Russia Visas

Russia Videos

Russia: Visa Options, Including New "Casual Business" (AIM Tourist) Visa

A helpful video describing the different visa options for Russia, including the new "Casual Business" (AIM Tourist) visa that can be obtained more quickly than the traditional Business Visa to Russia.

Russia Videos

Russia Visa Application Preparation

A helpful video describing our new Application Preparation System (APS) for Russia: 1 Question Set, we prepare your signature-ready Russia Visa Application and Invitation Letter

1.1  Invitation Letter

Applicant must submit a certified Russian Invitation Letter (sometimes also called an Invitation Voucher).

As part of our Application Preparation Service (APS), ItsEasy will obtain your Russian Invitation Letter for you (for an additional fee) if you do not already have an Invitation Letter.

Russian Invitation Letters are very very (very) picky. If all of the information on the Invitation Letter is not perfectly correct and matching with other parts of your Visa Application, a new Invitation Letter will be needed. ItsEasy can utilize your own Russian Invitation Letters, but please be aware that if there are mistakes or inconsistencies with your Invitation Letter, ItsEasy will need to obtain a new one for you (for an additional fee).

Russian visas are issued for the duration of time stated on the invitation. These can often be obtained from a hotel in Russia, however hotels will only issue invitations covering paid room nights and only one invitation will be accepted per application - so if staying in multiple hotels a single invitation covering the entire stay will be needed. If applicant does not possess an invitation, ItsEasy will generate a Russian Invitation Letter for the applicant for an additional fee - this is the easiest and most common way applicants obtain Russian Visa Invitation Letters; such Letters will indicate a stay of up to 30 days ensuring a buffer on both sides of the intended travel dates allowing more travel flexibility.

Note: Russian visas are issued for the duration of time stated on the invitation.

All Russian Tourist Visa Invitation Letters obtained by ItsEasy for the applicant will be in PDF format.

1.2  Passport

Applicant must submit their current, signed passport. Visas are stamped into a passport, therefore the original passport is required.

Note: In order to obtain Russia visas, passport must have two (2) blank facing visa pages (typically the last few pages of the passport are marked "Amendment" and are not valid for visas) and must be valid for at least six months past the date of entry into Russia.

1.3  Photo Requirement

Applicant must submit two (2) identical, color, passport style photographs. The photos must be recent and generally should not be the same used for the passport itself.

1.4  Applicants Under 18yrs

Although applicant may be submitting documents along with other family members, when submitted to an embassy or consulate, applications are treated individually. If applicant is under 18 years old, please view the following link.

1.5  Former USSR or Russian Nationals

If applicant was born in USSR or Russia, applicant MUST submit one or more of the following documents:

• Copy of USSR passport with a stamp stating you left for “permanent residence abroad”, dated prior to February 6, 1992;

• Or a copy of a “Visa to Israel” issued prior to February 6, 1992;

• Or a copy of a Certificate of Naturalization issued prior to 1996;

• Or a document confirming the renunciation of your Russian citizenship;

• Or a copy of the main pages of a passport of a former USSR state, issued after February 1992;

• Or a written statement of explanation, in the case that you have no documentation.

In accordance with Russian law, visas cannot be issued to Russian citizens with expired passports. In accordance to Article 12 of Russian Law “On citizenship of the Russian Federation”, children born to two parents who are Russian citizens, automatically gain Russian citizenship, regardless of the place of birth. In this case visas are not issued, and they must apply for Russian citizenship, or have their information written into the passport of one of their parents, or obtain a Russian passport. If applying for a minor, please provide a copy of their Birth Certificate, in which it is evident that at least of the parents is not a citizen of the Russian Federation.

If applying for a minor, please provide a copy of their Birth Certificate, in which it is evident that at least of the parents is not a citizen of the Russian Federation.

The embassy may request additional documents and a personal interview at their discretion.

1.6  Notice Regarding Previous Valid Visa

If you have a currently valid Russia visa in an expired or cancelled passport, the Embassy of Russia requires that you provide proof that the passport it is in has been officially cancelled. You must provide a copy of both the visa, and the front cover of the passport showing holes punched by the US State Dept which signifies the passport has been officially cancelled.

Failure to provide the required copies may create delays in processing a new visa to Russia.

1.7  Visa Application Preparation

As part of ItsEasy's Application Preparation Service (APS), the applicant will fill out a single Smart Online Application form after the ItsEasy order is placed, which is accessible via the My Order Status page. After applicant completes the online application, ItsEasy will prepare your Russian Visa Application Form for you, and create a signature-ready copy for you to download, sign, and include with your other documents and passport to send to us for final processing. If you need a Russian Invitation Letter, ItsEasy will also prepare/order the Russian Invitation Letter for you (for an additional fee) without the need for any further data from you.

1.8  Select Visa Service