0207 985 1234
On time.
Reliable.
Get visa

All About Russian Visas

What is a Russian Visa?

Russian Visa Sample Tourist
Russian Visa

A visa to the Russian Federation is a document that allows you to stay in Russia for a specific period of time. It details your entry and exit dates, name, passport, and the purpose of your visit. It is important to remember that a Russian visa serves as both an entry and exit permit. Therefore, if you lose your visa or stay beyond your designated departure date, exiting the country can be more challenging than entering it.

* It is not possible to hold two different valid Russian visas in your passport at one time. The consulate will invalidate the previous visa in order to authorise a new one.

Russian Visas Available in the UK

We can assist you with the following types of Russian visa:

Tourist Visa

  • Single entry, valid up to 30 days (30-day visas are issued upon request. If you apply with your own invitation, please double-check the date on entry and date of departure)
  • Double entry, valid up to 30 days
  • Multiple entry, valid up to 6 months

Business Visa

  • Single entry, valid up to 3 months
  • Double entry, valid up to 3 months
  • Multiple entry, valid for 1 year (processing time may vary, please contact us if your travel date is close)

Private Visa

  • Valid up to 3 months, based only on a private invitation from relatives/friends in Russia
  • Valid up to 3 months, based only on a private invitation from a spouse travelling with the applicant or a parent travelling with their children.
  • Valid up to 1 year

Humanitarian Visa

  • Single entry, valid up to 3 months
  • Double entry, valid up to 3 months
  • Multiple entries, valid for 1 year

Work Visa

  • Valid up to 3 months, based only on a work invitation from a company in Russia

Student Visa

  • Valid up to 3 months, based only on a student invitation from a college or university in Russia

Transit Visa

  • Valid up to 3 days, based tickets to a third country destination

Fingerprint Scanning

Fingerprint scanning is mandatory for all Russian visa applications in the UK.

As of December 10, 2014, Russian Consulates in the United Kingdom have implemented fingerprinting technology for all types of visas. This requires all applicants to attend our office in person for the biometric scanning procedure. Our services remain unchanged: you may apply in person or submit documents by post before coming into our office for your biometric appointment. Once we receive your documents by post, we prepare them for submission and invite you to visit us at our London office at 202 Kensington Church Street, London, W8 4DP. Biometric scanning is available Monday to Friday 9 am until 1.00pm*.

*Out-of-hours services are also available. We can accept applications for Russian visas and arrange fingerprint scanning between 8:30-9:00 (by appointment only). An additional charge applies for out-of-hours services. Contact us for more information or to make an earlier appointment.

Russian Tourist Visa

A Russian tourist visa allows foreigners to visit Russia for tourism. It is valid for up to 180 days and cannot be extended. This visa is ideal if your travel plans are fixed and you do not need to alter your itinerary. You must have confirmed accommodation for every night of your stay in Russia.

Requirements for a Russian Tourist Visa:

  1. Original passport, valid for more than 6 months with at least 2 blank pages for your visa and entry/exit stamps
  2. Application form
  3. One passport-sized photograph
  4. Tourist visa support documents (hotel voucher and confirmation of tourist acceptance)
  5. Applicable fee
  6. Fingerprints submitted at our office

Please note: you cannot obtain a visa directly from the Russian Consulate.

We can arrange your tourist voucher and booking confirmation (IBS VP).

If you are not a UK citizen, additional documents and consulate fees might apply. Please contact us for more information.

YOUR VOUCHER AND/OR CONFIRMATION ARE NOT VISAS; THEY ARE VISA SUPPORT DOCUMENTS!

VISA SUPPORT DOCUMENTS SHOW THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF A HOTEL.
A VISA MUST BE STAMPED IN YOUR PASSPORT BY THE RUSSIAN CONSULATE!

If you have already booked a hotel in Russia, contact them to obtain the necessary tourist visa support documents.

If you haven’t booked a hotel yet and would like to apply for a tourist voucher and confirmation, you can do so online now (choose the option “Request for Russian Tourist Invitation Only”). Once we receive your payment, we will prepare the documents and send them over to you by post, fax, or email. Please note that a tourist voucher and acceptance confirmation cannot display a private address.

 

Russian Business Visa

A business visa is for travellers visiting Russia for official or private business purposes. It is ideal or those who may not have fixed itineraries, need to stay longer than 30 days, or require multiple entries into Russia within a specific period.

Business visas can be issued with up to two entries for a maximum of 90 days. There are also multiple-entry business visas (Multi-Russian Business Visa) available, valid for 6 or 12 months with unlimited entries and exits. Unlike tourist visas, business visas can be extended through the organisation that issued your invitation.

Requirements for a Russian Business Visa:

  1. Original passport, valid for at least 6 months
  2. Application form
  3. One passport-sized photograph
  4. Letter from your employer
  5. Invitation from the Ministry of Interior (we can assist with this)
  6. Applicable fee
  7. Fingerprints submitted at our office

Your business visa application must be supported by an INVITATION from the Ministry of Interior.
Please note that we can only apply for this invitation 45 days before the visa start date.

PLEASE NOTE THAT AN INVITATION IS NOT A VISA!
A VISA MUST BE STAMPED INTO YOUR PASSPORT BY THE RUSSIAN CONSULATE!

If you wish to apply for a Business Invitation (telex) you can do so online now. After we receive your payment, we will prepare and send the documents by post, fax or email.

For a standard (30 day) multi-entry business visa, please ensure your passport is available for processing at the embassy for a period of 20 days.

Information for Russian Citizens and Citizens of the Former USSR.

Important information for citizens of the Russian Federation and citizens of the former USSR, who used to live in the territory of the Russian Federation and immigrated after 6 February 1992:

As per part 6 of Federal Law “Regulation of exit from the Russian Federation and entrance to the Russian Federation” dated 15 August 1996, reference number 114-FL, citizens of the Russian Federation should verify this by valid documents proving the identity of such Russian citizens beyond the territory of the Russian Federation.

Russian entry regulations state that this applies to citizens of the Russian Federation who also hold other citizenship. Therefore, to enter the territory of Russia, they must use only their own Russian passports. For information on renewing Russian passports, Russian citizens are advised to contact the Consular department of the Russian Embassy in Great Britain. (See Russian Consular Department website: http://www.rusemblon.org).

Delivery and Collection Details

1. Royal Mail special delivery (by 1.00pm next working day) – Please note: we are not responsible for the Royal Mail service and we cannot ship overseas.

2. IBS VP courier service (within London only) – We are able to arrange a courier through a Courier Service company. Please confirm your preferred time for delivery.

3. Collection from IBS VP office – You can pick up your passport from our office at 202 Kensington Church Street, London, W8 4DP. You can send someone else to pick up your passport. Please notify us in advance concerning any third-party collection.

4. Client’s courier – If you arrange your own courier, please enclose a self-addressed envelope and make sure the courier has the required information about the item.

Visa Transfer

Visa transfer cost £75. Required documents: old passport, new passport, a completed new application form with a photo. The Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in the UK is able to transfer only those visas which were issued in the UK. Personal application only.

Russian Visa Questionnaires

We can complete the official visa application form following the completed question. This service costs £20.

For citizens of the UK, USA, Canada, Georgia: this link

For the rest of the world: this link