Please contact the Russian consulate for current changes. No
information given older than a month can be considered current.
About Russian Visas and Visa Support
Almost all foreign visitors to Russia need a visa
A Russian visa is a passport-sized paper document, nothing gets stamped in your
passport at the time of writing, though there are discussions about changing over to
stamps in the future. A visa lists entry/exit dates, your passport number, any children
traveling with you, and visa type (see below). It's an exit permit too, so if you lose it
(or overstay), leaving the country can be harder
than getting in.
There are two types of visas:
Tourist Visa
This visa is issued to tourists who have booked accommodations in Russia for
non-business reasons. Typically this is issued for a maximum of 30 days but up to three
months is possible with some Russian consulates (not all). A tourist visa is best when you
know exactly where and how long you will be staying without diverting from your planned
itinerary.
Officially, you must have confirmed accommodation or transit information for every
night you will be in the country. However we add extra days to your visa support
invitation to give you the flexibility to stay in Russia a little longer.
Double entry tourist visa support is possible with some Russian
consulates (not all) but it costs more and you must put the exact dates of both
entries/exits to/from Russia.
Business Visa
You will be invited by our company for business consultations. The visa will be issued
for a maximum of three months. Please tell us your place of employment or the institution
where you study and your position.
Double entry business visa support is possible with some Russian
consulates (not all) but it costs more and you must put the exact dates of both
entries/exits to/from Russia.
Ordering Visa Support
We’ll send you your visa support invitation by fax. You must not alter your visa
support invitation in any way! We send a copy of your invitation to the Russian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs. If there is a discrepancy you will not be issued a visa.
Visa Processing
You can process your visa through a visa company or by yourself. To obtain your Russian
visa, give the Russian consulate your original valid passport together with
photocopies of both your passport and your approved visa support invitation, a completed
consular questionnaire, three passport-size photos and consular fees. Please contact the
Russian Consulate in your country for a consular questionnaire and information about
consular fees.
In the USA we do not recommend the Russian consulate in Washington D.C. Many people
have had problems getting their visas from this consulate on time. We recommend the San
Francisco, Seattle or New York Russian Consulates.
Visa Registration and Common Problems
Registering Your Visa
You should register your visa with within 3 working days after your arrival in Russia
to avoid late registration fees. You do not need to register your visa is if you will be
in the country less than 3 working days. If you are going to stay in a hotel, do not care,
a hotel is responsible for registering.
Unregistered Visa
If you leave the country with an unregistered visa you may be fined by the Russian
customs officials (although this rarely happens). The fine is totally subjective. They may
or may not fine you and the amount of the fine is subject to their discretion.
Expired Visa
You will not be allowed to leave the country with an expired visa. Russian customs
officials will send you back and you will have to pay a fine to get an exit permit.
Visa Regulations
So, in case you feel visiting Koh Samui, this vacation, just access the internet and book your favourite Samui villas. A large number of websites will give you all the information regarding the Koh Samui villas, together with their pictures.
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Children under the age of 16 may travel without visas with their names appearing on the
visas of their accompanying parents or guardians, if their names also appear in the
passports of the accompanying adults. Otherwise, children must get their own visas and
apply separately, and the non-traveling parent (both parents in case of a guardian) must
confirm in an affidavit his or her consent on the children travel. If the children names
differ from those of their parents, a copy of the children birth certificates must be
attached to the application papers.
The originals of valid passports must be filed together with the copies thereof.
Fresh HIV Test Certificates (Under 30 days from the date of issue) must be carried by
travelers (over the age of 16) who intend to stay in Russia for over 90 days and by all
those going with multiple entry visas. Notarized copies of such certificates should be
attached to the application papers when applying for visas.
A Russian business and a private visa (made up on a separate sheet of bluish paper) or
a tourist visa (yellowish paper) is usually issued for a SINGLE TRIP with the specified
dates of entry and exit and the names of the cities to be visited.
DOUBLE ENTRY/EXIT VISA requires a special request to this effect from a Russian host
organization (all entry and exit dates must be mentioned).
Application for a visa can be done in person or by mail. When mailing please enclose a
self-addressed and pre-paid envelope or an airbill. Otherwise visas are sent back by
certified mail.
Travelers intending to stay in Russia for over 90 days, must attach a notarized copy of
a fresh (under 30 days) HIV test certificate to their application papers.
ANY APPLICANT MAY BE INVITED TO THE CONSULATE FOR AN INTERVIEW.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO GET A VISA:
TOURIST VISA:
1. COVER LETTER by an applicant of by a US travel agent mentioning dates of entry and
exit and cities to be visited in Russia.
2. Russian Travel agency voucher or confirmation, including its reference number, or
confirmation for hotel reservations in Russia
3. Valid passport and legible copies of the identification pages thereof.
4. Signed and dated standard application form filled out in English or Russian.
5. Three identical color or black & white passport size photos signed on the back.
6. Visa processing fee payable to the RUSSIAN CONSULATE GENERAL by Money Order,
Cashiers Check or Company Check, (For rates, see below).
BUSINESS VISA:
1. Cover letter by an applicant or by a US business or organization.
2. Official Invitation from a Russian host organization or business made on its
letterheads stationary, quoting travelers full name, date of birth and passport number, or
made on a special form obtainable from the Russian Foreign Ministry's Consular Department,
the Ministry’s offices in other cities or local immigration offices OVIR. Invitations
must be signed by an executive officer and bear circular official stamp, proper dates and
references. Eventually, only invitations made on special forms will be accepted.
3. Valid passport and legible copies of the identification pages thereof.
4. Signed and dated standard application form filled out in English or Russian.
5. Three identical color or black & white passport size photos signed on the back.
6. Visa processing fee payable to the RUSSIAN CONSULATE GENERAL by Money Order,
Cashiers Check or Company Check, (For rates, see below).
Note: Business visas to Taiwanese passport holders are issued after a waiting period of
no less than 5 Business Days.
PRIVATE VISA:
1. Cover letter by an applicant
2. The original of an invitation, called “izveschenie”, obtained by Russian
relatives or friends in Russia from and OVIR office.
3. Valid passport and legible copies of the identification pages thereof.
4. Signed and dated standard application form filled out in English or Russian.
5. Three identical color or black & white passport size photos signed on the back.
6. Visa processing fee payable to the RUSSIAN CONSULATE GENERAL by Money Order,
Cashiers Check or Company Check, (For rates, see below).
Note: Private visa is granted only for single trips to Russia and only to the city
where an “izveschenie” has been issued.
TRANSIT VISA:
1. Cover letter by an applicant.
2. Visa to the country of destination and a copy of the air or railway ticket.
3. Valid passport and legible copies of the identification pages thereof.
4. Signed and dated standard application form filled out in English or Russian.
5. Three identical color or black & white passport size photos signed on the back.
6. Visa processing fee payable to the RUSSIAN CONSULATE GENERAL by Money Order,
Cashiers Check or Company Check, (For rates, see below).
