What type of visa should I apply for?

In General…

…all foreign nationals are required to have entry visas to travel to the Russian Federation.  In the UK, Russian visas can be obtained at the Russian consulates in London and Edinburgh.

A visa to the Russian Federation is a document permitting a stay in Russia for a specific period of time.  The visa lists entry/exit dates, your name and passport details. Please note that your Russian visa is an exit permit just like it’s an entry permit: if you stay over your designated departure date, leaving the country could be very troublesome.

Next steps:

Please see below for a description of the different types of visas. For additional details on documents required to apply for your visa please select the appropriate visa type from the list.

 

Tourist Visas


This is issued to people travelling to Russia for tourism purposes.  A Russian tourist visa can be issued for single or double entry and can be valid for a maximum of 30 days.  A tourist visa is best when you know exactly where, and how long for, you will be staying without diverting from your planned itinerary.  For a tourist visa to Russia, you must have confirmed accommodation or transit information for every night of your stay in the country*.

*RuVisa Ltd can provide you with visa support documents (tourist invitation) to satisfy this requirement and confirming your accommodations and itinerary.  No hotel reservations or bookings are needed on your part.

 

Business Visas


This type of Russian visa is issued to people who wish to enter Russia on any type of business, to attend business meetings or participate in a conference, an exhibition etc. Business visas are most suited for visitors who do not know their exact itineraries and want to stay in Russia longer than 30 days, or need to enter Russia frequently.
Business visas to the Russian Federation may be issued for a single entry and double-entry and for 30 or 90 days. There are also multiple-entry business visas, valid for 12 months with unlimited entries/exits.

RuVisa Ltd can obtain your official business visa invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow.

 

Work Visas


A Work visa is required in order to enter the Russian Federation for employment.  A Work visa can be valid for up to 3 months  for single or double entry.  Work visas can also be issued for multiple entries and valid for up to 3 years.  Dates of validity of the visa will correspond with the dates mentioned on your official letter of invitation issued by a Russian Federal Migration Service agency or a telex from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Please note that you are required to submit a HIV Certificate when applying for a work visa.

 

Humanitarian Visas


A Humanitarian visa is required in order to enter Russia for cultural, science, sports, religious, etc. purposes.  Humanitarian visas can be valid for up to 3 months and can be issued for single or double entry.  Humanitarian visas can also be issued for multiple entries valid for up to 1 year.  Dates of validity of the visa will correspond with details listed on your letter of invitation issued by a Russian Federal Migration Service agency or a telex from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Student Visas


A Student visa is required in order to enter Russia to study in any Russian University or attend short term courses. A Student visa can be valid for up to 3 months and can be issued for single or double entry.  Dates of validity of the visa will correspond with the dates mentioned on your letter of invitation issued by a Russian Federal Migration Service agency or a telex from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Private Visas


If the purpose of your trip to Russia is to visit friends or relatives, you can apply for a private visa.  This type of visa allows you to stay in the Russian Federation for up to 90 days and can be valid for single or double entry.  You should first obtain an official invitation and only then apply for a Private visa. To obtain such an invitation your relatives or friends will need to present a photocopy of your passport and personal data to the local branch of the MI in Russia. Russian Consulates accept only original OVIR invitations.  Please note obtaining an OVIR invitation can take up to 6 weeks.

 

Other purpose


Transit
A Russian Transit Visa may be obtained when you are travelling to another country through the Russian territory.  A transit Visa is not required if you remain in the transit zone of the airport in order to catch an onward or connecting flight within 24 hours of arrival.  Transit visas are normally valid for maximum of 3 days.

For a transit visa, you should follow the instructions for applying for a tourist visa but you will also be required to provide: an entry visa to the country of destination and a copy of the air, railway or other ticket.

If you can’t satisfy these requirements, we suggest you apply for a regular tourist visa instead.

Cruises

Tourists on board large cruise ships should have the right to stay in the Russian Federation without a visa during 72 hours.  They have the right to leave the ship and come back on board the ship only as part of an organized tourist group as per the list.  If you wish to leave the ship alone, you will require a visa.

Auto-Tourism

If travelling to or in Russia by car you must indicate the car’s details on the tourist visa invitation.  (We can provide special invitations for “auto-tourism” and “auto-tourism” is stated on visa).  You should indicate the car make, colour and registration number.

Special Cases – ill or deceased relative

In case of a visit to the Russian Federation for urgent medical reasons, for urgent treatment, or to visit a seriously ill or a deceased relative, an applicant should present a certificate issued by a medical institution or a death certificate and a document proving the kindred between the applicant and the ill or deceased relative. Passport’s validity of the applicant should exceed the visa expiry date.

Documents proving the family relations are copies of the certificates issued by registrar offices. In case the applicant is a grandparent or a grandchild he should submit a copy of the certificates issued by registrar offices proving their next of kin.

Visa type is “Private” and purpose of travel is “Special Cases”.

Burial site visits
Russian Visa to travellers visiting military and civil burial sites should be issued subject to a submission of an original certificate proving the burial issued by Russian or foreign authorized bodies and the original document proving the kindred. Period of validity of such a visa would not exceed 14 days.  Visa type is “Private” and purpose of travel is “Visit of Burial Site”.

Temporary Residence Visas

To get the residence permit an applicant must be in Russia and all the documents are processed by local OVIRs.  The procedure takes up to 6 months.

To enter Russia and obtain residence permit the applicant should:

  • obtain a private visa for 3 months
  • extend the visa while in Russia in the same OVIR where the documents for residence are submitted

Always remember that it is only possible to extend PRIVATE or WORK visas. So it is not possible to be in Russia on tourist or business visa when submitting the application for residence.

In some cases the private invitation from the OVIR (once the paperwork for residence has been submitted) to enable the applicant to travel to Russia to obtain a temporary residence visa can be just a stamped and signed letter (does not necessarily have to be A5 yellowish invitation).  It is best to check the letter with the Consulate to make sure.