Getting a Russian Visa:
A Full Guide
So you want to visit the Russian Federation – be it on business or with recreational purposes. As a visa service provider with years of experience in the market, Smart Travel is very happy to provide you with some crucial information on the best possible way to go about it.
Like with most countries on Earth, visiting Russia as a foreign subject requires one to have a visa. Today, we are going to tell you exactly how to procure a visa to Russia!
Types of Russian visas
There are several main types of visas one can obtain when going to Russia. Mostly, the type you need depends on the intent of your stay in the country.
Here are the examples of what visa types there are:
- Diplomatic visas. Unless you hold a diplomatic passport, you are highly unlikely to ever need or have access to this type. People like government officials, ambassadors, etc. make use of it.
- Business visas. If the purpose of your trip is conducting business in Russia, then this is your go-to.
- Tourist visas. Your typical visa if you want to visit Russia for pleasure, these come in a few varieties of their own: there are options to get either a private one or one for the whole family.
- E-visas. With it, you can go to Russia only through a specific number of entrance points, however, those include both Moscow and regional airports. On the plus side, no invitation is required for an e-visa.
How do I get a Russian visa?
There are several steps you must complete before you get a Russian visa. Here they are:
- Obtain an invitation (unless you are opting for an e-visa). This is not hard at all, as if you are a tourist and want to go to Russia for your autumn holidays, for example, your travel agency will take care of that. If your purpose is business or work, you will need to have a Russian person formally get an invitation (done in the MIA).
- You will also need to complete the form on the visa.kdmid.ru site.
- The next step should be collecting documents needed for the visa. It is best to inquire at the Russian embassy as to exact documents you need to get the most up-to-date list.
- The Russian embassy, in fact, is the exact destination you need to visit next! Bring all the documents you have collected there and apply for your visa.
Traveling to Russia
Once you enter the borders of the Russian Federation, you will need to fill in the immigration card (given to you by the passport control officers) and register the visa (at the hotel or any other place you are staying at).
Additional tips & requirements
Some other useful things that you might want to know include:
- Your passport needs to have its expiry date no sooner than six months after your Russian visa expires.
- Your photocard for the visa should be recent and depict you as you are now.
- If the UAE is not your home country but a place of residence, you have to provide the Russian embassy with a document confirming that you have been living in the UAE for 90 days or more.
We hope this information will prove useful to you and help you with your ideal Russian trip!
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