Russia Basic Info - Visas

ALL foreigners need a visa to visit Russia.

TO OBTAIN A RUSSIAN VISA YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:

1. a completed visa application form (one per person) - http://www.russianembassy.org/
2. an original valid national passport.
   The passport must be valid for at least 6 months AFTER to the intended date of departure from Russia;
3. one passport-size photograph of the applicant;
4. a business or a tourist invitation (depending on the type of visa requested) (see below);
5. An applicable fee charged by the embassy.
   Please check payment method and exact visa requirements at your local consulate as it may vary for different regions and citizens.
6. For a business trip you need a formal invitation issued by one of the Russian Federal Agencies or from a Russian hosting company/organization. The invitations must be on letter-heads and contain the full name of the invited person, his/her date of birth, passport number, period of stay in Russia and cities to be visited. The invitations must be signed by authorized persons, sealed and processed by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
7. For tourist visas you need the invitation (visa support) consists of: an original voucher, issued by an authorized travel agency or the hotel, indicating full name of the traveler, date of birth, passport number, dates of entry and departure, name of the hosting Russian tourist company together with a copy of a fax message from a Russian hotel or tour operator with appropriate reference and confirmation numbers and a document which prove your stay at the hotel (which hotel will supply). All the papers together called "visa support" or Invitation: voucher and confirmation cost up to 50 USD, depending on hotel. The original documents may be required by some embassies. Please check with the one you will be applying to.
8. If you are applying for a six-month or a one-year multiple-entry visa, you MUST submit a copy of the results of your recent HIV test (taken not later than three months before the date of your visa application);
9. for transit visas you do not need an invitation, but you need valid tickets to Russia and a visa to the country of final destination (if visa is required).
10. Health insurance policy required for citizens from: Schengen countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden) and Israel, Czech Republic and Republic of Estonia.

SUPPORT FROM WWW.FINDRUSSIAHOTEL.COM:

WE CONFIRM YOUR RESERVATION AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THE VOUCHER AND INVITATION
(free of charge or it may cost you from 25 USD to 50 USD; it depends on the hotel)

Important Information:

VISA REGISTRATION

After you arrive in Russia you need to register in 72 hours (3 working days) after your arrival. The hotel you stay in can make registration for you (the fee they charge you can find next to the hotel description). Registration is a small stamp in your passport on a paper attached to your visa saying that you are register for living at some place for some period.

Helpful links:

• http://www.russianembassy.org/
• http://www.russian-embassy.info/