Russian Tourist Visa

If you have Russia pinned as your next travel destination, you should definitely know all about the Russian tourist visa. We’re here to provide you with detailed information and some practical tips. 

Some countries have a visa-free entry agreement to Russia, so citizens can start planning their trips immediately. These include most CIS countries, Latin America, South Korea, Israel and some others. You can read a useful article on visa-free entry and check whether your country is in the list here Who Needs a Visa to Russia

If you’re not among the holders of visa-free passports there are still options to obtain a Russian visa in a relatively fast and hassle-free way. A tourist visa will suit you if you want to make a short trip (no longer than 30 days) to see the sights of the country, meet friends, venture on the famous Trans-Siberian railway tour, or just drive through the country by road and observe its stunning nature. Bear in mind that a tourist visa is not subject to extension and you’ll need to leave Russia on or before its expiration date. 

Good news for citizens of the USA – under the agreement between our countries you are entitled to apply for a 3-year multiple entry tourist visa. It will give you the chance to visit Russia multiple times during 3 years, for trips no longer than 90 days in each 180.

Other nationalities can apply for a 30-day tourist visa to Russia with single or double entry.

List of Required Documents

To apply for a tourist visa you will need to collect the following documents:

Original signed passport	Make sure it’s valid for 6 months or more after your planned exit from Russia. Your passport must have at least 2 blank pages for a visa stamp
Color photograph	Take a picture of 3.5×4.5cm passport-style against a light background without shades or head covers (unless it’s part of religious clothing and you have it on at your passport picture). It’s usually better to use a photo booth service to ensure your image meets the requirements.
Travel support document	A confirmation from a registered Russian travel agency including your data, dates of trip, place of stay, signed and sealed. Printed copies are accepted in most consulates. Read more about types of support documents for various visa types in this article: LINK
Filled out visa form	available at https://visa.kdmid.ru/. Complete all fields, print it double-sided and sign
Travel insurance policy	Buy this at any insurance company. Electronic policies in printed form are accepted. It must be acceptable in the Russian Federation and insure you for the entire period of your stay.
Additional documents	If you apply from a country of which you are not a citizen, be ready to provide a document proving your legal stay in your host country

How to get a Russian tourist visa

There are several ways of getting a Russian visa:

1. On your own

Pros: 

• You will save money on agents’ commission
• You will control the status of your application by yourself
• You will be free from any itinerary/tour/hotel commitments

Cons:

• Collecting the necessary documents can be time-consuming
• You will have to plan your journey unaided
• You will need to make an appointment at the consulate and the slots are not always open. You will have to apply in person.
• You will have to pick up your passport once your visa is issued without any delivery service

1. Through Russian visa centers

Pros:

• You won’t need to wait for an appointment as visa centers accept applicants regularly during working hours;
• You will be able to order a wide range of extra services like filling the visa form in for you, taking a picture in the center, photocopying your documents for you;
• Your documents will be checked by professional visa managers which will help to avoid mistakes;
• You will not need to go collect your passport as visa centers provide delivery and even notify you upon the issuance of visa;
• Some visa centers (in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany) offer applications by mail which makes a personal visit there unnecessary.

Cons:

• Aside from the visa fee you’ll also have to pay the center’s service fee;
• Additional services are charged extra

1. Through private agencies

Pros: 

• You will get an all-inclusive package of services. No need to fill any forms, book any hotels, or buy tickets by yourself

Cons:

• A whole tour will cost a lot more than an individual trip
• You‘ll have to trust the chosen company as they will deal with all your documents and choose hotels, flights etc.;
• You’ll have to follow the itinerary chosen for you by the tourist company, stick to their dates, hotels, flights etc.

Tourist visa expenses

Although, the expenses differ depending on the method of application and the company you choose, here are some unavoidable fees you’ll need to pay:

• Visa fee The current tourist visa fee for American citizens amounts to $160 for single, double and multiple entry. Please note, the visa fee is paid for exercising consular actions and is non-refundable. 
• Service fees depend on the visa-center you apply at. For https://russia-visacentre.com/ in the USA the service fee is  $38 including VAT. If you want to apply with http://ils-usa.com/ their service fee is $50. If you apply directly through the Consular section of the Russian embassy and collect all documents by yourself you won’t need to pay this fee;
• Russian visa support document cost. You can order visa-support for your tourist visa at $20 using our service here:https://russia.support/widget/1104b
• Application by mail/delivery/additional services. Please check websites of the visa centers to see their fees for extra services. Note that if you apply through the Consulate you’ll need to pick up your passport by yourself as they do not provide delivery services.

If you’ve decided to prepare your visa documents by yourself and apply in person or through a visa center, you can start by ordering travel support on our website. Our team will guide you through the process and answer any queries you might have.