Visa to Russia..... tourist, business, multiple entry or private. The Russian authorities are unforgiving - get it right first time !
Visa to Russia
There are two types of visa to Russia that will concern a Westerner perhaps travelling to meet a future partner, and it is important that you know the difference and how to apply correctly.
Tourist visa : - you can apply for a tourist visa by either :
- applying in person at a Russian Consulate ( visa department ) in your country of permanent residency **
- applying on the internet at any one of the many online visa service agencies that deal with Russia
- enlisting the services of a travel agency - this is the easiest method although you must be prepared to wait and pay commission along with the Consulate visa fee
Private invitation visa
You are advised to arrange a private invitation visa by applying in person at a Russian Consulate ( visa department ) in your country of permanent residency **. Your passport and your invitation are originals and if you need to answer any questions or provide additional documents you will be on hand to do so thus avoiding any delays. You may need an appointment, check beforehand.
Documents required for a tourist visa :
- valid passport with at least 6 months left before the expiry date
- valid passport with at least 2 spare blank pages for a visa
- valid medical insurance for the duration of the visa
( in some countries certain acceptable insurance companies are stipulated ) - completed visa application form, signed and dated
- one passport style photograph ( dimensions vary country to country )
- visa application fee *
If you travel to the Russian Federation on a tourist visa you must, by law, stay in a hotel for the duration of your visa. Your hotel will register you within 3 working days with the local passport office ( OVIR ), a mandatory requirement for foreigners and extremely important.
Documents required for a private invitation visa :
- ORIGINAL private invitation issued by the appropriate authorities in the Russian Federation, applied for by the inviting person and sent to your address in your country of permanent residency **
- valid passport with at least 6 months left before the expiry date
- valid passport with at least 2 spare blank pages for a visa
- valid medical insurance for the duration of the visa
( in some countries certain acceptable insurance companies are stipulated ) - completed visa application form, signed and dated in front of consular staff at the time of application
- one passport style photograph ( dimensions vary country to country )
- visa application fee *
If you travel to the Russian Federation on a private invitation visa you must, by law, stay at the address on the invitation for the duration of your visa. The inviting party must register you within 3 working days with the local passport office ( OVIR ), a mandatory requirement for foreigners and extremely important.
Your correspondent, or a Russian citizen must apply for an invitation for you to come to Russia. There are some criteria to observe, the inviting party must be working, or have income, or have an amount of money in the bank, or be a homeowner. They are legally responsible for you while you are in Russia. These invitations take about 2 or 3 weeks to organise, then it can be sent direct to you, ( direct courier, recorded delivery or other secure method is recommended ). A private invitation costs about 200 Roubles ( 2010 ) and cannot be replaced if it gets lost, another one will have to be issued with another 2 or 3 week wait - they are original, numbered and watermarked.
In reality however, the consulate staff will issue a visa when they feel like it according to their work load and extenuating circumstances. Prices will go up according to the urgency.
Be aware that consulates observe both the public holidays of the host country and Russian public holidays.
Officially you can ask for a visa to be issued as :
- super urgent - less than 24 hours
- urgent - in 1 day
- standard - 3 days
- ordinary - up to 14 days
* If you are arranging this with a travel agency you will usually only pay one fee including visa, service and commission . Payment differs in each country although generally consulates do not accept cash in any currency. Visas can be paid for by credit / debit card or at a local bank with which the consulate has an agreement - if you choose this method the clerk will give you a receipt to take to the local bank along with directions. You must pay the correct amount at the bank and obtain a receipt, attach this to the consulate form and take it back to the consulate. The clerk will tell you when your visa will be ready for collection. Your visa will be stuck to one page in your passport along with an embossed silver monogram - a special fraud prevention measure similar to those used on credit cards, these are scanned at passport control in Russia.
** In theory you should be able to use an original private invitation issued by the appropriate authority in the Russian Federation in almost any Russian Consulate throughout the world as their service is one of processing and they are not responsible for the issue of the invitation ( confirmed by the Russian FMS - Federal Migration Service in 2010 ). However, as has been experienced by the author, this facility is rarely offered to anyone without permanent residency status.
By the very nature of Russian bureaucracy, the rules are constantly changing, every consulate in every country seems to have their own requirements and the above articles are merely a guide, they can be no more. We strongly recommend contacting the consulate in your country when you are ready to apply, for the latest advice and a list of the documents required. Therefore the validity of this information is not guaranteed.
Migration card and immigration talon : As from 25.11.2002 Monday, all foreigners are obliged to fill in special migration cards, which is given to them the instant they cross the Russian border. Entry into the country and actual length of the permitted stay now largely depend on information given in the card and during the "interview" with the visa officials. It consists of two sections, one section is immediately collected by the passport/visa control officials, while the other section is collected when the person leaves the country.
Unofficially immigration officials often use the ignorance of a foreigner to scrutinise the details of a visa, migration card or immigration talon. If you are leaving Russia you will be faced with two choices - miss your flight while you fill in various forms to sort it all out, or make a "contribution" to the immigration officer Christmas fund to smooth the way. Regrettably, in reality most foreigners have very little option. If you are flying into Russia you will have time, although not energy, to argue your point and avoid these tactics. Be polite, calm and confident at all times.
It is required to put in the migration card personal information, how long you intend to stay in Russia, the purpose of your visit, with whom, and where you will be staying, and whether it is private or a hotel. You must fill in the name and address of the inviting person/company. Anyone who has not been registered at the local passport office within three working days will be considered illegal - don't underestimate the importance of registration !
Migration cards are numbered and have no watermarks.
Arranging a visa will be your very first experience of a Russian connection, make sure you or your representative gets it right, the Russian authorities are unforgiving in their examination of visas and travel documents. Read, read and read some more about visa restrictions, quotas, travel documents and your rights before you go.
