russia tourist visa vfs

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How to apply for a Russian visa in the USA

How do i apply for a russian visa in the usa.

• You can apply through the Russian Consulate, an official visa center or through a travel agency
• You can apply in person or by mail to the VFS Global Visa Center
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the proposed visa expiration date and it must have at least 2 blank pages facing one another

First step - selecting your visa type and reviewing the list of requested documents

Your first step in applying for a Russian visa in the USA is to select the category of visa that you will apply for and review the list of documents requested by the Consulate. For example, to apply for a tourist visa, the following documents are required:

1. Visa invitation. Visa invitations can be obtained from your hotel, a travel agency or you can order one on our website using the following link .

2. Passport with no less than 2 empty pages for visas facing one another, valid for 6 months from the proposed visa expiration date.

3. Electronic Visa Application Form  filled out  on the official website of the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry . You can find a more detailed instruction on filling in this application form in  our instruction .

4. One passport size (3.5 x 4.5 cm) photo

5. Copy of the data page of the passport

Second step - deciding where to apply for visa

Applying for visa at the consulate.

The next step is to decide where you would like to apply for the visa. Travelers from the USA can apply for a Russian visa directly through a Consulate or through a visa center. There are 3 Russian Consulates in the USA:

• Consulate in Washington
• Consulate in New York
• Consulate in Houston

You should decide in advance where to apply for your visa and choose the correct option while filling in the Electronic Visa Application Form  on the official website of the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry :

If you prefer to apply through the Russian Consulate directly, you can schedule an appointment online using the links below:

• Schedule an appointment in Washington
• Schedule an appointment in New York
• Schedule an appointment in Houston

Please note that if you a traveling with family or friends, each person should schedule an appointment individually. The Consulate does not accept cash, credit or debit cards, personal or company checks, visa services can only be paid though a money-order or cashier’s checks payable to Consulate General of Russia.

Applying for Visa through VFS Global

Unlike the Consulate, VFS Global  does not require scheduling an appointment and accepts debit and credit cards, cash and money orders to VFS Services (USA) Inc. You can check the consular fees and service fees charged by VFS Global service here . 

Using Full Visa Service

Alternatively, you can use our company’s Full Visa Service  and we will take care of all contact with the Consulate. In this case, you send your passport and documentation to our processing centre and we take care of the rest.

Our travel brands include

Express to Russia

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How to obtain a Russian visa

Russian National Tourist Office can help you secure your Russian Visa from the UK.

1. First of all, make sure that you require a Russian Visa to enter Russia.

Passport holders from certain countries do not require a Visa to enter Russia. To see the list of countries and terms of entry, please click here . British passport holders require a visa to travel to the Russian Federation.

2. Find out what type of visa you need to apply for.

There are many types of Visas, and knowing which one you need is essential:

Tourist Visa – valid up to 30 days with a maximum of two entries into the country

Multiple Entry Tourist Visa – valid for 180 days and has no limit on the number of entries.

Business Visa – valid for 90 days and allows a maximum of two entries. This Visa allows you to conduct business meetings in Russia.

Multiple Entry Business Visa – valid for 365 days and has no limit on the number of entries.

Transit visa – can be valid up to 30 days and allows a maximum of two entries. This Visa allows you to stay in Russia for transit purposes only.

Private Visa – valid up to 90 days and allows a maximum of two entries. This Visa is intended for private purposes.

Multiple Entry Private Visa – valid for 365 days and has no limit on the number of entries.

Humanitarian Visa – can be valid for up to 365 days and may have no limit on the number of entries. This type of Visa is intended for cultural, sports and charity purposes.

Student Visa – valid for up to several years, it is intended for students.

Work Visa – valid for up to several years, this Visa is intended for people who are constantly employed in Russia.

3. Complete a short registration form on this website.

This form is available at https://visa.visitrussia.org.uk/

On the last page of the order form, you will be provided with guidance on how to complete a Visa Application Form. It has to be filled in online on this website . Please follow the correct instructions given at step 5 of the Russian National Tourist Office’s online application form to ensure your application is successful.

4. Major documents to be submitted for a Russian Visa.

Regardless of the type of visa you are applying for, you will need to submit:

– original passport

– the visa application form

– a recent passport-size photograph NOT OLDER THAN 6 MONTHS

– booking form

– additional documents could be required if you are not a UK national

5. Additional documents (for non-UK nationals).

Certain applicants (non-UK nationals) may require additional documents such as Settled or Pre-Settled Status, bank statements or flight booking confirmation. You can check the documents you require and start the application process here .

6. Submitting your documents and biometrics.

Please note that on 10 December 2014, Russian Consulates in the United Kingdom launched fingerprinting technology for all types of visas. This means that every applicant will be required to attend our office in person for the biometric scanning procedure. Our services operate as before. You may apply at our office in person or submit documents by post before coming to our office to submit your biometrics. Once we receive your documents by post, we prepare them for submission and invite you to visit us in London at 202 Kensington Church Street, London, W8 4DP .

The biometric scanning procedure operates Monday to Friday 9am until 1pm, however office is opened until 6pm.

Out-of-hours paid service is available now. We can accept applications for Russian visas between 8:30-9:00 (by appointment only).

We also offer a Remote Biometric Collection service. Experienced visa officers can come to your office or home anywhere in the UK to collect your fingerprints and securely deliver this information to the Embassy for their decision. This is a chargeable service, follow this link to find out more: https://www.visitrussia.org.uk/visas/getting-a-russian-visa/biometric-data/

7. How long must you wait for a Russian Visa?

There are several services available – from as little as two working days! You can check which service is more suitable for you and start the application process here.

APPLY FOR RUSSIAN VISA NOW

Documents Required

Photo specifications, processing time, download forms.

Standard tourist visas issued to citizens of Turkey, other countries or stateless persons entering the Russian Federation for short-term stays in the country for the purpose of tourism (going to cultural events, excursions, sight-seeing) on the basis of a confirmation that the foreign tourist is going to be hosted by a Russian tour operator.

The maximum validity period of a tourist visa is no more than 30 days.

A Tourist visa entitles visitors to enter the country to conduct brief business negotiations, attend exhibitions, auctions and medical consultations or examinations. In such cases, in order to confirm that the foreign tourist is expected, 'tourism with a special purpose' should be put in the field 'purpose of visit', and the visa will be issued for the number of days required in order to attend the event, as shown in the accommodation confirmation (provided this is no longer than 30 days).

Tourist visas to the Russian Federation are either single-entry or double-entry.

Double-entry tourist visas are issued to foreign nationals only in cases when, according to the documents, the tourist plans to visit other states neighboring Russia during their visit to the country (the “near abroad” (CIS, Baltic states)) or states from which they will return through Russian territory (e.g. China or Mongolia). The route must be stated on the tourist's ticket (or the foreign tourist’s accommodation confirmation, issued by the Russian organization hosting the tourist).

For citizens of Turkey

Note - If you are a stateless person or not a citizen of Turkey, please find out about your visa fees by contacting our Call-Centre operators at the Russian Visa Application Centre.

Visa fees and processing time for citizens of other countries and stateless persons are calculated according to the ”Tariff for consular fees, charged by Consular institutions of the Russian Federation”.

Important: For applicants who will apply from Trabzon Visa Application Center, kindly note below:

• For applicants who will travel touristic, the original Voucher and the Guarantee letter from the hotel must be presented. The Guarantee letter does not need to be original.

In order to apply for standard single-entry or double-entry tourist visas, you must provide the following:

Confirmation (Vaucher) that you are going to be hosted as a tourist by a Russian tour operator, which is registered in the Unified register of tour operators;

• Hotel and flıght reservation for visa application
• Original passport, which must contain at least 2 blank pages visa pages, and which must be valid for a period of 6 months after the visa expires;

Online application form completed on the website visa.kdmid.ru , printed and signed in person by the applicant;

(When selecting the location where you are going to submit your documents, you must state the Visa Centre where you intend to submit your documents)

• A colour photograph - Please see Photo Specifications page above.
• İnsurance for Turkish citizens is not mandatory but recommended.

Please note - if you are not a citizen of Turkey, you have to submit additional documents:

A residence permit for continuous stay in Turkey, which is valid for more than 90 days for citizens of the following countries: Albania, Bahrain, Venezuela, Haiti, , Ireland, Lesotho, Macedonia, Mali, Mexico, New Zealand, The United Arab Emirates, Oman, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Japan.

Depending on the national legislation, a document, which provides evidence for continuous residence in Turkey for more than 90 days, can be a study visa, a work visa, work permit, a temporary residence permit, etc.

Permanent residence permit in Turkey or a similar document for citizens of the following countries: Algeria, Angola, Vietnam, , India, , Iran, China, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nepal, Nigeria, , Rwanda, , Somalia, Chad, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia.

The consulate may require additional documents before issuing a visa, may invite you to an interview or extend the time required for consideration of your visa application.

Payment of the consular and service charges may be made at the Visa Centre.

Note: The photographs submitted must meet with these specifications.

Please provide one recent photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself. The photographs should be:

• 3,5 x 4,5 cm taken against a light background (white or off-white) so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear quality and with the face in focus.
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print).
• Full face, non-smiling (without sunglasses, a hat/cap or other head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of their religious belief or ethnic background).
• Please stick the Photograph on the Visa Application Form.

Note: Please follow these instructions carefully. If photographs presented do not meet these requirements your application will be considered incomplete.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Turkey processes visa applications and decide whether or not to issue a visa within the processing times service standards (usually between 4 and 10 working days). This is subject to a complete set of documents being provided and consular fees paid.

The processing times may vary according to the decision of the Consular establishment.

In emergency cases an urgent visa application may be submitted. In such cases the processing time can be shortened to just 3 working days or less, if an order to that effect has been given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Federal Migration Service of Russia or the Ambassador or Consul General of the Russian Federation.

In addition, some applications may take 30 days if deemed necessary by the Consulate.

To complete the online visa application form, please go Here .