Please contact the Russian Consulate for current changes. No information given older than a month can be considered current.

About Russian Tourist 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 to stamps in the future. A visa lists entry/exit dates, your passport number, any children traveling with you, and visa type (tourist, etc). It's an exit permit too, so if you lose it (or overstay), leaving the country can be more difficult than getting in.

A tourist 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 a period of up to three months is possible with some Russian Consulates. A tourist visa is best when you know exactly where and how long you will be staying and you have a planned itinerary.

Officially, you must have confirmed accommodation or transit information for every night you will be in the country. However we can 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 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 (contact a travel agent for recommendations) or by yourself. To obtain your Russian visa, give or send the Russian consulate your original valid passport  and/or a photocopy of vital pages along with a cover letter, 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.

Russian Consulates in USA

Washington, DC  -  www.russianembassy.org  This consulate usually takes longer than two weeks to process a "two week processing" visa, so apply early.

The New York consulate -  www.ruscon.com

The Sanfrancisco consulate -  www.vldbros.com/consul/rfcons.html

The Seattle consulate  - www.russia.net/travel/visas.html

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. If you are going to stay in a hotel, a hotel is responsible for registering it.

Leaving the Country With An...

Unregistered Visa

If you leave the country with an unregistered visa you could 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. It takes up to week to get this permit.

Visa Regulations

The originals of valid passports must be filed together with the copies thereof in some consulates but not in others.

Current 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 visa.

A tourist visa (yellowish paper) is usually issued for a SINGLE TRIP with the specified dates of entry and exit.

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 will probably be sent back by regular 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. A Cover Letter by the applicant or by a US travel agent mentioning the dates of entry and exit and cities to be visited in Russia. The New York Consulate has announced that they will require an original voucher issued by an authorized (US) travel agency. Contact the consulates for the latest information.

2.A Russian travel agency voucher or confirmation, including its reference number, or confirmation for hotel reservations in Russia.

3. A valid passport and/or legible copies of the identification pages thereof. It may be wise to choose a consulate that does not require that you send your passport due to the risk that it could be lost or stolen.

4. A signed and dated standard application form filled out in English or Russian (available from the consulates).

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 or Cashiers Check.

US$ 65 for two-week processing
US$ 75 for one-week processing
US$ 105 for four day processing