Information on the issue of obtaining visas for foreign citizens and stateless persons to enter the Russian Federation.

The fundamental documents governing the procedure for issuing visas are: Federal Law of August 15, 1996, No. 114-FZ “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entry into the Russian Federation”, Federal Law of July 25, 2002 No. 115-FZ “On legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation “, Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of 09.06.2003, No. 335″ On approval of the Regulation on establishing the form of a visa, the procedure and conditions for its registration and issuance, extending its validity, restoring it in case of loss, and also the procedure for canceling a visa ”, as well as a number of international intergovernmental agreements on visa issues, to which the Russian Federation is a party.

A visa is a permit to enter the Russian Federation, stay in the Russian Federation and transit through the territory of the Russian Federation of a foreign citizen or stateless person during the validity period of the visa in the manner prescribed by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

A consular fee is charged for obtaining a visa, as provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

The usual time for obtaining a visa is no more than 20 working days from the date of the applicant’s request. On the basis of the principle of reciprocity with a number of states with which the Russian Federation has concluded agreements on simplifying the visa regime, this period may be reduced. The date of circulation is the day of submission of all documents provided for by the regulatory framework, duly executed.

The issuance of a visa to a foreign citizen may be refused in cases established by the legislation of the Russian Federation. In this case, the paid consular fee is non-refundable.

List of Embassies and Consulates of Russian Federation.

Consular rates for Russian tourist visa:

– for EU citizens, EUR 35 per ordinary / urgent EUR 70
– for citizens of the USA 160 USD regardless of the type of visa.
– for citizens of Asia 60 USD / urgent 120 USD,
– for citizens of Africa from 90 to 120 USD
– for citizens of Australia – 120 USD / urgently 240 USD

Depending on the purpose of entry into Russia, visas can be business, humanitarian, private, workers, educational, tourist and transit.

In most cases if you want to apply for visa to Russian Federation from Ukraine you need to have a permission of the State migration service of Ukraine to stay more than 90 days in Ukraine: temporary or permanent residence permit, refugee certificate or a certificate of person in need for complementary (subsidiary) protection.

Citizens of some countries have visa free regime with Russia

From the need to obtain a visa for entry into Russia, citizens of a number of countries who have corresponding agreements with the Russian Federation have been released.

List of countries with a simplified entry procedure.

Citizens of some countries can apply for visa to Russia from Ukraine without having residence permit in Ukraine

On the basis of the principle of reciprocity, citizens of a number of states are exempted from this restriction (List of countries).

Before applying for visa to Russia, it is necessary to fill out an electronic visa application form, and then print it out and submit it to the consulate of the Russian Federation personally or through a legal representative. The application form is signed by the applicant and, in the case of applying for a visa for a minor, by one of the parents or by a legal representative if there is a notarized consent from the second parent or parents. The answers should be given to all questions in the questionnaire, as well as complete and scrupulous. If there is a discrepancy between the information provided in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, a foreign citizen or stateless person will not be allowed to issue a visa to enter Russia.

On the basis of the principle of reciprocity, the provision of a health insurance policy is mandatory for all citizens of the Schengen States of EU, as well as Israel and Ireland. The amount of medical insurance coverage must be at least 30.000 Euros. The policy should be valid for the entire period of stay in the territory of the Russian Federation in the case of a single or double entry visa or for the first trip if a multiple visa is received.

A valid foreign passport or other document proving the identity and recognized in this capacity by the Russian Federation must have at least two blank pages intended for gluing in visas, its validity period should not expire earlier than six months from the date of expiry of the visa. In the case of issuing a study or work visa, the validity of the passport should not expire earlier than one and a half years from the date of the visa’s validity. All passports are kept at the consular overseas institution during the entire visa processing period.

The actual photo size 3.5×4.5 cm can be black and white or color with a clear face image full face without glasses with darkened glasses and without a headdress (except for foreign citizens and stateless persons for whom the constant wearing of the headdress is a mandatory attribute of their national or religious affiliation, provided that the foreign citizen is depicted in such a headdress on the photograph in the passport).

An employee of a Russian consular overseas institution is entitled to request additional documents confirming the purpose of entry into the Russian Federation and the conditions of stay in Russia.

The issuance of a visa to a foreign citizen may be refused in the cases established by the legislation of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the paid consular fee is not refundable.

For business or humanitarian visas to Russia:

– A valid international passport of a foreign citizen or a travel document of a stateless person;
– Completed visa application form;
– One photo;

– The original invitation issued by the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, a short or full form of an electronic invitation to the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, invitation (telex instruction) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia;
invitation on the letterhead of a legal entity (only for citizens of EU member states, China, USA and Japan). Such an invitation is drawn up in any form, but it must contain the following information:

1) for the invited person – name, surname, date of birth, gender, citizenship, number of the identity document, duration and purpose of the trip, number of entries, names of minor children traveling with the invited person;

2) for the inviting organization – the full name of the legal entity, address, taxpayer identification number (TIN), as well as the name and position of the person who signed the appeal;

For a private visa to Russia:

– A valid international passport of a foreign citizen or a travel document of a stateless person;
– Completed visa application form;
– One photo;
– The original invitation issued by the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, a short or full form of an electronic invitation to the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, decision (telex instruction) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

For work or study visas to Russia:

– A valid international passport of a foreign citizen or a travel document of a stateless person;
– Completed visa application form;
– One photo;
– The original of the invitation issued by the Main Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, a short or full form of an electronic invitation issued by the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia;
Certificate of absence of HIV infection (must be valid for 3 months).

For a tourist visa to Russia:

– A valid international passport of a foreign citizen or a travel document of a stateless person;
– Completed visa application form;
– One photo;
– A properly executed contract for the provision of tourist services and confirmation of the admission of a foreign tourist by an organization carrying out tour operator activities;– Confirmation of hotel reservation is not a basis for issuing a visa.

Tourist visas can be single or double entry valid for up to 30 days. On the basis of the principle of reciprocity, they can be issued for up to six months (for citizens of Austria, Hungary, Greece, India and Spain).

For a transit visa to Russia:

– A valid international passport of a foreign citizen or a travel document of a stateless person;
– Completed visa application form;
– One photo;
– Travel tickets valid for leaving the Russian Federation;
– A visa to enter a state adjacent to the Russian Federation along the route, or a visa from the state of destination, or a passport of this state.

A transit visa to a foreign citizen or stateless person traveling through the territory of the Russian Federation to the state of destination by air is issued for a period not exceeding three days. Foreign citizens traveling by air in transit through the territory of the Russian Federation and not leaving the transit zone of an international airport are exempted from the need to obtain a transit visa if the period of stay in the transit zone does not exceed 24 hours.

Russia visa requirements for US citizens

In accordance with the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Simplifying Visa Formalities for Citizens of the Russian Federation and Citizens of the United States of America (Moscow, Washington, 01.11.2011 – 19.11.2011), US citizens can apply for multiple entries business, humanitarian, private and tourist visas for a period of up to 3 years. In this case, the following documents are provided as the basis for issuing a visa:

For tourist visa – confirmation of hotel booking or a contract for the provision of tourist services or confirmation of the admission of foreign tourists. The document must include the register number of the Federal Register of Tour Operators of the Federal Agency for Tourism, which is assigned to organizations licensed to carry out tourist activities. The rest of the documents are in accordance with the general list.

Apply for Russian tourist visa or how to obtain a Russian visa

CAN APPLY FOR THE RECEIPT OF RUSSIAN VISAS WITHOUT OBLIGATORY GRANT OF THE PERMISSION TO CONTINUOUS STAY IN UKRAINE FOR LESS THAN 90 DAYS

The list does not include the CIS member states with which the Russian Federation has agreements on mutual visa-free travel). Argentina, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Denmark, Djibouti, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Italy, (Long-term review), Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Republic of Korea, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mauritania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mala Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Morocco, Mozambique, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands (Long-term review), Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Swaziland, Seychelles, (Long-term review), Thailand, Thailand, Thailand, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan (Long-term review), Uruguay, Philippines, France, Singapore, Slovakia, Sudan, Suriname, United States Central African Republic, Czech Republic, Chile, Sweden, Ecuador, Eritrea, Jamaica, Japan.

Citizens of other countries for the purpose of issuing a visa must go through several stages.
– determine the necessary travel time and frequency of travel, if there are several. So the question of the expediency of issuing a multiple visa or a single visa is being decided.
– determine what should be the basis for obtaining a visa to Russia. It will be either a tourist voucher, or a private invitation, a business invitation, etc. This document is submitted with the rest of the package of documents.
– fill in the application for the visa (application form). It is filled on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, after which they are printed out, the applicant signs it personally. Here on the site choose a place for issuing a visa. It can be a consular department or a visa center. Be sure to specify the country and city. The profile data are saved for 2-3 weeks, and at this time you can edit them.
– prepare all the necessary documents (including russian visa invitation and voucher, invitation letter for russian tourist visa) and implement them at the selected consulate or visa center. You can check their working hours on the website.
– get your passport with a visa for a trip to Russia. Do not forget to check on the spot its validity period, the allowed number of entries, the number of days for a trip.

If there are any inaccuracies after crossing the Russian border, nothing can be rectified. There is a rule: if a foreign citizen enters the country with a visa, he agrees with all the conditions specified in the visa.

Many countries around the world already use the electronic visa system (e-visa) to authorize foreign citizens to enter their country. For example, former Soviet republics such as Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan or Georgia already use this system. It is also used by countries such as Turkey, India, Australia or the United States (called ESTA), to name a few examples. 

Russian Federation started the pilot project of the electronic visa system in August 2017, however only in certain areas of the country such as regions of the Far Eastern Federal District, Kaliningrad region, Leningrad region and only for citizens of 53 countries.

Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand cannot apply for a Russian electronic visa.

How to get Russian e-visa?

The e-visa (or electronic visa) is an official document issued electronically by the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, which allows entry to certain regions of Russia. It is the alternative to a paper visa. It is a visa that must be requested a few days before arriving in Russia, that is, it is not a visa that is requested upon arrival at the airport in Russia.

The e-visa has three major advantages over paper visas:

• You can obtain it electronically, in an easy manner from your home through the website enabled by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation: https://evisa.kdmid.ru/. Therefore, it is not necessary to travel to any Consulate or Russian visa center to carry out the procedure.
• The required documentation is very small, only a digital photo and to have a valid passport. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an invitation, hotel reservations, plane tickets or other documents that justify the purpose of your trip. Of course, once you have obtained the electronic visa, to enter Russia it is mandatory to have travel medical insurance.

How much does the Russian e-visa cost?

It is currently free.

Which e-visa categories exist?

The Russian evisa can only be from one of the following categories:

• The common tourist visa, when the purpose of the trip is tourism.
• An ordinary business visa, when the purpose of the trip is business.
• An ordinary humanitarian visa, in which case the purpose of the trip are sports, cultural, scientific or technological links.

If the purpose of your trip to the Russian Federation does not correspond to any of the above, then you must apply for a traditional visa (not electronic) in a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Russian Federation. For example, if you need a study or work visa, then you must apply for a regular or traditional visa.

What nationalities can apply for the e-visa to Russia?

Currently, only nationals of the following 53 countries can apply for an electronic visa: Andorra, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, China (including Taiwan), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Holland, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia. Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Vatican.

Warning. With Russian e-visa you should travel (enter and exit) ONLY through certain checkpoints!

To enter and leave Russia with this visa, it must be done through one of the following border control points, depending on the region for which you apply for the visa:

• Air checkpoints (airports)
  • Anadyr (Ugolny)
  • Blagoveschensk
  • Vladivostok (Knevichy)
  • Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Yelizovo)
  • Ulan-Ude (Mukhino)
  • Khabarovsk (New)
  • Chita (Kadala)
  • Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Khomutovo)
• Maritime checkpoints
  • Vladivostok
  • Zarubino
  • Korsakov
  • Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
  • Posiet
• Railway checkpoints
  • Makhalino
  • Pogranichny
  • Khasan
• Road checkpoints
• • Poltavka
  • Turiy Rog

How long is valid the e-visa to Russia?

The e-visa is issued for a single entry and for a duration of up to 30 days from the date of issue, however, the maximum stay allowed in Russia is 8 days from the date of entry and within its period of validity. Also keep in mind that the validity of the e-visa can’t be extended.