Russian Visas
Visa to the Russian Federation is a document, permitting you to stay in Russia for a specific period of time.
A visa is issued on a separate piece of paper with 2 your photos stapled to it, and lists your name, address, passport details, entry and exit dates of your visit. If you loose this paper, you will have enormous problems with leaving the country; and it's a good idea to have a copy of your visa in a safe place. If you have to stay longer than the period the visa was issued for, you must apply for extension ahead of time; otherwise you will face similar problems.
Types of visas
Generally, there are 2 types of visas one can obtain in order to visit Russia:
- Tourist visa
- Business visa
There won't be any problem with receiving a Russian visa of both types; the only thing you must take in consideration is time. Your passport must be valid 3 months beyond intended stay; vaccinations are not required.
Standard time for processing your application is 10 working days; let’s say it's two weeks. If any of your papers are incorrect, you may need additional time to obtain the right one. If you submitted your documents 9 working days in advance or less, you will have to pay double fee. Yes, Russians are capable of doing the paper work faster, if you pay.
Russian visas cannot be obtained at the airport on arrival; I have heard about cases when men were hoping to get a transit visa on their arrival to Moscow, and were mercilessly deported.
What you will need:
Visa application form (available from embassies and travel agencies);
Passport (copy of the passport if sending documents by mail);
3 passport-size photos
Corresponding fee
This is applicable for all types of visas. Particulars on the different types of visas see below.
It is a good idea to include a copy of your tickets/reservation of the tickets along with the documents. Write a cover letter, and include a prepaid self addressed envelope if you want the consulate to send you the visa by mail.
If you apply for a visa in person, you will be issued a slip with a number. When you come to pick up your visa, please do not forget this slip. They do require it.
When enter Russia, your visa will be stamped. Your visa must be also registered and stamped by a visas' department at every single city where are you staying during the visit. You must register within 3 days from your arrival. If you stay in a hotel, administration will do it for you. But don't be concerned if you must do it yourself: it takes 2 minutes and your personal presence in the visas department is not required, anyone can bring your passport and fill out the form. It is a very formal procedure that is a survivor of socialist times.
When you leave Russia, they will collect the visa on the border, so save your tickets if you ever need to prove you have been in Russia (may be handy for the purposes of fiancée visa application).
Tourist visa
This is the most common type of visa that foreigners use to visit Russia.
In addition to the papers mentioned, this requires a "tourist voucher". If your travel agent is not familiar with organizing tours to Russia, he may be a bit confused what it is.
Tourist voucher is a confirmation from a Russian tour operator, that you have booked a hotel and they are responsible for your staying.
Why they call it "voucher"? Nobody knows, but in addition to normal confirmation from hotel that is required by most embassies, the Russian consulate has some rules who can issue such a document. The tour operator must be a registered tourist company that has been assigned a special index in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. This index and a tour reference number must be indicated in the confirmation (copy of a fax message).
Most Russian hotels will issue the voucher for you when you book accommodation there.
Business visa
For business visas tourist voucher is not required but you need an invitation from a Russian company.
The invitation must be issued by an organization that is registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. In order to obtain a multi-entry visa, the hosting organization must apply to the Russian Foreign Ministry for authorization. or private apartments, and you don't have to book in advance that is very convenient. You can ask a person you visit to buy get you a business invitation. There are some organizations that do it for a fee, and their names and addresses usually may be obtained from the visas department (in Russian they spell it as "OVIR" - the place where they issue "foreign passports", special documents for traveling abroad). Just ask the person who you visit to find out at OVIR where she can get a business invitation for her foreign friend. The fee that companies charge for business invitations may be anything from 5 to 80 dollars, depending on the city; in big cities like Moscow fees are higher.
Private invitations
You can also visit Russia with a private invitation, too.
A person must apply to a district police office ("rayonniy otdel vnutrennikh del") that will send request to the visas department. She must fill out a special form that can be obtained from the police office, and include a receipt on transferring the corresponding fee and proof of residence (a document from the government communal service that is in charge of the area where she is staying - "domoupravlenie"). Usually processing of the application takes anything from 2 to 4 months, and one cannot receive any information when her application will be processed. If you wish to visit Russia on a private invitation, take the time matters in consideration. The rest is the same as for business visas.
Notes
The Consulate says it reserves the right to invite any applicant for an interview, but I did not hear about such cases.
USA consulate is particularly overworking so they have special requirements on how the documents should be submitted.
Copies of the passport pages should be trimmed to the size of the original and stapled to the upper-left corner of the application form.
Two of your photos should be stapled to the copy of the passport page.
The other photo should be stapled to the specially marked place in the upper-right corner of the application form.
They reserve the right to return the documents if they are submitted in a different manner.
Do not forget to carefully check your visa when receive it. If there is any misspelling or mistake, you will be refused in entering Russia. If there is some, return the visa to the embassy for corrections. This is another reason why you should take care of your visa well in advance. If you send documents by mail, add some time for delivery.
Fees
(for USA only; in the other countries may differ)
- Single Entry Visa - $70.00 (1 business day service - $150.00)
- Double Entry Visa - $120.00 (1 business day service - $200.00)
Visa processing fees are non-refundable.
List of Russian Embassies and Russian Consulates
Australia
Embassy of Russian Federation in Australia
Address: 78 Canberra Avenue, Griffith, ACT 2603
Phone: (616) 295-9033
Fax: (616) 295-1847
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (616) 295-9474
Austria
Botschaft der Russischen Foderation in Osterreich
Reisnerstrasse 45-47
1030 Wien
Phone: (43-1) 712-1229, 713-8622
Fax: (43-1) 712-3388
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Generalkonsulat in Salzburg
Burgelsteinstrasse 2
5020 Salzburg
Phone: (43-6626) 241-84
Fax: (43-6626) 217-434
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Belgium
Embassy of Russian Federation in Belgium
1180, Bruxelles
avenue de Fre, 66
Phone: (322) 374-3400, 374-5738, 374-6886
Fax: (322) 374-2613
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (322) 374-3569
Fax: (322) 375-9415
General Consulate in Antwerpen
Della Faillelaan, 20
Phone: (323) 829-1611
Telex: (46) 35779 KGURSS B
Fax: (323) 829-0589
Canada
Embassy of Russia in Canada
285 Charlotte St., Ottawa, Canada
Tel: (613) 235-4341
Fax: (613) 236-6342
Visa Department:
Tel: (613) 236-7220, 236-6215
Fax: (613) 238-6158
Consulate General in Montreal
3655 Ave Du Musee
Montreal, Quebec, H3G2EI
Tel: (514) 843-5901, 842-5343
Fax: (514) 842-2012
Cyprus
Embassy of Russian Federation in Republic of Cyprus
Ag. Prokopiou street
Engomi, Nicosia
Phone: (3572) 46-4622, 47-2141, 47-2142
Fax: (3572) 46-4854
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (3572) 47-6832
Denmark
Embassy of Russian Federation in Denmark
Kristianiagade 5
2100 Kobenhavn
Phone: (45) 314-25-585, 314-25-586
Fax: (45) 314-23-741
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (45) 313-82-370
Finland
Embassy of Russian Federation in Finland
Tehtaankatu 1 b
00140 Helsinki
Suomi
Phone: (35-89) 66-1876, 66-1877, 60-7050
Fax: (35-89) 66-1006
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (35-89) 66-1449
Consulate General in Turku
Address: Vartiovuorenkatu 2, 20700 Turku, Suomi
Phone: (35-82) 233-6441
Fax: (35-82) 231-9779
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
France
Embassy of Russian Federation in France
40-50, Boulevard Lannes
75116 Paris
Phone: (331) 45-04-0550, 45-03-4020, 45-04-4030
Fax: (331) 45-04-1765
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (331) 45-03-0407
Fax: (331) 45-04-4409
Consulate General in Marseille
8, av. Ambrois-Pare
Marseille, 13008
Phone: (334) 91-77-1525, 91-76-2679
Fax: (334) 91-77-3454
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consulate General in Strasbourg
Address: 75, allee de la Robertsau, 67000 Strasbourg
Phone: (333) 88-36-7315
Telex: (42) 891006 COGERUS
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Germany
Embassy of Russian Federation in Bonn
53177 Bonn
Waldstrasse, 42
Phone: (49-228) 31-2085, 31-2086, 31-2087
Fax: (49-228) 31-1563
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (49-228) 31-2083
Fax: (49-228) 38-4561
Embassy of Russian Federation in Berlin
10117 Berlin
Unter den Linden, 63-65
Phone: (49-30) 220-2821, 226-6320, 391-8807
Fax: (49-30) 229-9397
Consular department
Phone: (49-30) 229-9469, 229-1207, 832-7004
Fax: (49-30) 229-0035
Consulate General in Leipzig
Address: 04105 Leipzig, Kickerlingsberg, 18
Phone: (49-341) 564-9528
Fax: (49-341) 564-9589
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consulate General in Rostock
Address: 18057 Rostock, Thunenstrasse, 3
Phone: (41-381) 492-2742
Fax: (41-381) 429-2743
Consulate General in Munchen
Address: 80335 Munchen, Seidlstrasse, 28
Phone: (49-89) 59-2503, 59-2528, 55-7657
Fax: (49-89) 550-3828
Consulate General in Hamburg
Address: 22085 Hamburg, Am Freenteich, 20
Phone: (49-40) 229-5201, 229-5301
Telex: (41) 211927 UDSSR D
Fax: (49-40) 229-7727
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Italy
Embassy of Russian Federation in Italy
Via Gaeta, 5
00185 Roma
Italia
Phone: (396) 494-1680, 494-1681, 494-1649, 494-1683
Fax: (396) 49-1031
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (396) 442-34149, 442-35625
Fax: (396) 442-34031
Consulate General in Milano
Via Sant'Aquilino, 3
20148, Milano
Phone: (392) 400-92113, 487-06041
Fax: (392) 400-90741
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Japan
Embassy of Russian Federation in Japan
1-1 Azabudai 2-chome
Minato-ku
Tokyo 106-0041
Tel: 03-3583-4224, 03-3583-5982
Fax: 03-3505-0593
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Luxemburg
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Luxemburg
Ambassade de Russie
rue des Hauts-Fourneuax - Château de Beggen
L-1719 Luxembourg
Tel: +352 42 29 29
Netherlands
Embassy of Russian Federation in Netherlands
Laan van Meerdervoort 1, 2517AA The Hague, Netherlands
Phone: (3170) 345-1300, 345-1301, 310-7506, 346-8888
Fax: (3170) 361-7960
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (3170) 364-6473
Telex: (44) 34585 USSR NL
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
New Zealand
Embassy of Russian Federation in New Zealand
Address: 57 Messines Road, Karori, Wellington
Phone: (644) 476-6113
Fax: (644) 476-3843
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (644) 476-6742
Norway
Embassy of Russian Federation in Norway
Address: Norge, 0271
Oslo 2
Drammensveien 74
Phone: (47) 22-55-3278, 22-55-3279, 22-44-0608
Fax: (47) 22-55-0070
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (47) 22-60-3035, 22-60-5013
Fax: (47) 22-56-5878
South Africa
Embassy of Russian Federation in South Africa
316 Brooks Street Butano Building
Menlo Park 0081
Pretoria, P.O. Box 6743
Pretoria 0001
Republic of South Africa
Phone: (2712) 362-1337, 362-1338
Fax: (2712) 362-0116 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consulate General in Pretoria
135 Bourke Street
Sunnyside 0132
P.O. Box 5715
Pretoria 0001
Republic of South Africa
Phone: (2712) 344-4812, 344-4820
Fax: (2712) 343-8636
Consulate General in Cape Town
2-nd Floor, Southern Life Centre
8 Riebeek Street
Cape Town
Republic of South Africa
Phone: (2721) 418-3656, 418-3657
Fax: (2721) 419-2651
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Spain
Embassy of Russian Federation in Spain
Madrid, C/Velazquez, 155
Phone: (8-1034) 91-411-2524, 91-562-2264, 91-411-0807
Fax: (8-1034) 91-562-9712
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sweden
Embassy of Russian Federation in Sweden
Gjorwellsgatan 31, 11260 Stockholm, Sverige
Phone: (46-8) 13-0440, 618-5338
Fax: (46-8) 618-2703
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (46-8) 619-0470, 619-0405
Switzerland
Embassy of Russian Federation in Switzeland
Brunnadernrain 37, 3006 Bern, die Schweiz
Phone: (41-31) 352-0566, 352-8517
Fax: (41-31) 352-5595
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Consular department
Phone: (41-31) 352-0567, 352-0425
United Kingdom
Embassy of Russian Federation in the United Kingdom
Consular Section
5 Kensington Palace Gardens
London W8 4QS
Tel: (0207) 229 8027
Fax: (0207) 229 321558 Melville Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7HF
Scotland
Tel: (0131) 225 7098
United States
Embassy of Russia in the United States
2650 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.
Washington DC 20007
Tel: (202) 298-5700, 298-5772
Fax: (202) 298-5749
Visa Department:
1825 Phelps Place N.W.
Washington DC 20008
Tel: (202) 939-8907
Fax: (202) 939-8909
Consulate General in New York
9 East 91 St.
New York, NY 10128
Tel: (212) 348-0926
Fax: (212)831-9162
Consulate General in San Francisco
2790 Green St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
Tel: (415) 928-6878
Fax: (415) 929-0306
Consulate General in Seattle
2323 Westin Building
2001 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121-2617
Tel: (206) 728-1910
Fax: (206) 728-187