015-2019
Number of sufficient financial capability multiple-entry visas Japan 2017-2019
Deportations for overstaying a visa and related violations in Kuwait 2012-2017
Number of individual sightseeing visas issued to Chinese tourists Japan 2013-2019
Number of multiple-entry Okinawa visit visas for Chinese tourists Japan 2013-2019
Number of issued Thai Elite visas in Thailand 2018, by nationality
Number of visas issued in Japan 2013-2019
New foreign arrivals with engineer or specialist residence status in Japan 2013-2018
Number of foreigners who could not enter Japan 2013-2018, by major region
Number of new foreign arrivals with residence status of artist in Japan 2012-2018
Regional UK expectation of an improvement in EU relations due to President Trump 2016

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Visa to Russia

VISA RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO COVID-19

According to the Government Decree dated 16 March 2022 No. 635-r only few
categories of visa can be issued. To check information on the restrictions, please refer
to the link.
To protect public health, please wear face mask and gloves while visiting the Consular Section.
Body temperature will be checked at the entrance.

I. In accordance with the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on the simplification of visa formalities for nationals of the Russian Federation and nationals of the United States of America, the US citizens shall as a rule be issued multiple-entry business, private, humanitarian and tourist visas that are valid for three years (36 months) from the date of issue of the visa.

Please have a look at the recommended list of documents for the submission of additional information regarding 3-year multiple-entry business, private, humanitarian, and tourist visas.

IN THIS RESPECT – FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE SIMPLIFICATION OF VISA FORMALITIES – IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT US CITIZENS APPLY FOR THREE YEAR MULTIPLE-ENTRY BUSINESS, PRIVATE, HUMANITARIAN AND TOURIST VISAS REGARDLESS OF THE PERIOD OF STAY STATED IN THEIR INVITATIONS.

II. Dear US Applicants,

According to the Agreement it is recommended that you submit your documents for obtaining a 3-year multiple-entry visa at least 8 working days prior to your intended date of entry into Russia.
When filling out the electronic visa application form at: http://visa.kdmid.ru please choose «multiple» from the drop-down menu and indicate a 3-year period of stay starting from the date of entry in your visa support documents (invitation).
Your Visa Application must be accompanied by an invitation from the hosting party. Copies or facsimilies of the invitation are acceptable.
A multiple-entry visa allows subsequent trips with a purpose other than what was initially indicated in the visa. Thus, the new purpose of each trip and information on the new hosting organization must be indicated in the Migration Card form in order to clear Russian customs and border control.
The passport of the applicant, as a rule, must be valid for at least full six months after the visa expiry date.

III. Dear Visa Applicants!

The Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in the USA informs on reaching an agreement with the American side on resuming from March 4th, 2019 practice of levying fee of $160 for all types of visas issued in accordance with the bilateral Agreement of 2011 on the simplification of visa formalities for nationals of the Russian Federation and nationals of the United States of America.

Please be advised that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2018 has issued Order № 24320, which outlines the uniform method in calculating the actual consular expenses, associated with the exercise of consular actions.

The Order regulates the procedure for assessing the fee due from foreign nationals applying for a Russian visa, as of the 4th of March 2019 (the date on which the Order comes into effect).

Please note that in accordance with the new Order, the rates for the issuance of visas have changed.

Please, acquaint yourself with the updated consular fees required to obtain a Russian visa, effective as of the 4th of March 2019.

New visa processing fees for US Citizens

IV. New Russian Visa Center in the United States

Contact details of the Visa Center in Washington, D.C.

Address of the Visa Center	1025 Vermont Avenue NW 2 floor Washington D.C 20005
Business Hours	Monday-Friday: 9.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. Passports pick up: 3.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Call Center	+12025039911
Email	info.RussiaUSA@ russia-visacentre.com
Website	https://russia-visacentre.com/en/visa/usa/russia

V. Foreign applicants for Russian visas can apply directly to the Consular Division of the Embassy of the Russian Federation.

Prior to submitting your visa application to Russian consulate you must make an appointment on the following web-site. For applying directly you are required to appear in person for a visa interview at the Consular Division from 9 a.m. till 12.15 p.m. Please, comply with the general visa obtaining procedure and have available all the documents concerning your trip. Touristvisa processing agencies have to submit applications to the Russian Visa Center .

VI. All applications for Russian visas submitted in the United States must be prepared using the electronic visa application form at the website http://visa.kdmid.ru.

Russian visa applications prepared using the old format or in a different way are not accepted any more.

VII. Information for Turkish citizens

In accordance with the Decree № 583, issued by the President of the Russian Federation on November 28, 2015, the procedure for entering the Russian Federation for citizens of the Republic of Turkey, bearers of a regular Turkish passports, has been revised.

As of January 1, 2016, Turkish citizens bearing said passports will be required to obtain a Russian visa issued by a diplomatic or consular division of the Russian Federation. (For more information please visit our website http://visa.kdmid.ru).

This does not affect Turkish citizens:

bearing temporary residency permits or permanent residency cards for the territory of the Russian Federation;
bearers of special or official passports, traveling to the Russian Federation for less than 30 days;
bearing special or official passports who are working at diplomatic missions and consulates of the Republic of Turkey on the territory of the Russian Federation, and their family members who hold valid special or official Turkish passports;
or Turkish citizens who hold a Seaman’s Passport, provided they are entering for maritime purposes on ship orders.

General Visa Information

Travel to Russia requires an entry visa. The Consular Division of the Embassy issues different categories of visas to Russia based upon the purpose of the trip and the duration of stay in Russia.

In general, it’s recommended that US citizens apply for 3-year multiple business, private, humanitarian and tourist visas (please have a look at the correspondent visa type information).

The following documents should be submitted in order to obtain a visa according to its category:

Completed visa application signed by the Applicant only. Incomplete visa application forms shall not be processed. Application available online at http://visa.kdmid.ru All questions in the application form should be answered. If a question is not applicable to the applicant, he should put “N/A”. Each application form must be signed by the visa applicant personally.
Valid national passport (original only and it should have at least two clear visa pages). It must be valid no less than six months after the visa expiration date. Holders of travel documents such us: Permit to Re-Enter the United States of America, Travel Document, etc. must submit valid Permanent Resident Card (an original and a copy).
One picture of an applicant. Russian visa photo specifications.
Money Order or Certified Bank Check made out to the Russian Consulate for visa processing. Please note that we do not accept cash, credit or debit cards, personal or company checks.
Invitation to Russia from a host person or organisation.

Dear Applicants, when applying for a Russian visa please be advised that

In order to expedite and improve visa obtaining process as well as for security concerns the Consular Division is no more processing visa applications by mail, starting from June 1, 2010.
Non-US citizens should also provide proof of legality of their stay in the USA (US Resident Alien status, form I-94) when applying for a visa.
Applicants who used to be citizens of the USSR or the Russian Federation and 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 February, 06 1992 or official document certifying that their Russian citizenship was renounced), otherwise the applications will not be accepted.
In accordance with Russian laws citizens of the Russian Federation regardless of any other citizenship theymay have, must travel to Russia on valid Russian documents only.
Visa processing starts only after the Consular Division has collected all necessary documents.
Visa processing fee is not refundable.
Type of visa or dates of entry/departure can not be changed or extended. If your travel plans have changed after the visa issuance you have to reapply for a new visa.
After you received your visa, please check all the data indicated in it and, if necessary, return it to the Consular Division for corrections. The Consular Division will not be responsible for any mistakes in the visas, which were not brought to our attention prior to your departure from the US.
Any visa applicant may be interviewed by the consular officer, if necessary.
Processing time, requirements and fees are subject to change without notice.
In certain cases the Consular Division is entitled to consider visa applications as long as it necessary. Visa can be denied if the Consular Division has serious reasons to believe that an applicant’s entry into or stay in the territory of the Russian Federation will not be desirable.
Please be advised that person can not have two valid visas in one passport. In this case the first visa is to be cancelled.

Information for EU Passport Holders

On the 1st of June, 2007 the Russia-EU Visa Facilitation Agreement came into force and according to its provisions visa processing fees are changed for the citizens of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Estonia.

Citizens of these countries should submit national medical insurance certificate valid for Russia or guarantee of medical coverage from a Russian hosting organization for all period of stay. Medical insurance certificate should contain Russian contact phone number for emergency or assistance.

However these provisions are not valid for the countries which did not sign the Agreement: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Iceland and Norway.

Holders of diplomatic passports of the countries mentioned above do not need a visa to enter Russia for 90 days.

For all types of visa (including multiple entry) for 10 days processing – $40
For all types of visa (including multiple entry) for urgent (3 days) processing – $80

Completed visa application signed by the Applicant only. Incomplete visa application forms shall not be processed. Application available online at http://visa.kdmid.ru All questions in the application form should be answered. If a question is not applicable to the applicant, he should put “N/A”. Each application form must be signed by the visa applicant personally.
Valid national passport (original only and it should have at least two clear visa pages). It must be valid no less than six months after the visa expiration date. Holders of travel documents such us: Permit to Re-Enter the United States of America, Travel Document, etc. must submit valid Permanent Resident Card (an original and a copy).
One picture of an applicant. Russian visa photo specifications.
Money Order or Certified Bank Check made out to the Russian Consulate for visa processing. Please note that we do not accept cash, credit or debit cards, personal or company checks.
Invitation to Russia from a host person or organisation.

Getting a business visa to the Russian Federation for foreigners

A business visa to the Russian Federation for foreigners is a popular choice, as it opens up more opportunities compared to tourist or private visas.

We issue business invitations in two ways:

Through the Department of issuing invitations to foreign citizens at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation on behalf of our company accredited with the department;
By assisting the client’s company in obtaining registration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, followed by issuing invitations directly on its behalf.

Invitations issued in any of these two ways are guaranteed to be accepted in all Russian consulates abroad as the grounds for a business visa.

Russian visa invitation letters for Macedonian citizens

A citizen of Macedonia can not stay in Russia for more than 90 days for each half-year on tourist, guest or business visas.

** – You’re charged only with the cost of express delivery services.

Russian Work Visa – Brief information:

The validity of the study visa invitation letter is 90 (ninety) days. Within these 90 days a foreign national student must visit Russia for the relevant accepting establishment to extend the visa duration for the first full year of studies.

What are the common purposes of the trip to Russia?

The purpose of the trip to Russia on a business visa can also vary. A foreign citizen who have obtained a business visa can enter the territory of the Russian Federation with such purposes as:

business activities (expansion of business ties, exploring the market for goods and services, participation in negotiations);
commercial activities (extension of contracts, conclusion of business agreements, visiting of exhibitions and auctions);
equipment maintenance-related activities (assistance and technical advice for mounting, repairing or servicing of imported equipment);
as a member of the crew (rail transport, air transport, sea or river vessels);
as a driver of the passenger or freight transport;
as a supervision inspector (overlooking purchasing, selling or receiving equipment, materials or raw materials);
as an accompanying family member of a citizen who has a business visa (valid for minors).

Telex is a directive sent by the Russian Foreign Ministry to a consular office via internal communication channel. In this case, the foreigner does not need a printed invitation. The individual number of the invitation as well as the inviting company’s details should be specified in the visa application form. The processing time for this type of visa invitation takes from 6 to 13 working days. See our affordable service rates and obtain a Telex invitation on our website.

Statistics of the MFA on issued visas to Russia by year

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: Moscow 119590, 66, Mosfilmovskaya Street
Telephone: + 7 495 234 02 26; Fax: +7 495 232 33 02
Оut-of-hours hotline: + 7 495 234 02 26
Office hours: 09:00 – 17:30 h
Е-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.mfa.bg/embassies/russia

Consular section
Office hours – 09:00 – 11:30 h
Telephone : +7 499 143 62 30 ; 15:00 – 17:00 h

Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Moscow

Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Sankt Petersburg, Russian Federation
Address: 190 000 Sankt Petersburg, №27 „Ryleev” Str.
Telephone: +7 812 401 01 52
Fax: +7 812 272 57 18
Out-of-hours hotline: +7 921 633 6116
Office Hours: Mon to Fri, 09.30 – 12.00h.
Every Friday – visiting day of the Consul for consultations, appeals, complaints and signals.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/russiagc3

Consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria in Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation
Address: 22, KarlalibknehtaStr. off403, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation
Telephone: +7(343)2726906
Fax: +7(343)2726907
Out-of-hours hotline: +79826326442
Office Hours: 09.30 – 17.30h
E-mai: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/russiacon1

Consular section
Telephone:+7(343)2726908; +7(343)2726906
Fax: +7(343)2726907
Office Hours: 09.30 – 12.30h
E-mai: [email protected]

Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: 1113 Sofia, 28 „Dragan Tsankov” Boulevard
Telephone: +359 2963 0914; +359 2963 4458; +359 2963 1314; +359 2963 4021
Fax: +359 2 963 4103
Office Hours: Mon – Thu, 08.45 – 13.00 h; 14.00 – 18.00 h; Fri, 08.45 – 13.00 h; 14.00 – 16.45 h
Consular Office
Address: 1113 Sofia, № 30 „Nikola Mirchev” Str.
Telephone: +359 2963 4021; +359 2963 2879
Fax: +359 2963 4116
Office hours: 09.00 – 12.00 h.
E-mail: [email protected]

As from 12 April, 2013 the Russian Federation opened three additional outsourcing centers in Bulgaria, situated in Sofia, Varna and Ruse on the following addresses:

Address: Sofia, 28B “Samokov” Str.
Tel.:+ 359 2 492 83 37
Е-mail: [email protected]
Office hours: Monday to Friday from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM

Address: Varna, 20 “Michael Koloni” Str.
Tel.:+ 359 52 91 82 03
Е-mail: [email protected]
Office hours: Monday to Friday from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM

Address: Ruse, 45 “Solun” Str.
Tel.:+ 359 82 51 89 10
Е-mail: [email protected]
Office hours: Monday to Friday from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM

Honorary Consuls of Russia in Bulgaria

Tonko FOTEV

8000 Bourgas, 111, rue Tsar Siméon I

Tél: +359 56 83 07 07

Fax: +359 56 83 07 33

GSM: +359 888 732 027

Georgi Gergov

4000 Plovdiv, 16, rue Tsar Ivailo

Tél./Fax: +359 32 62 20 93

Local currency

Russian ruble (RUB)

Currency is to be exchanged only in exchange offices and banks. At the exchange in a bank the presentation of a personal identification document is obligatory. Hotels, restaurants and bigger shops and department stores accept credit cards.

Crimе and security

High risk of terrorist attacks, especially in places with bigger agglomeration of people – railroad stations, airports, market places, subway stations etc.

In Russia various petty thefts and lottery fraud often take place, drugs are offered to visitors.

Customs requirements

Upon enetering into Russia the accompanying luggage of the arriving physical person is completely exempt of customs duties, if it contains non-commercial items with a total value of up to 1000 USD and its weight does not exceed 50 kg (for every kilogram over this limit customs duty of no less than 4 Euro is paid).

Up to 1000 pieces of cigarettes, 5 litres of alcoholic beverages, 20 l of gasoline per one motor vehicle (apart from the quantity in the vehicle’s tank), 5 items of jewellery can be brought in exempt of duty.

After 31.07.2005, in case the total value of the foreign currency brought in exceeds 10000 USD, it is obligatorily declared.

Passage is through the red customs corridor where the declaration is checked by a customs officer.

Attention! Items prohibited for import are: weapons of any type and ammunition for them, narcotic and psychotropic substances, as well as appliances for smoking of opium and hashish, printed products, audio-visual material and other information carriers, which can inflict damage on the security of the state, the health and morals of the population, other items the import of which is explicitly forbidden by the laws of the Russian Federation.

The luggage of physical people on departure is exempt from duty tax if it is of permitted character, is not intended for production purposes or other commercial activity and if its total value does not exceed 10 000 USD.

The total value of the foreign and local currency that is taken out cannot exceed 10 000 USD. An exception is only made for the currency earlier brought in, if it has entered in the customs declaration. Currency of a total value of up to 3 000 USD does not have to be declared. Amounts of foreign currency and Russian rubles have to be declared if their total equivalent exceeds the amount of 3 000 USD, moreover, the total amount has to be declared and not only the portion that exceeds 3 000 USD. If the value of the rubles is over 10 000 USD, the money above that amount has to be left for safe-keeping at the customs office.

Violation of the rules for customs declaration is penalised with a fine amounting to 75-100%of the sum of the illegally conducted operation. If the currency or rubles illegally taken out are in especially big amounts, the act could be qualified as a criminal violation – smuggling, the penalty for which is fine from 100 to 300 000 rubles, or imprisonment of up to 5 years. Securities and stock, precious metals and items made of them, goods of cultural, historical and artistic value are obligatory to declare.

Road traffic

The use of non-conventional taxies is not recommended.

When travelling with personal transport all restrictions must be observed, and hitch-hikers must not be taken on board.

Stop-over should be undertaken in suitable places in the vicinity of posts of DPS (the Road Patrol Service at the Ministry of Interior), motels, gas stations and other busy locations. Travelling at night should be avoided.

For driving a motor vehicle in Russia, the following documents have to be presented to the authorities:

registration of the vehicle;
valid insurance document;
driving license and passport

The motor vehicle must be obligatorily declared with the customs authorities on entry into the Russian Federation.

The standard speed limit is 60 km/h in town, 90 km/h out of town, and 120 km/h on highways.

There is a policy of zero tolerance to drunk driving.

Healthcare

No specific vaccinations are required, but it has to be borne in mind that at the moment AIDS spreads out in the Russian Federation at an accelerated rate.

Periodically in various places in the country mass epidemics burst out. Before travelling, one should get information from printed and electronic media.

The possession of a medical insurance valid for the territory of the Russian Federation is obligatory for everyone.

Climate

There are no areas with increased threat of natural disasters. There are regions with more severe climate where very good equipment is necessary.

Travel papers and visas

Travel is carried out with a valid passport for travelling abroad and a visa for the country.

The minimal recommended validity of the passport is 6 months of the date of expiration of the term of validity of the visa.

During their stay in Russia the Bulgarian nationals must observe the order established in the country with regard to registration, stay and movement of foreigners.

Important! A Russian visa cannot be extended! Exception is permitted only in exclusive cases for a term of up to 10 days, provided a motivated request is filed and documents confirming the necessity of such an extension are available.

An application for a Russian visa can be filed with every diplomatic of consular representation of the Russian Federation.

Entry to the territory of the Russian Federation is not permitted with a valid passport and a visa placed in an invalid passport. The mandatory requirement is that the visa is placed in a valid travel document. In the case of the issuance of a new passport, people holding valid visas in their old passports should contact the consulate of the Russian Federation, where on the basis of holding a valid visa, a new visa sticker will be placed in the travel document free of charge.

Working in Russia

According to the adopted amendments to the Law on Legal Status of Aliens and the Law on Education of the Russian Federation, from December 1, 2012 new requirements for foreign nationals in the country entered into force.

A requirement is enacted for foreign nationals employed in construction, retail trade and services to have at least a basic command of the Russian language.

Knowledge of the Russian language is proven by submission of certificate for passed state test in Russian at specialized centres or a document of at least primary level of education that is recognized on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The requirement for proving level of command of the Russian language does not apply to citizens of countries where Russian is the official language or if this is stipulated for in an international agreement.

Within 7 working days after the arrival in Russia you must get registered at the local branch of the Federal Migration Service. The majority of the big hotels would do that for you automatically. But if you are staying in a private home, the owner of the property shall have to do that for you. You may not register if your stay is shorter than 7 days.

When necessary, the following telephone numbers are dialed free of charge:

Fire-brigade: 01
Police: 02
Medical emergency: 03

Want can consular officers do for you:

Issue you a travel document if you do not possess any;
Inform your relatives in case of accident, serious illness or death and ensure the assistance possible;
In case of arrest – inform your relatives, assist them to visit you in custody,guarantee for you the same treatment as for the citizens of the receiving country;
Provide assistance in case of unforeseen circumstances, such as natural disasters or civil unrest;
Provide you with the most up-to-date information when travelling;
Certify and authenticate a signature;
Issue acts of civic status (birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate);
Forward civic status acts already issued by the local authorities to the municipality in Bulgaria by your permanent address.

Certification and Legalisation

The Republic of Bulgaria has concluded with the Russian Federation a bi-lateral agreement according to which documents issued by the competent authorities specified therein in each of the two countries do not need additional legalisation by the other country. The documents obligatorily have to bear an original seal.

Periodically in various places in the country mass epidemics burst out. Before travelling, one should get information from printed and electronic media.

Russian Tourist Visa

This type of visa is issued for the travelers who come to Russia for tourism purposes. This visa is easiest to get and the least expensive of all visas, so it’s ideal for tourists. A tourist Russian visa is single-entry or double-entry only and can be valid for the period up to 30 days. If you are a US citizen, you can get a tourist visa to Russia valid for 3 years, and you can stay every 90 out of every 180 days on that type of visa. It usually takes the Russian consulate from 1 to 10 days to issue this type of visa and will cost from $50 US to $150 US, depending on the time of processing.

The price of a tourist invitation is usually $25 to $40 US, and it takes 1 hour to 1 day to issue it. It is usually sent to the applicant by fax, by e-mail (scanned copy), or by post (if the Russian consulate requires originals).

And your reservation confirmation will look something like this:

Also, be sure to fill in the visa application form after you received your invitation, and specify there the same data as in the invitation: the name of the inviting travel agency, the purpose of the trip – tourism, the visa dates, the cities to visit.

If you got a tourist invitation but write that the purpose of your trip is to visit friends, you will be refused a visa, because you need a different type of visa to visit friends (private).

Russian Visas

Getting a visa to enter Russia may be one of the most difficult processes, next to getting one to exit Russia if your visa expires. However, we at Moscow Life would like to make the process a bit easier, or at least not as confusing. When applying for a tourist visa – the most common type of visa for those planning just to visit Russia for under a month – there are a few things to remember. First, you can stay in Russia on a tourist visa for up to 30 days, so when applying be sure to fill in the maximum time possible, regardless of what a Russian consulate tells you. Second, you cannot renew a tourist visa! Which brings us to our most important point (and hard-earned lesson): never overstay your Russian visa!

In order to apply for your visa, you’ll need an invitation (also called visa support), either from the private individual who is inviting you to visit, or, more likely, from a travel agency who specializes in that sort of thing, of which there are many in Russia. An invitation should set you back about $30-50 from a Russian agency, and most have websites where you can order yours instantly. Once you have your invitation, you can go to your local Russian consulate and fill out an application. You’ll need two passport photos, and you’ll have to pay the fee before your visa is processed. The visa will typically take a couple of weeks, but you can pay more if you need it in a hurry. Once you pick your visa up, make sure all of the information, including your dates of travel, is correct. And once you’re in Russia, be sure to carry your passport with your visa on you at all times, as policemen have the right to ask you for your documents for no reason (one of those pesky little quirks that make us love Russia so).

Also, be sure to register your visa within 72 hours of arriving in Russia. Usually, more upscale hotels will take care of your registration for free, and some hostel will register your visa for a fee, or you can do it yourself at the visa bureau in Moscow, but it’s a pain if you don’t speak Russian and generally not worth the hassle if you can have someone do it for you. If you do decide to register yourself, you must do it with the company that issued your invitation. By Russian law, you are required to register in any Russian city where you will spend more than 72 hours, though if you hop up to St. Petersburg for a weekend it’s unlikely that anyone will check whether you have registered there or not.

Types of Visas:

Tourist Visa:

Tourist visas are the most common, and are issued for up to 30 days, single or double entry. These are the easiest to get with an invitation from an agency, and are usually the cheapest. Once again, however, a tourist visa cannot be renewed, so if yours is about to expire, you have to leave the country immediately.

Transit Visa:

Transit visas are only for those crossing through Russia on their way to another destination. They can be issued for up to ten days, so if you’re taking the Trans-Siberian Railway to China and not planning to spend any time in Russia off the train, then it’s a viable option. However, if you have any doubts as to how long you’ll actually be in the country, we suggest going for the tourist visa for the maximum period of time, as a transit visa also cannot be extended, and we cannot emphasize how much you do not want to overstay your visa! To apply for a transit visa, you’ll need onward tickets that prove you will leave Russia in the required amount of time, as well as a visa to the country you will be travelling to from Russia (if required). The best part of the transit visa is that you don’t need an invitation, and it’s usually cheaper than a tourist visa.

Business Visa:

A business visa is technically reserved for those travelling to Russia on business, but it’s also often used by tourists wishing to stay a longer period of time. A business visa can be valid from one to 12 months, and can be single- or multiple-entry. However, if you plan to stay for one year, it cannot be for a continuous period of over six months, and you’ll have to leave the country (at least for one day) and then can come back and stay another six months. A business visa is slightly more expensive than a tourist visa, but it can be renewed. To apply for a business visa, you need a business invitation issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), and if you’re actually coming for business purposes, the company you are visiting should take care of all the formalities. A private person can apply for a business invitation through most travel agencies as well, and it should set you back around $60-200.

Private Visa:

A private visa is only for those invited to visit by a Russian friend or relative, is valid for up to three months, is single-entry only, and in general is the biggest pain in the ass to apply for. If you’d like to torture your friend or family member that wants to invite you, this is the best way, as they have to go to a local immigration office, stand in a queue that makes the communist times look good, fill out an application, pay a fee, and wait 45 (!) days until someone reluctantly decides to look at your case, and hopefully issue you an invitation which your friend will then have to mail. By that time, chances are your friend or relative won’t even want to see you anymore, so we suggest you save them and yourself the headache and apply for a tourist or business visa instead.

There are also student visas, but those are generally arranged by the academic institution you will be attending.

What to do if you overstay your Russian visa

Even though we warned you over and over again, somehow you just had to stay a few extra days to see if you could finally get a date with that cute devushka you met at Night Flight. Now, you’ve got an expired visa, are heartbroken and sick of bliny, and just want to get out of the country. But not so fast! Against all logic, if you’ve overstayed your Russian visa, you’re actually NOT allowed to leave the country. That’s right, even though you’re no longer there legally, and any other country would just kick you right out, in Russia you actually have to stay in the country longer to get an exit visa so that you can leave.

So if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, first of all, call the agency that arranged your invitation, as they are technically responsible for you and should do whatever they can to help. If you’ve only overstayed by one day, there’s a chance that you can get an emergency exit visa at the airport if you already have a plane ticket purchased. If you’ve overstayed longer, you have to apply for an exit transfer visa at the local OVIR office (the Russian equivalent of an immigration office). The process can take up to five days, and during that time you cannot leave Russia, so if you have an onward flight from another country this could seriously mess up your plans.

We hate to say ‘we told you so’, but if you overstayed your visa, it will cost you. The price of an exit visa has been known to vary from 300 to 3000 roubles or more, depending largely on the whim of the immigration officer handling your case. In addition to having to stand in queues for hours to even hand in your documents, there’s the amount of time you’ll lose being stuck in Russia (which we normally wouldn’t complain about, but it’s not a pleasant experience when you have plans to be somewhere else at the time). The easiest (and cheapest) way to get an exit visa hassle-free is if you have a bona fide excuse for overstaying your visa, which 99% of the time means a medical emergency. So, if you can, arrange a visit to a doctor, explain that you were too sick to leave your hostel bed and get on your train out, and hope that they’ll write you a nice note that you can then take to the immigration office. Otherwise, prepare for a stern lecture on why overstaying your visa is a serious offence. In Russian.

There is one alternative to applying for an exit visa, but it’s expensive at best, dangerous at worst, and we honestly don’t recommend it: bribery. In some parts of Russia, the American dollar still reigns supreme, and if you have a handful of crisp Benjamins in your pocket, you might just be able to get out of the country. However, the dollar doesn’t shout as loudly as it used to, and you might just discover that it’s actually just a tiny whisper compared to the border guard’s threatening roar. And, technically you could be imprisoned and banned from Russia for five years, so it’s not really a risk that’s worth taking in most circumstances.

So, the lesson is, while it’s not that easy to get a Russian visa, it’s a breeze compared to getting out of Russia with an expired visa. The golden rule is to apply for a visa covering the longest amount of time you think you could stay in Russia, whether you intend to stay that long or not. And don’t overstay your visa!!

VISA GUIDE

The preparation of all the documents can take no longer than an hour in front of the computer but some of the beginners may have their difficulties.

We have made the detailed manual describing the process step-by-step, containing the list of the necessary documents and examples how to fill them in so that you get everything right and obtain your visa without problems.

You will need 2 color photos 35mm x 45mm.
Make a photo on the light background, full-face, without dark-glasses.
That should be the pictures of a good quality: clear, no pixels, not blurred.

It will be required on the last stage, paste it carefully into the special frame in you printed application. Write a date and a signature in the black frame below the photo.

The invitation is an official document issued in the special form that contains your personal data, information about the receiving party, the purpose of your trip and duration of stay.

Invitation must be issued only by the official organization accredited by the MFA of Russia or by Tour Company included in the Unified Register. The authenticity of your invitation can be checked on the web of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Choose the place where you’re going to apply for a visa. For example, if you have written that you live in Austria, you will be offered to choose a consulate/visa center located in Austria.

You should present all the collected documents in the Russian consulate (or in the Visa Center of your native country). If you are a citizen of a Schengen country, you can also obtain a visa in any of other Schengen countries.

If you have a citizenship of one country but live in another one, you can obtain a Russian visa in the country of your living in the case you have a residence/work permit.

Formål med besøket: Turisme

En invitasjon til brevhodet fra selskapet

Formål med besøket: Forretninger

Travel Voucher-Confirmation
Processing time: 1-working day
Purpose of visit: Tourism

An invitation on the letterhead from Company
Processing time: 1-working day
Purpose of visit: Commercial / Business
Employment is required

An invitation issued by the FMS
Processing time: 8 working days
Purpose of visit: Commercial / Business
Employment is not required

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Address: 2641 Tunlaw Road, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20007
Jurisdiction:
Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, District of Columbia, Tennessee, Florida, as well as the territory of Puerto -Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

NEW YORK
Address: 9 East 91 Street, New York, NY 10128
Jurisdiction:
Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts.

HOUSTON
Address: 1333 West Loop South, Ste. 1300, Houston, TX 77027.
Jurisdiction:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas.

It’s recommended that the US citizens apply for a 3-year multiple-entry tourist visa regardless of the dates of entry/exit, number of entries or period of stay actually stated in the confirmation of the hotel reservation or confirmation of reception of the tourist.

When applying for a 3-year multiple-entry tourist visa, please indicate a three year period of stay in the visa application form.

To apply for a single, double or multiple three year Tourist visa, an applicant should submit a completed visa application form, US passport, one standard picture, money order (see points 1-4 of Information on visas), as well as:

– Confirmation of the hotel reservation, confirmation of reception of the tourist, and register number from the Uniform Federal Register of the Tour Operators of the Federal Tourism Agency.

The Consular Division of the Embassy also has the right to call the applicants for an interview and request, if needed:

• a bank statement from the applicant;
• a statement from the employer regarding the applicant’s wages for the preceding year/ half year, or month;
• medical insurance valid in the country to be visited and fully covering the period of the first trip;
• documents regarding the applicant’s ownership of property in the country of his citizenship;
• a certificate on the makeup of the applicant’s family.

Currently, only in the following cities below are available for applying a business visa:
Washington / New York / Houston

It’s recommended that the US citizens apply for a 3-year multiple-entry business visa regardless of the dates of entry/exit, number of entries or period of stay stated in the invitation issued by the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation (FMS) or the host organization.

When applying for a 3-year multiple-entry business visa, please indicate a three year period of stay in the visa application form.

I. To apply for a multiple three year Business visa, an applicant should submit a completed visa application form, US passport, one standard picture, money order (see points 1-4 of Information on visas), as well as:

– Written statement from the host organization, which should give: the full name of the host organization, its official address and contact information, the surname, first name, patronymic, and position of the person who signed the statement (if the host organization is a legal entity or enterprise, an institution, or their affiliate established in the territory of the Russian Federation – the individual taxpayer number), and basic information regarding the visa applicant: the surname, first name, other names, date of birth, citizenship, sex, passport number, multiplicity of the visa, purpose of travel, requested period of entry, location of intended residence of the visa applicant, and the cities to be visited.

The Consular Division of the Embassy also has the right to call the applicants for an interview and request, if needed:

II. To apply for a single, double or multiple one year Business visa, an applicant should submit a completed visa application form, national passport, one standard picture, money order (see points 1-4 of Information on visas), as well as:
• Visa Support is provided by your Russian host organization through Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia or Original letter of Invitation from your Russian host must be issued by the Federal Migration Service or its local office.

International Students

It takes 45 calendar days to extend your visa. The cost of visa extension comes to 1,600 rubles. Registration is done free of charge. You can recieve your registration at place of residence (dormitory/HSE guesthouse/rented appartment – by your landlord).

Visa extension takes not less than 45 calendar days. Please, submit documents 45 days prior to the expiry date of your current visa.

If your passport has expired or has been damaged, and a new one is being issued by embassy, your old passport must be cancelled. Within 30 days following the receipt of your new passport, you must submit the documents required for visa extension again in order to have your visa reissued for your new passport.

You must submit the following documents to have your visa extended:

your passport (copies of all pages),
copy of your visa,
your registration slip (original + 2 copies),
your migration card (original + copy),
copy of your contract certified by your Programme Office if you are studying on a fee – paying (contractual) basis,
copy of a recommendation letter from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science certified by your Programme Office if you are studying under the Ministry’s quota,
a certificate of enrollment issued by your Programme Office and a copy of the directive on your enrollment (for first – year students) or an extract from your directive for senior students (for 2 nd /3 rd /4 th year students),
receipt confirming payment for visa extension (1,600 rubles, bank details may be requested at visa-registration@hse.ru),
1 photo (3,5 x 4,5) in colour;
a HSE request.

Please find further information about all the details of the process here.

These documents can be requested through your Programme Office.

An original certificate (‘spravka’) issued by your programme office must be only in Russian, printed on the HSE letterhead, the date of its issue must be not earlier than 2 months by the date you submit documents for extending.

There is an example of it

It will be valid for 2 months.

If you enter Russia without a Russian visa (visa – free entry), you registration will be extended within 25 working days.

Russian Visa Types

There are 12 different Russian visa types depending on the purpose of your visit:

Diplomatic visa
Government Business visa
Transit visa
Temporary Stay visa
Private Visit visa
Business visa
Tourist visa
Study visa
Work visa
Humanitarian visa
Refugee visa
Visa for citizenship application

Despite this variety more than three-quarters of all issued visas, fall under tourist and business visas.

According to the Russian Legislation all kinds of visas are limited, i.e, they permit the holder to stay in Russia for no more than 90 days per period of 180 days. The only exceptions are work and study visas. They can be extended respectively depending on the duration of the employment contract or period of your study in Russia.
The visa that already exist can be extend in case of emergency treatment of the foreign citizen, serious illness or death of a close relative living in Russia.

Tourist visa

Tourist visa is the cheapest and the easiest to obtain. It is the best choice when you know exactly how long and where you will be staying without diverting from your planned itinerary. Because for a tourist visa you must have confirmed accommodations or transit information for every night of your stay in Russia.

Tourist visa is often recommended instead of a private visa, which is much more difficult to obtain. Tourist visa is non-extendable, so in order to prolong your stay in Russia you have to leave the country and obtain a new visa.

Purpose: Tourism, short business visits or short-term language courses.

Number of Entries and Validity Period: Single or doubly entry during a validity period of 30 days. Double-entry tourist visas are granted only if you are planning to visit some neighbouring countries of Russia during your stay in Russia and the purpose of travel to these country is tourism.

Please note! Tourist visa is non-extendable. Therefore, if you wish to prolong your stay in Russia, you must leave the country and obtain a new visa.

Visa Invitation: It consists of two parts: a tourist Confirmation issued by any authorized hotel or travel agency in Russia that have a tourist reference number at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and a tourist voucher issued by the same travel agency or hotel, showing that your tourist services have been paid or booked using a credit card.

Please note! Hotels issue invitations only for the pre-booked period.

Please note! If you are planning to stay for several nights in a hotel in Moscow and then some nights in a hotel in other city, you will need invitations from both in order to apply for your visa.

Please note! Tourist visa is not issued on the basis of a confirmation of hotel reservation, unless the hotel has its own reference number.

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the Basic Documents section.

– Tourist Confirmation and Voucher

Business visa

Business visa is intended for those who come to Russia for business purposes (to meet business partners, sign a contract, take part in negotiations, visit an exhibition, etc). However, since Business visa allows multiple entries, longer stays, and other benefits, it can also be used by ordinary travelers, who need more flexibility, because applicant do not need to prepare hotel reservation or an itinerary to get a business visa. So this type of visa is ideal for tourist, who are traveling in Russia for longer than 1 month or (and) need multiple entry. Besides that, a business visa might be used for cultural relationships, accompanying family members, etc.

Please note! Be careful to specify information consistent with the type of your invitation when you apply for a business visa (you can’t say that you’re going for sightseeing if you’re getting a business visa).

Purpose: Business visits or travel for prolonged times

Number of Entries and Validity Period:

– Single entry visa valid for 90 days

– Double entry visa valid for 90 days

– Multiple entry visa valid for 12 months

Please note! According to the Russian Law multiple-entry visa permits the holder to stay in Russia no more than 90 days per period of 180 days.

Business invitations are issued through the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its regional representatives, or an appropriate branch of the Federal Migration Service of Russia.

The Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues telexes instead of paper invitation letters. The visa supports can be obtained on the basis of request from officially accredited Russian company to the above mentioned government authorities.

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the Basic Documents section.

– An invitation issued at a division of the Federal Migration Service of Russia or Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Please note! that business visa does not imply a work authorization. You need to seek Work visa to get employment permit.

Private visa (Homestay visa)

Private visa is required in case you wish to visit friends or relatives in Russia and you are planning to stay at their place. This visa might take you several months to obtain (three months for the invitation only). So you need plenty of time in advance to get all the documents together before you can apply for a private visa. Despite the lengthy process of obtaining, this kind of visa is cheaper than any other. Given the difficulties involved, it is easier to visit your friends and relatives using a tourist visa.

Purpose: A personal visit

Number of Entries and Validity Period: Single or doubly entry during a validity period of 90 days.

Private visa might be extended. If you want to extend it you should apply to the local Office of the Federal Migration Service in the area of your residence in Russia.

Visa Invitation: you need to get a personal invitation certificate or “izveshchenie» (the original only) issued by the Federal Migration Service of Russia. Russian citizen inviting you to visit the country must come in person to the Local Office of the Federal Migration Service to apply for the invitation. The process of obtaining personal invitation is complicated, and takes plenty of time. However, price of visa Invitation is not high in comparison with a business visa.

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in Basic Documents section.

– Original copy of the invitation issued at a division of the Federal Migration Service of Russia.

Please note! Foreign citizen can receive a private visa due to the necessity of entering the Russian Federation for urgent medical treatment, the serious illness or death of a close relative. An applicant should present a certificate issued by a medical organization or a death certificate and a document proving the kindred between the applicant and the ill or deceased relative. In this case the passport validity period shall not expire before the end of the visa validity term.

Transit visa

Transit visa is required if you are travelling via Russia to another destination. And you are going to spend in Russia less than 24 hours and aren’t going to leave the airport transit area.

Purpose: Travelling through the Russian Federation to an onward destination.

Number of Entries and Validity Period:

– Up to 3 days if you travel by air

– Up to 10 days if you use other means of transportation

– If you travel by car, the exact validity of visa is defined of the shortest possible transit distance and mileage of 500 km/day.

Single or doubly entry

Visa Invitation: Not required

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the Basic Documents section.

– Travel tickets valid for departure from the Russian Federation.

– Visa for entry into the respective country bordering the Russian Federation, or visa of the country of destination, or passport of such country.

Please note! Check with your airline whether you will be staying in the same terminal/transit area in order to catch a connecting flight before you decide whether transit visa is required or not.

Please note! Passengers travelling to/from Belarus/Kazakhstan via Russia must obtain a transit Russian visa irrespectively of their length of stay in the airport.

Please note! If you have difficulties obtaining a transit visa then you can to apply for a tourist visa.

Study visa

If you are planning to study in Russia longer than one month, you need a student visa. Usually, the issuance of student visas is done with the help of the institute/school authorities.

It’s the most flexible Russian visa.

Purpose: Study in Russia

Number of Entries and Validity Period: Single entry visa is for a period of 3 months to 1 year.

Visa can be extended depending on the period of study. After 3 months of the student’s arrival in Russia it may be converted into a multiple-entry visa.

Visa Invitation: You need a letter of Invitation issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Office. It will be issued after getting admission to a Russian educational institution.

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the Basic Documents section.

– Original copy of the invitation issued from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Office;

– Certificate of absence of HIV infection , if you are going to stay more than 3 months in Russia.

Please note! This certificate is valid for 3 month only (HIV blood test should be taken not earlier than 3 months before applying for a visa).

Please note! When applying for a study visa, the passport shall be valid for no less than eighteen months!

Work visa

If you would like to travel to Russia with the purpose of employment you should apply for a work visa. The employer company must have the right to employ foreigners. After signing of your official employment contract you can start your Russian work visa application.

Purpose: Work in Russia

Number of Entries and Validity Period: Work visa can be single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry.

Single entry visa is for a period of 3 months to 1 year.

Visa can be extended depending on the duration of the employment contract. After 3 months of the employee’s arrival in Russia it may be converted into a multiple-entry visa.

A multiple entry visa with a three-years validity can be issued For Highly Qualified Specialists. According to the Russian legislation such specialist must have experience, skills or achievements in a particular field of activity and his salary in Russia should amount to more than 2 million rubles per year.

Visa Invitation: You need a letter of Invitation issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Office. This type of invitation can be obtained by your Russian employer.

Required Documents:

– Basic documents: passport, completed visa application, two photos, visa fee. See the detailed information in the Basic Documents section.

– Original copy of the invitation issued from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its Regional Office;

– Certificate of absence of HIV infection.

Please note! This certificate is valid for 3 month only (HIV blood test should be taken not earlier than 3 months before applying for a visa).

Please note! When applying for a work visa, the passport shall be valid for no less than eighteen months!

Step 2. Documentation package preparing

After receiving an invitation you should prepare documentation package for applying to embassy (consulate) of Russia. Here is the list of necessary documents:

International passport (original) and copy of title (main page).
Invitation (original) to Russia.
Application form (electronic).
Photograph 3,5×4,5 сm.
Certificate of the HIV-negative status of the applicant.
For under 18 – Parental Consent to Travel for Children under 18, certified by notary.

In Russian embassy (consulate) or visa application center in your country you can clarify which documents exactly you need.

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Step 2. Documentation package preparing