|
|
FAQ
Before entering Russia
Do I need a visa?
How to obtain a visa?
How can VisaToRussia.Com help me obtain a visa. Do
you actually provide visas?
I have booked a hotel in Russia. Do I still need an
invitation?
Do I really need to book a hotel?
Can I use a tourist or business visa if the actual
purpose of my visit is different?
I am visiting Russia on an international cruise. Do
I need a visa?
I changed my mind and do not need your invitation
any more. Can I have a refund?
Can you help my Russian friend visit my country?
Once I am issued a visa, can I travel all over
Russia?
How long can I stay in Russia?
Submitting an application
How to submit an application?
Do I need to indicate the exact dates of my visit
to Russia?
Do I need to indicate my exact itinerary?
Why your forms are so long?
How do I pay for your invitation?
Obtaining an invitation
When can I expect my invitation and how will it be
sent?
Can you send the invitation to the consulate?
How to read my invitation?
While at the consulate
I have received my invitation. What next?
How to fill in the consulate application form?
Tourist visa application
Business visa application
While in Russia
I have arrived in Russia. How do I register my visa?
An unexpected problem arose during my visit
I have lost my invitation
I have lost my passport
I would like to extend my visa
Can I obtain a new visa without leaving Russia?
|
Before entering Russia
|
Do I need a visa?
A Russian visa is required for nationals of most countries.
However, recently Russia established a visa free regime with several
European, Asian and South American countries. To check whether the visa
free regime is applicable in your case, please contact the Russian
consulate in your country. Contact info is available here.
How to obtain a visa?
To obtain a Russian visa, you first need to obtain an
invitation (visa support) issued by an authorized organization. Then
you should take that invitation to the Russian consulate in your
country in order to obtain an actual visa.
VisatoRussia.Com provides tourist and business invitations. An
application can be submitted online.
Full information on the visa duration, processing time and fees is
indicated on our website.
How can VisaToRussia.Com help
me obtain a visa.
Do you actually provide visas?
VisatoRussia.Com provides tourist and business invitations(
visa support). An application can be submitted online.
Full information on the visa duration, processing time and fees is
indicated on our website.
Once you have obtained an invitation, you will have to submit it to the
Russia consulate or a visa expediting agency in your country. A
directory of the authorized visa agents is available here.
The visa fees vary depending on the consulate location, applicant's
citizenship and processing time. Please contact the Russian consulate
in order to obtain the up to date information.
I have booked a hotel in Russia.
Do I
still need an invitation?
Hotel booking confirmation and visa support documents
(invitation) are not the same thing. Confirmation from a hotel is only
sufficient if a hotel is authorized to provide visa support for foreign
citizens. Only first class hotels (such as Sheraton, Marriott, etc.)
are entitled to do this. If you book another hotel, you should also
present a letter of invitation from an authorized tour company in order
to get a visa.
We will be glad to issue a tourist letter of invitation for you upon
receiving an online request. An invitation will be processed same or
next business day in accordance with your urgency. An online
application form is available here.
Do I really need to book a hotel?
We can include a name of a well-known hotel in your
invitation for form's sake without you having to actually book the
hotel. This way the consular requirements will be observed and once in
Russia, you will be able to choose accommodation in accordance with
your convenience.
However, there may be cases when this option cannot work. If, upon
checking your application, our operators find out that the hotel
booking will be actually required in your case, you will be informed
before your credit card is charged.
Can I use a tourist or
business
visa if the actual purpose of my visit is different?
Generally, the type of visa that you may use mostly
depends on the duration of your visit. However, a tourist or business
visa cannot be used if:
you visit Russia in order to adopt a child (a specific adoption visa
will be required)
you want to send a child to Russia with his/her Russian mother (a
homestay visa will be required)
you want to stay in Russia more than 90 days (a student or work visa
will be required)
In these cases invitations must be processed by the persons or entities
you really plan to visit.
I am visiting Russia on an
international cruise. Do I
need a visa?
The regulations for cruise passengers are very specific.
A cruise passenger can get off the ship together with other tourists,
in this case no visa is required. The passport control officers just
check the list of passengers produced by the cruise company.
If a cruise passenger does not wish to be with the group and prefers
making an individual city tour, just having a tourist visa would not be
sufficient. You should be met at the port and ushered through the
passport control by a representative of the tourist company whose
services you have booked. A cruise passenger cannot just show his
passport with visa to the passport control officers and go to the city.
One has to be escorted.
If you really prefer to visit St Petersburg on an individual basis, you
may want to consider purchasing a tour package from our travel
department. The package comprises an invitation as well as all the
necessary permissions and escort services. For details, please contact
our travel dept.: travel@intelservice.ru
I changed my mind and do not
need your invitation any
more. Can I have a refund?
It is against our policy to refund in case the requested
service has been provided in full unless there has been a mistake or
delay in processing on our side. You have time to reconsider and cancel
your request before your credit card is changed and your invitation,
actually taken to processing.
Can you help my Russian friend
visit my country?
No. Our specialization is Russian visa support for foreign
citizens visiting our country.
In order to know the visa and entry requirements for your country,
please contact the embassy of your country in Russia. Contact details
are available here.
Once I am issued a visa, can I
travel all over Russia?
Normally, yes. You will be issued a visa to the country,
not to any specific places. Once in Russia, you have the right to
change your original itinerary and travel elsewhere.
However, there are places and regions in Russia foreigners have but
limited access to. When applying online, please provide your actual
itinerary. If, upon checking your application, our operators find out
that you may not be able to visit one of the indicated places, you will
be informed before your credit card is charged.
How long can I stay in Russia?
Your visa will be issued for the period of time covered by
your invitation regardless of the date of the visa issuance and that of
your actual entry to Russia. You cannot enter earlier or overstay your
visa but you can enter the country later or/and leave it earlier than
originally planned.
Normally a tourist visa is available for up to 30 days. However, the
experience shows that some consulates in Europe only provide a tourist
visa for up to 14 days. If you plan to obtain a long-term tourist visa,
your application may be checked extra closely and you may be asked for
a hotel payment confirmation along with an invitation. The experience
shows that this is often the case in Europe. Consulates located in
North America and Australia normally issue 30 days tourist visas with
no complications.
A business visa can be issued for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months. Normally a
multiple entry 6 or 12 months visa is only available for people who
have been issued a Russian visa before. If this is your first visit,
you are eligible to obtain a single or double entry visa for 1 to 3
months.
Please note that a multiple entry business visa allows nationals of all
countries to stay in Russia up to 90 days out of the period of 180
days. An alternative option is using 3 months business visas and
changing them when necessary.
A tourist or business visa cannot be extended.
|
|
Submitting an application
|
| |
How
to submit an
application?
To order a tourist invitation, please use the following link.
To order a business invitation, please use the following link.
A clear photocopy of your passport should be enclosed to your application.
If you travel with family, your spouse and/or children will also need
business visas as accompanying family members. Please apply on their
behalf and enclose a copy of marriage and/or birth certificate.
If you apply for a visa not in your own country, a copy of your
residence or work permit in the country of your temporary residence may
also be required. In this case our operators will inform you about this
additional requirement.
Do I need to indicate the exact
dates of my visit to
Russia?
If your exact travel dates are not yet settled, it is
always a good idea to obtain a tourist invitation for a longer period
than you actually plan to stay in Russia. Then you can get a visa for
the same period and travel between the dates with no problem. You
cannot enter earlier or overstay your visa but you always can enter the
country later or/and leave it earlier than originally planned.
A business invitation and visa will be valid for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months
since the date of your first planned entry to Russia.
Do I need to indicate my
exact itinerary?
Please indicate the main cities you plan to visit. Small
towns and places that you plan to visit for a day or two do not need to
be specified.
Why your forms are so long?
We strive to do everything possible to ensure that our
clients obtain visas at the Russian consulate with no complications.
This is why we are on the market since 1991. While there are many
companies that are ready to stamp away an invitation at a moment's
notice and then forget about the invitee's existence, we do not let our
clients down. This is why it is essential that we have all necessary
information regarding your job and position, itinerary, travel dates,
etc., irrelevant as it may seem.
We count on the correctness of the information provided by our clients.
If, upon checking an application, we see that an invitation processed
by our company cannot guarantee you a visa or that you may get in
trouble with your visa when in Russia, we will inform you on the
problem and won't take your money for the service that you cannot
actually use. If we do accept an application, we feel sure that our
invitee will be safe.
How do I pay for your invitation?
VisatoRussia.com offers three methods of payment:
1. You can pay with your international non-electronic credit or debit
card. In this case the application is immediately taken to processing.
Please note that your credit card will not be automatically charged.
The payment is processed after an application is checked by our
operators. If we need any additional information to process your
request, you will be contacted via e-mail before your credit card is
charged.
2. You can pay via bank transfer. Our bank details will be sent you
same or next business day, as soon as your application is checked by
our operators.
Your invitation will be taken to processing once our bank confirms the
funds' receipt. Please note that the transfer may take a few days.
3. You can have your contacts in Moscow visit our office and pay in
cash. Please make sure to contact us and check whether the application
is in full order before sending a contact person to our office. Your
application will be taken to processing once the payment is received.
|
Obtaining an invitation
|
| |
When
can I expect my
invitation and how will it be sent?
If the application is submitted correctly and can be taken
to processing at once, your invitation will be issued within the
requested time frame. Full information on the processing time options
is stated on our website.
Normally, once processed, the invitations are sent via e-mail. However,
some consulates insist on having a faxed copy presented. When applying
online, please indicate both your e-mail address and fax number so that
we can send your invitation in the proper way.
A multiple entry business invitation must be presented to the consulate
in original.
The original may also be required if your visa is to be processed by
the Russian consulate located in one of the developing countries. This
is why you should indicate the consulate location in your online
application form. This enables us to inform you on the necessity of the
original before your credit card is charged.
The originals are sent via UPS. The shipping takes two to five business
days and the fees vary from $60 to $80 depending on the destination.
Full information will be sent you before your credit card is charged
and your application, taken to processing.
Can you send the invitation to
the consulate?
The regular practice is that all the paperwork required for
the visa processing is submitted to the consulate by an applicant. An
invitation issuer is not supposed to send the invitation to the
consulate and the documents sent to the consulate may be disregarded
unless the consulate has specifically required that the invitation is
sent to them directly.
If you need full service comprising of the Russian visa invitation and the consulate application, as well as handling of the Russian visa application to the Russian Consulate we recommend to contact our local Russian visa agents through Russian Visa Full Service.
How to read my invitation?
A tourist invitation comprises two documents: a
confirmation and a voucher. We place the documents on the same sheet of
paper for convenience' sake. Hence two signatures and seals. The
confirmation is on the left side of the document, the voucher is on the
right.
Full name and reference number of the invitation issuer are indicated
in Latin characters on the top of your voucher.
Information on the cities you plan to visit and hotels you plan to stay
at is listed on the confirmation and voucher. Your itinerary will be
specified as per your online application. The names of hotels will be
indicated in Latin characters for your convenience.
Being issued by Russian Federal Migration Service, a business
invitation is in Russian language. Your itinerary will be specified as
per your online application. Full information on the invitation issuer
(official company name and address in Russia) will be sent you along
with the invitation.
|
While at the consulate
|
| |
I
have received my
invitation. What next?
Once you have obtained an official invitation, you can
apply at the Russian consulate in your country for an actual visa.
Here follows the list of documents you will have to present to the
Russian consulate: completed consulate application form, invitation
letter, original passport, two passport size mat finish photos,
consular fee and a proof of medical insurance.
For multiple entry visas you will also be required to present an AIDS
Test certificate with test results issued within the previous 30 days.
Those who apply for a visa not in their own country may also need to
present documents that confirm their status in this country.
A consulate application form is available at your local Russian consulate .
It is always a good idea to contact the Russian consulate in order to
receive the latest update on the required documents, processing time
options and consular fees. Contact details of the Russian consulates
are available here.
The consulate will also inform you whether it would be possible for you
to send the documents via registered mail (enclosing a return envelope)
and then have your passport with visa sent back to you. This option is
available in most countries.
Another option is to have a local visa agency take care of your
consulate application. A directory of the Authorized Visa Agents in
your country is available here.
How to fill in the consulate
application form?
In order to obtain a visa, it is essential that the visa
application form is filled in correctly.
The information you enter in the application form must match that in
your invitation. Please stay consistent with the visa support you have
requested and been provided with.
While there exist several visa application forms (one for US passport
holders, one for those who apply for a visa in the UK, etc.) and the
order and wording of the questions may vary, the information required
by the consulate is mostly the same in every case.
Here are the correct answers to the questions asked in the consulate
application form.
Tourist visa application
Purpose of visit - TOURISM.
Russian institution to be visited - non-applicable. You need a tourist
visa, not a business one. Tourists are not supposed to be visiting any
departments or organizations.
Itinerary (cities to be visited) - as listed on the invitation.
Date of entry - as listed on the invitation.
Date of departure - as listed on the invitation.
Number of entries - as listed on the invitation.
Type of passport - TOURIST.
Name and reference number of the tourist group - as listed on the
invitation.
Address of stay while in Russia - as listed on the invitation. Those
who apply for a tourist visa are supposed to have booked a hotel in
advance. This is why a name of a well-known hotel is always included in
your invitation and indicated in Latin characters for your convenience.
Please make sure to indicate the same hotel in your consulate
application form.
Is any of your relatives a citizen of Russia - please note that the
visa type is supposed to match the actual purpose of your visit. If you
indicate that you have relatives in Russia, the consulate may want to
make sure that the actual purpose of your trip is not a private visit
but tourism. Additional documentation (such as hotel payment
confirmation) may be required. In the same time, the experience shows
that the answer to this question is never checked by the consulate.
Business visa application
Purpose of visit - BUSINESS.
Russian institution to be visited - please indicate the name of the
invitation issuer. This information has been sent you along with an
invitation.
Itinerary (cities to be visited) - as listed on the invitation.
Date of entry - as listed on the invitation.
Date of departure - as listed on the invitation.
Number of entries - as listed on the invitation.
Type of passport - TOURIST.
Name and reference number of the tourist group - non-applicable.
|
While in Russia
|
| |
I
have arrived in
Russia. How do I register my visa?
A foreign citizen must register with the local migration
authorities within 7 business days upon arrival. Then a visa has to be re-registered at each
city where you stay more than 7 business days.
The registration must be completed by the receiving entity. Please note
that the receiving entity is not necessarily the same as the inviting
organization or hotel entered in the person's invitation and visa but a
company, hotel or person a foreigner is actually visiting in Russia.
If you do stay at a hotel, the registration is fully taken care of by
the hotel reception.
If you stay at a private apartment, your visa is to be registered by
your landlord. Please have the landlord apply at the local police
precinct (in Moscow) or FMS office (commonly known as OVIR) in other
cities. He will just need to fill out a registration form indicating
your passport and migration card details. Your landlord will have to
present his passport with the registration (a so-called "propiska") at
the same address.
In most cities the form can also be sent to the migration authorities
from the local post office. As sending a document by post takes
considerably less time than presenting it to the police, we recommend
that you use this option whenever possible.
The registration form is available on our
website.
Should you happen to meet any problem, please get in touch with us
immediately. If anything goes wrong, we will be glad to provide all
necessary assistance depending on the situation and actually register
your visa in Moscow and St Petersburg if necessary. However, it is
essential that the problem is resolved within 7 days upon your
arrival to Russia.
An unexpected problem arose
during my visit
The first and most important rule is as follows: all
your problems should be dealt with by the inviting organization and
everything can be fixed without too much trouble if we deal with your
problem in time. The time is really important! Please do not waste it
trying to contact any other entities and do not let any information
obtained by hearsay influence your actions. It is us and us only who
must help you and help you we will.
I have lost my invitation
No problem whatever! Just send an e-mail message to
visa@visatorussia.com and a copy will be forwarded directly.
I have lost my passport
1. Please contact the nearest police station urgently and
report the loss. You will be provided with a certificate confirming the
loss of your passport.
2. Please contact your consulate in Russia in order to be issued a new
temporary passport.
3. Please contact us and we will have your visa transferred in your new
passport. The police certificate and a new passport are a must!
I would like to extend my visa
Sorry, this is not possible. Neither a tourist nor a
business visa can be extended.
If you happen to overstay your visa, you will need an exit visa in
order to leave the country. An exit visa is to be taken care of by the
invitation issuer. Please do not waste time trying to contact any other
entities and do not let any information obtained by hearsay influence
your actions. Please contact us once you realize that you are unable to
leave Russia in time and we will provide detailed instructions as to
the paperwork you will have to collect in order to obtain an exit visa.
We find it our duty to warn you that the exit visa obtaining procedure
is extremely complicated, time-consuming, and, truth to tell,
expensive. We strongly recommend you to avoid overstaying your visa.
Can I obtain a new visa
without leaving Russia?
No, not legally. Here is the explanation why.
An entry visa to Russia is processed by the Russian consulates in
foreign countries. No entity in Russia can issue a Russian visa.
Sometimes people think it a good idea to send their passport from
Russia to their country via FedEx and have the consulate or a visa
expediting agency send back the new visa once it is ready. Indeed, this
would be the worst possible option to take because in such a case your
new visa will be invalid as you will not have crossed the Russian
border with this visa and obtained a stamp in your passport.
What with one visa expired and the other, invalid, a foreigner founds
himself in a most difficult situation. The only thing he can do is to
obtain an exit visa (which is a really complicated procedure) and leave
the country directly.
|
Need help? Customer care consultants are standing by.
Call us 7.495.956 4422 or US and Canada toll free 1 800 717 0970.
You can also send us an e-mail message and we will get back to you within the following business day.
Please note that our working languages are English and Russian.
The Russian visa support is provided according to the requirements of the Federal Law of the Russian Federation number 115. The service cost includes all the required official fees needed for the processing the visa support at the local office of the FMS by a Russian legal entity.
|
|
