How to Get a Russian Visa (Without Going Crazy)

The most prized stamp in my passport is my Russian visa because it was the hardest to get. Technically not a stamp (although it does feature my entrance and departures stamped over the Cyrillic vitals), it was still a process and a half. You need a visa to get into Russia regardless of how long you are staying, and it is a much more complicated process than getting a visa for most of the country's Western counterparts.

The first step is to find out what kind of visa you need. If you are traveling through Russia to get somewhere else, you need a transit visa. If you are planning a visit no less than 14 days, you need a tourist visa. If you'll be in Russia for no more than 3 months, you need a business multiple entry visa, and if you'll be entering and leaving Russia more than once, you'll need a business double entry visa. If you can allow a month and a half for processing, you need a business single entry visa. You can also get this type of visa if you are going to stay with friends and register with them, or you can get a private visa.

Simple, right?

Since transit visas imply that you won't be staying long, they are fairly inexpensive and easy to get. However, you don't want to get this visa just because of convenience if you'll be staying long or visiting sights as a tourist. For all its simplicity, you'll be kicking yourself if you (inevitably) get checked.

If you're flying into Russia and traveling through a third country, this is the visa you'll want. It's good for up to 3 days but you have to stay in the airport. If you're traveling by train through Russia, you can get a visa for the length of the train ride through the country provided it isn't longer than 10 days. And if you're brave enough to drive through Russia, you'll get one day for every 500 km you drive.

Tourist visas are the most common type of visas and generally last up to 14 days (although occasionally they can be as long as 30 days). The cost is roughly $50 USD and will take a week or so to process. As long as you are entering Russia only once and visiting no more than five cities within the country, this is your best bet. You can't be going on business--that's, naturally, another visa.

There are also three kinds of business visas: the business single entry visa, the business double entry visa, and the business multiple entry visa. The first two are exactly as they sound: a single entry visa will get you in one time for either 30 or 90 days, and a double entry visa will allow you to re-enter the country once in the same time period (30 or 90 days). These visas cost between $60 USD and $100 USD and can take up to three weeks to process, so be sure to apply with plenty of time. These will also allow you to travel for a business purpose.

If you need to enter the country multiple times, you'll need a business multiple entry visa. You can have this type of visa for either 6 months or 12 months and it can cost anywhere between $150 and $250 USD. You will, however, have to leave the country at least twice to qualify. Also, with the MEV, you need to have been to Russia before and have a copy of your first Russian visa (regardless of what visa you used) with your application.

Finally, there's the private Visa. This is the most difficult visa to get. Be prepared for getting in line, waiting, getting turned down, and coming back the next day to queue, wait, and repeat the process again. Hopefully not too often. You can get this visa only if you have friends or family in Russia that can get you a private invitation (izveschenye...more on that later). The process generally takes a month and a half but can take up to three months. This is not the ideal visa to get, especially as it is only good for 30 days, but if you have the time and tenacity, all the more power to you.

Part of the Visa process is getting an invitation for the type of Russian visa you want. Unless you're opting for the private visa, the best way to do this is to work with a Russian travel agency. They will help you with visa support; however it's critical that you choose an agency that's on the up and up. Lowest price should not be a deciding factor here, although it is easy to find a reputable agency within your price range. Make sure they have several means of contact (address, e-mail/website, phone), have a few years' experience (at least) in this field, and have a location in the city where you are staying (many agencies have outposts in both Moscow and St. Petersburg).

If you are applying for a transit visa, you don't need an invitation. Lucky you.

A business visa requires a slightly more complex letter of invitation to get than can be provided by a tourist organization (although they can point you in the right direction as to where to go and who to speak with). Getting a business letter of invitation requires going to your local department of Passport and Visa Service (PVU). You need a sponsoring organization to qualify for this letter of invitation, and the must be registered with the PVU.

You really need someone on the inside (friends or family members) to help you with a private visa, and that includes securing an Izveschenye/invitation. Like the business visas, you'll need to go through a Passport and Visa Service (PVU). This will take longer, however (expect between one and two months for approval). Be sure to have your original letter of invitation (not a copy) when you apply in person at the embassy/consulate for your visa proper.

A brief aside about the different agencies you can go with to secure an invitation: I worked with Infinity Travel (now named UniFest Travel) to get mine and they couldn't be more pleasant, helpful, and efficient. With outposts in Moscow and St. Pete's, they got me my invitation and assisted with the rest of the visa process (including registration) faster than I could say do svedanya to the United States. Depending on how long your stay is, they can cost between $40 and $200, however wroking with UniFest/Infinity means that they can arrange the whole process for you. It's worth the investment. (Just don't use them for flight bookings; they're pretty overpriced.) You can visit them online at: http://www.infinity.ru.

Now back to our regularly scheduled visa process...

Once you've chosen your visa type and secured a letter of invitation, you need to actually apply for the visa. If you have the time, patience, and tenacity, you can apply in-person at the Russian consulate of your current city of residence. You can also enlist the help of a Russian visa service located in your country. I used Travisa in the United States and they were very helpful and made it much easier to secure my visa rather than going on my own. The website RussianVisa.net provides listings for various agencies in a number of countries that are all rated as the best and most reliable services to use.

Obviously, you need your letter of invitation. Apart from that, you need several other forms and documents to apply for your visa. Make sure you have all of these and that they are correctly filled out so that you don't get turned down the first time. You'll need an application form. Make sure on the application form that you are consistent in recording why you are going to Russia.

If you are an American male between the ages of 16 and 45, you also need an additional supplement called Form 95.

You also need your passport and it must be valid for at least six months AFTER your departure from Russia. You'll also need up to three passport photos. These do not have to match the photo on your passport. If you are staying for a long period of time in Russia, you may also need proof of medical insurance, a work or resident permit, an HIV test, and proof of funds for your stay. Go onto the website for your appropriate consulate to download all forms and fill out prior to going to the consulate.

When you get your visa, check it once and check it twice in the consulate. Make sure that your name is spelled correctly, that the correct number of entries is listed, that your entry and departure dates are correct along with the visa type, as well as your passport number and date of birth. If you need to make a change, do it at the consulate before you leave. You'll also get an entry card. It's best to have this stapled into your passport as you'll also have to present this upon arrival in Russia.

One last stop! When you arrive in Russia, you must register your visa. The easiest way to do this is through the travel agency that has helped you to set up your visa. They will guide you to the correct bureau to see on your first day in Russia and this is a fairly quick and painless process.

Alternatively, you can find a hotel that assists with visa registration. This is pretty common, especially with the higher end hotels, and is much easier (especially after a long flight). This is definitely a multi-step process, but seeing Moscow's Red Square, Petersburg's Hermitage, or the natural and man-made wonders in between is so worth it.