Visa to Russia
  
  

Your guide and interpreter in Moscow, apartment for rent, bed & breakfast, any information about Moscow & Russia

   
  
Accomodation in Moscow  5 reasons to hire a guide Rates & Services
What to see in Moscow About St.Petersburg Moscow links
1 day in Moscow All about Russia Contact us

 

   
  

                MAIN PAGE

  
  

This could be an enigma how most of travelers manage to come to Russia through all borders, custom controls and other miraculous bureaucratic stuff. For non-Russian traveller coming here could be a real trouble, but this page shall tell you how to get visa easily without overpaying and loss for your nerves system.

As to any state there are several types of visa one can obtain: tourist, guest, business, etc. In most cases you have an intention to come to Russia for less than 1 month to travel around without buying an expensive tour. For this reason the easiest way is to obtain a tourist visa. The maximum validity period is 1 month. To get it you need a licensed travel agency to send to you (or to the Russian Embassy in the country where you intent to obtain a visa) by fax or e-mail (check it in the Embassy) 2 papers: 1) VOUCHER and 2) CONFIRMATION of a foreign tourist acceptance.

Mind you that in these papers information about hotels booked for you should be really mentioned (as well as list of cities you plan to see), but all travel agencies involved in this business know, that this is just info for an Embassy. In reality after you get visa on the basis of these documents you are free:

  1. To move around the country in any direction

  2. To settle in any hotels at your option

  3. To forget about "booked" for you hotel and never think about them again

  4. To settle in private flats at your choice

This is actually one of the miths about visa to Russia - all accomodation shall be booked (and paid) in  advance. But what really should be done - this information should be mentioned in the invitation documents, but again - it is absolutely legal if you go to a place not stated in these documents and settle in non mentioned there hotel or private apartment.

Taking a decision to make deal with a travel agency about these papers you should know about the real price. Normal price for these invitation is 25-40 USD. One of the best places (time & money) is www.visatorussia.net . Apart of quite fast service you'll find a very useful collection of the Russian Embassies and consulates all over the world.

Find on this web http://www.russianembassy.net/ links to all Consulates and Ebmassies of Russia all over the world. 

Another couple of words about Russian visa. Usually it costs about (the Consulate fee)  50-60USD for 1 week consideration. Urgent visa may cost up to space ship price depending upon your hurry.

By the way, citizens of the following countries: Israel, Finland and Shengen visa Agreement States (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and France) must also present a National medical coverage certificate valid for Russia or a guarantee of medical coverage from the Russian hosting organization for the intended period of stay.

But check at the nearest consulate the list of papers you need to prepare.

So wish you good luck in obtaining your visa. Believe me, Russia is worth your suffering at the Embassy.

Marina, russianguide@mail.ru

P.S. Here are some direct links to some Russian Embassies and Consulates s: