For most people who are planning a trip to Russia, the visa process is two-fold: applying for an invitation, and then applying for a visa.
Everyone who is planning to visit Russia needs a visa. Even if a tourist’s plane stops on Russian soil, a Russian visa is needed.
Here’s how it works: People who are traveling to Russia for tourism, business or to visit friends or family, must first apply for an invitation from the Russian government. This invitation is basically an invitation from the government to apply for a visa. The only type of Russian traveler that does not need a letter of invitation from the Russian government is the person who just needs a transit visa. Transit visas are for people who are traveling through Russia, and do not plan to stay there for any length of time outside a few hours.
The application for a letter of invitation is short, and consists of the following information.
The Russian Visa Invitation Form
- Name of person traveling to Russia
- Nearest Russian consulate
- Work and work address
- Job title
- Home address
- Phone number
- Citizenship status
- Email address
This process takes about six weeks for the Russian government to process. The letter of invitation can be arranged by a business in Russia, the hotel in Russia that the visitor plans to stay at, or the traveler’s friends and family in Russia. All of these places register with the Russian government, which then issues the invitation.
Applying for a Russian Visa
There are four types of visas that are offered by the Russian government. Prices change all the time, so people planning a trip to Russia should check the Russian embassy for up-to-date fees.
- Tourist Visa
- Business Visa
- Homestay
- Transit
How to Apply for a Russian Visa
After receiving the invitation, visitors can then apply for a visa. The visa application is a few pages long. People must also submit the following documents.
Here is what is needed for the Russian tourist visa:
- Passport-sized photo
- Cover letter explaining the visit to Russia
- Letter of Invitation
- Passport
- Confirmation from hotel or travel agency
Here is what is needed for the Russian business visa:
- Passport-sized photo
- Letter of invitation
- Cover letter
- Passport
- Proof of HIV negative status
Here is what is needed for the Russian homestay visa:
- Passport-sized photo
- Letter of invitation
- Passport
Unfortunately, travelers who are just stopping over in Russia because of a plane change must also apply for a visa.
Here is what is needed for the Russian transit visa:
- Passport
- Copies of plane tickets
- Cover letter with itinerary
The good news is that once all of this information is submitted to the consulate, travelers to Russia can expect to receive their visa in 3-20 days, depending on how much the traveler wants to pay to get the visa quickly.
Get up-to-date information from the Russian Embassy Consular Division. For people who are interested in what awaits them in Russia, Russian Culture and Etiquette has tips on local customs.
