
Can I get a Russian visa with a US passport?
In order to apply for a Russian visa in a U.S. passport, however, Russian consular officials normally require a person to renounce his or her Russian citizenship. Russian external passports extended by Russian Consulates or Embassies overseas are not considered valid for departure from Russia no matter how long the extension.
How long does it take to get a Russian visa?
A Russian visa can be processed in 9 days for standard processing. We also have rush and super rush pricing options available for a higher fee. How do you go to Russia?
How do I apply for a Russian tourist visa?
To apply for your visa, fill out a visa application form either online or at the Russian embassy. An English version of the form is available here.
How long is a Russian visa valid for?
A Russian visa is only valid for those exact dates and cannot be extended after the traveler has arrived in the country, except in the case of a medical emergency. Russian tourist visas are often granted only for the specific dates mentioned in the invitation letter provided by the sponsor.

How long does it take to get a visa to Russia?
It takes between 4 working days and 6 weeks to get your Russian visa depending upon the type that you need. The cost also varies according to the visa's type and how quickly you need it. Please see our visa-specific pages for Russian visas (accessible here) for price options.
How can an American get a Russian visa?
How to Apply for a Russia Visa in the US?Get the Invitation (Visa Support). ... Complete the Russian visa online application form. ... Collect the Russia visa required documents for US citizens. ... Apply at a Russian Visa Processing Center in the US. ... Wait for the processing of your visa.
Can I get a visa to Russia right now?
Fortunately, citizens of a number of countries can now obtain a eVisa for Russia for short-term stays by applying online in minutes. The 2021 unified E-visa will grant freedom of movement across all Russian regions to its holder. eVisas for Russia are intended for the following reasons: Tourism.
How much does it cost to get a Russian visa?
Visa Fees At A GlanceNUMBER OF ENTRIESCONSULAR FEE REGULAR* / EXPEDITED**Single Entry**$160 / $160Double Entry**$160 / $1603 Year Multiple Entry **$160 / $160
Are US citizens allowed in Russia?
Natasha Vinogradov, with the passport and visa commercial expediting firm Russian Agency, said that as of now, there are no restrictions for travel to Russia for American citizens. A travel ban, triggered by COVID-19, was lifted in July 2021 and the country has remained accessible.
Can Americans go to Russia right now?
Do not travel to Russia due to the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the singling out of U.S. citizens in Russia by Russian government security officials including for detention, the ...
How long can I stay in Russia on a tourist visa?
A tourist Russian visa is single-entry or double-entry only and can be valid for the period up to 30 days. If you are a US citizen, you can get a tourist visa to Russia valid for 3 years, and you can stay every 90 out of every 180 days on that type of visa.
How can I live in Russia permanently?
A Russian permanent residence permit may be obtained after holding a temporary residence visa for two years. The Russian permanent residence permit has a five-year validity period and can be extended without any limitation. However, just like the temporary residence visa, it must be authenticated on an annual basis.
What do I need to get a Russian visa?
The standard required documents for a visa to Russia are as follows:Visa Application Form. Fill in the form electronically on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MID) website kdmid.ru, giving in all of the required information. ... Valid Passport. ... A recent Russian visa photograph. ... Proof of residence. ... Visa support.
Can I get a Russian visa 2022?
For a trip to Russia, the electronic visa is mandatory. Since 1 January 2021, you can visit the whole country with the unified electronic visa....The Russian eVisa in brief.FormatElectronics onlyTime to obtain96 hoursLength of stay0 to 16 daysValidity60 daysConsular fees$331 more row
Do US citizens need a visa to Russia?
To enter Russia for any purpose, a U.S. citizen must possess a valid U.S. passport and a bona fide visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. It is impossible to obtain an entry visa upon arrival, so travelers must apply for their visas well in advance.
How long can I stay in Russia without a visa?
90 daysApplicants planning to stay for more than 90 days in any 180-day period require a visa if they are going to Russia to conduct commercial or work-related activities. Diplomatic or Official passport holders require a visa for the whole period of their stay.
Do US citizens need visa for Russia?
To enter Russia for any purpose, a U.S. citizen must possess a valid U.S. passport and a bona fide visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. It is impossible to obtain an entry visa upon arrival, so travelers must apply for their visas well in advance.
How do I get a 3 year Russian visa?
2. How to apply for a 3-year tourist visa for American citizensHave a valid passport. ... Get a visa support letter (also called voucher or invitation) ... Fill out the Visa Application Form. ... Travel insurance (optional) ... Take all of your documents to the Russian Visa Center (or consulate)
How long can I stay in Russia on a tourist visa?
A tourist Russian visa is single-entry or double-entry only and can be valid for the period up to 30 days. If you are a US citizen, you can get a tourist visa to Russia valid for 3 years, and you can stay every 90 out of every 180 days on that type of visa.
How can I live in Russia permanently?
A Russian permanent residence permit may be obtained after holding a temporary residence visa for two years. The Russian permanent residence permit has a five-year validity period and can be extended without any limitation. However, just like the temporary residence visa, it must be authenticated on an annual basis.
How long does it take to get a visa to leave Russia?
A valid visa is necessary to depart Russia. Travelers who overstay their visa’s validity, even for one day , will be prevented from leaving until their sponsor intervenes and requests a visa extension on their behalf. Russian authorities may take up to 20 calendar days to authorize an exit visa, during which time the traveler will be stranded in Russia at his or her own expense. The ability of the Embassy or Consulates General to intervene in these situations is extremely limited.
How long do you have to register a visa in Russia?
Travelers who spend more than seven days in Russia must register their visa and migration card through their sponsor (at the local Federal Migration Service (FMS)) or landlord (at the local post office or FMS). Travelers staying in a hotel must register their visa and migration card with their hotel within one day.
What is the Russian law?
Under Russian law, every foreign traveler must have a Russian-based sponsor, which could be a hotel, tour company, relative, employer, university, etc. Even if a visa was obtained through a travel agency in the United States, there is always a Russian legal entity whose name is indicated on the visa and who is considered to be the legal sponsor. Russian law requires that the sponsor must apply on the traveler’s behalf for replacement, extension, or changes to a Russian visa. U.S. citizens are strongly advised to ensure that they have contact information for the visa sponsor prior to arrival in Russia, as the sponsor’s assistance will be essential to resolve any visa problems.
Where to go if you are in Moscow but do not know who your visa sponsor is?
If you are in Moscow but you do not know who your visa sponsor is, or if the sponsor is located elsewhere in Russia and you cannot travel to the region, please go to the FMS of Russia, 4 Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya St., Bldg 1., tel. (495) 698-0078, Metro Taganskaya.
What are the quotas for Russian work visas?
Work Visas: There are quotas on invitations to foreigners to enter Russia in order to work. These quotas are established by territorial agencies in the regions and are approved annually by the Russian Government. According to the law, quotas take into account the demographic situation in the relevant region of Russia and its ability to accommodate foreign nationals. This is theoretically based on the principle that priority should be given to the use of domestic labor. The prospective employer must initiate the application process for this type of visa at the FMS. Prospective employers who hire foreigners must also receive permission from the local branch of the FMS. The FMS office then issues the foreigner a document confirming his legal employment. Please note that Russian authorities may require tests for drugs and infectious diseases for holders of work visas.
How many dates are there in a Russian visa?
A Russian entry/exit visa has two dates written in the European style (day/month/year) as opposed to the American style (month/day/year). The first date indicates the earliest day a traveler may enter Russia; the second date indicates the date by which a traveler must leave Russia. A Russian visa is only valid for those exact dates ...
What are the different types of Russian visas?
There are seven basic types of Russian visas: Commercial, Tourist, Student, Guest, Diplomatic, Transit, and visas for entry into the Russian Federation for the purpose of requesting asylum. Russian visas are issued only upon presentation of the appropriate invitation (tourist vouchers or hotel reservations will often suffice) from a Russian source. Only Russian individuals and agencies (hereafter referred to as sponsors) can invite Americans to visit Russia. In doing so, the sponsor takes full responsibility for both the welfare and actions of their American guests.
How long does it take to get a Russian visa?
If you have a valid passport, recent photographs, and apply through an agency like Travel Visa Pro, it’s possible to get your Russian visa in as little as 2-3 business days. If your application is sent back, you delay getting the invitation letter, or you have to apply through the mail, it can potentially take weeks.
Do you need to bring proof of employment to Russia?
Requirements at different embassies and consulates vary, but it wouldn’t hurt to bring proof of employment if you’re traveling for business, and travel insurance if you’re planning on a long stay. Almost all embassies and consulates require medical certification you are not HIV positive if you are planning to travel to Russia on a business visa.
Can US citizens travel to Russia?
For US citizens, it’s not necessarily difficult to get a visa to Russia, but it comes as part of a complicated application process that will most likely make you relieved you’re finally boarding your flight to Moscow. Although independent travel through the former Soviet Empire isn’t impossible, there are certain roadblocks you may face encouraging ...
Do you need a visa support letter for Russia?
There’s this misconception amongst first-time travelers to Russia that everyone needs an invitation letter – also known as a visa support letter – requiring the bearer to have every step of their trip planned , from the incoming and departing flights , to the hotel each night, down to the meals you’ll be eating (not really, but you get the idea). In actuality, the main purpose of this letter is to show the Russian government your plans, whether they include business or leisure travel, and where you intend on going – it is a big country, after all!
How long can you stay in Russia without a visa?
Petersburg, however, it is technically possible to visit Moscow too. Just buy a speed train ticket, so the journey to Moscow takes only 4 hours or a flight (which is around 1-hour long).
How long does it take to get an evisa in Russia?
Petersburg was introduced for the citizens of certain countries. This visa is free and it takes up to 4 days to get it (online).
Is it hard to get the Russian visa in 2021?
However, after 1918 it got kind of closed to the world and only reopened in 1991 after the USSR collapsed. Even though there’s no cold war anymore, it’s still not that easy to get a visa to Russia in 2019, however, more and more countries don’t need a visa to visit Russia anymore.
How long can you stay in Russia without a visa?
Holders of a temporary residence permit cannot be absent from Russia for longer than three months and have to apply for an exit visa and a re-entry visa to travel away from the country. Documents that need to be provided in order to obtain a Russian residence permit include: passport. criminal record certificate.
Who needs a Russian visa or permit?
Citizens of most countries need a visa to travel to Russia. You must get this before arriving in Russia. Although a European country, Russia is not part of the EU/EFTA; it does not grant visa-free travel to countries within the EU/EFTA other than Croatia and Iceland for stays of up to 90 days.
How long is a Russian business visa valid?
This is a visa for those visiting the country on official or private business. The standard business visa is valid for 90 days. There is also a Multi Russian Business visa which is valid for a year and allows multiple entries into Russia. Business visas are eligible for renewal upon expiration, but this must be via the organization that provided the invitation for your business visa. Business visas can also be used for commercial visits such as attending events such as auctions.
How to move to Russia?
To move to Russia you are likely to need to complete a Russian visa application form. This guide will provide you with advice on which Russian visa to apply for, how to complete the application forms, and the costs you can expect to pay.
How long is a work permit valid in Russia?
It is possible to work in Russia if you have obtained a work permit through a Russian employer along with a valid work visa. This is valid for 90 days although it is possible to extend it for up to three years and get a temporary residence permit.
How long does it take to leave Russia?
Visitors who overstay their visa by more than three days will need to apply for an exit visa to leave Russia, which can take up to 20 days to be issued.
How long does it take to get Russian citizenship?
You can apply for permanent residence in Russia after one year of temporary residence and for full citizenship after five years. See our guide to Russian citizenship and permanent residence for more information.
