Visa and Registration
Visas for trips to Russia can be obtained at the consulate of the Russian Federation. Currently, there are 227 Consulates/Embassies of the Russian Foreign Ministry operating abroad. Furthermore, in some countries there may even be several of them. The Russian Foreign Ministry and Consulates/Embassies abroad issue visas for entering and visiting the country.
List of countries whose passport holders do not require a visa to enter Russia
As of December 31, 2008:
Citizens of the CIS
(on the basis of a national foreign passport):
- Azerbaijan
- Armenia
- Belarus
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Ukraine
Citizens of the following countries:
(on the basis of a national foreign passport):
- Antigua and Barbuda (without specification of visit’s duration)
- Aruba (Netherlands Antilles) (up to 14 days)
- Barbados (up to 28 days)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (an invitation, tourist voucher required; stamped: «poslovno,» «поделовно»)
- Croatia (the original copy of the invitation and tourist voucher are required; documents supporting the business purpose of the trip)
- Cuba (up to 30 days)
- Dominican Republic (up to 21 days, for tourists, return ticket is required)
- Ecuador (for tourists up to 3 months and transit)
- Grenada (up to 3 months)
- Israel (up to 90 days)
- Macedonia (an invitation, tourist voucher required; stamped: «poslovno,» «поделовно»)
- Malaysia (up to 30 days)
- Namibia (up to 90 days, no employment rights)
- Peru (as tourists)
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (without specification of visit’s duration)
- Serbia and Montenegro (an invitation, tourist voucher required; stamped: «poslovno,» «поделовно»)
- Sri Lanka (up to 30 days only for tourists)
- Vietnam (up to 15 days)
For citizens of countries that are not on the list, a visa issued by a Consulate/ Embassy of the Russian Federation is a valid permit for entering the country.
For more information on the procedure for entering the Russian Federation, visit the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website or websites of Russian Consulates/ Embassies.
The cost of a visa is set for each country individually. The visa takes no longer than 20 days to be processed. However, some categories of citizens, including members of official delegations, entrepreneurs and representatives of commercial organizations, drivers and train crew working on international passenger and cargo trains, journalists, scientists, people working in the sphere of culture and education, students (school and university) traveling on exchange programs, sportsmen traveling for competitions, participants of exchange programs between sister-cities, persons attending military and civil burials, as well as close relatives of Russians permanently living abroad, can obtain a visa within 10 days from submitting all the necessary documents:
The full list of documents required for securing a visa to Russia depends on the purpose of the trip and the requirements of the Russian Federation’s Consulate/ Embassy abroad. The main list includes the following documents:
- invitation ;
- Valid foreign passport (passport must be valid for at least 6 months after intended departure date from Russia);
- Two copies of Russian visa application form, completed and signed;
- One photo (3×4 cm).
The following documents may also be required for obtaining a visa to Russia:
- HIV test (if you’re applying for a visa longer than 3 months or a multiple entry visa);
- Medical insurance;
- Copy of national passport;
- Financial guarantees;
- Work permit.
Entrepreneurs have recently been permitted to submit a simple letter by the hosting company instead of an official invitation issued by the Federation Migration Service. Participants of exchange programs and journalists are eligible for securing multiple-entry visas for five years.
The Consulate/ Embassy is not required to provide explanations for the denial of a visa. At the same time, any foreigner may submit a complaint to the Russian Foreign Ministry against Consulate employees (and the ministry is required to reply to such a complaint within 30 days from its receipt). Furthermore, applicants may appeal a visa denial in court.
The type of visa depends on the purpose of your visit to Russia. Each visa has its own maximum duration of stay and issuance requirements. The maximum duration of stay allowed by the visa may be extended during the stay in Russia.
The following types of ordinary visas can be issued on the basis of invitations provided by the Federal Migration Service offices:
Diplomatic visa
Diplomatic visas are issued to heads of state, heads of state governments, members of official delegations, family members of such persons and their party. They are also issued to diplomatic agents, employees of representative offices of international organizations in the Russian Federation whose diplomatic standing is recognized by the Russian Federation, family members of the said persons.
Term of validity is up to three months. Diplomatic messengers and consular couriers are issued such visa for the term of their travel.
Service visa
Service visas are issued to members of official delegations, members of their families and their party. They are also issued to administrative and technical staff and operating personnel of diplomatic missions, consular employees and operating personnel of consular offices, representative offices of international organizations and family members of the said persons.
Term of validity is up to three months. Servicemen of the armed forces of foreign states and their family members are issued a service visa to one year.
Private visa
Private visas are issued on the grounds of an invitation that may be executed by a Russian citizen, by a foreigner having a residence permit in the Russian Federation or by a legal person. To execute an invitation they have to contact the Federal Migration Service (FMS) bodies and submit an application, letters of guarantee stating they accept material, medical and housing provision of the guest. A legal person shall be registered with the special registrar of the Federal Migration Service and submit attested copies of registration documents of its firm or company. An invitation costs 200 rubles to the receiving party. Term of validity is up to three months.
Business visa
Business visas are issued to foreign citizens who enter the Russian Federation for a business trip. This type of visa requires an invitation as well (ref. to «Private visa» for the procedure of its execution)
Term of validity (single entry, double entry, multiple entry visa) is up to 1 year. The total period of stay under a multiple entry visa is stipulated at its execution but shall be not less than 90 days within each six months.
To obtain this type of visa a hotel reservation is not enough. A special voucher (contract for tourist services) and a confirmation that your receiving travel agency is in the international tour operators list are obligatory, too.
Term of validity is up to 1 month, may be double-entry if a trip to neighboring country is scheduled during the stay in Russia.
Tourist group visa
A tourist group visa is issued to foreigners that enter Russia as tourists with an organized tourist group (not less than five people) upon availability of a voucher (contract for tourist services) and acceptance confirmation of a company involved into tourist activity.
Term of validity is up to 1 month.
An educational visa is issued to a foreign citizen entering the Russian Federation for study in an educational establishment for the term up to 1 year.
An employment visa is issued to a foreign citizen who is going to work in Russia. The term of such visa corresponds to the labor contract term but shall not exceed 1 year. An invitation letter from the employer is required (see above).
A humanitarian visa is issued to pilgrims, religious and public figures, participants of scientific conferences, cultural and sports events as well as to people who are engaged into charity work and relief consignments delivery.
Term of validity is nor more than 1 year.
A transit visa is issued to a foreign citizen for the term up to ten days in order to travel through the territory of the Russian Federation.
Depending on the number of authorized entries-departures, visas can be single, double or multiple-entry.
Notice
Any foreign citizen entering Moscow must obtain a temporary registration form from their place of stay. The registration card is required for obtaining a job and securing a loan, as well as for sending children to schools and kindergartens, and for other purposes requiring a person to specify his/her address in Moscow. Temporary registration is required for all Russian citizens over the age of 14. The names of children under the age of 14 or those entering the country with their parent(s) are added to the registration forms of their parent(s). For children who are citizens of the CIS or countries outside the CIS, registration is issued separately from their parents, regardless of their age.
Useful links
Moscow City Federal Migration Service Department
Federal Migration Service
|
