Russia Visas

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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.

1.1  Invitation Letter

Applicant must submit a certified Russian invitation voucher. Russian visas are issued for the duration of time stated on the invitation. These can often be obtained from the inviting party in Russia, however may take several weeks to be issued. Additionally the dates of travel cannot deviate from the dates on the invitation. If ordering a private invitation, a stay of up to 30 days may be indicated (ensuring a buffer on both sides of the intended travel dates allowing more flexibility). If applicant does not possess an invitation, one may be ordered using the link below. This service will take your information and payment, process the invitation, and provide a copy directly to us. This is the easiest and most common way applicants obtain visa invitation vouchers.

When asked for processing location, select USA for Country and Washington, DC for city.

Note: When ordering tourist invitations, an uploaded scan of the information page of the applicants passport is required.

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

Note: If applicant is submitting a non-electronic invitation, the original is required. Copies are not accepted.

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 Guide

The visa application must be completed using an online wizard provided by the Russian government. This policy was implemented and mandatory as of July 1, 2011. Once completed, print and sign application.

We provide an Application Guide below. It is very important that the instructions are followed. Failure to follow the instructions exactly may result in rejection of application. It is recommend applicant print guide to use while completing application.

1.8  Visa Application

After reviewing the Application Guide above, click below to complete the visa application.

**IMPORTANT**Please note: Applicants MUST provide their application password with their application.
Applications submitted without the security password described in the Application Guide can not be processed.

NOTE: Questions 14, 26, and 27 of the Russia visa application MUST be completed in full. If any of these questions are left blank or not answered completely it will create delays in processing your visa.


Note: Applicants applying for multiple entry visas must submit two original, signed applications. All others submit only one.