Russian visa for citizens of Estonia

When an Estonian citizen is planning a trip to Russia, there arise a lot of questions with regards to entering the country: whether you need a visa, what type of visa you require, how to get this visa, which documents to collect and where to apply them and many others. In this article you will find answers to these questions and many useful recommendations for your trip. 

So, let’s start with the first and most important question:

Do Estonian citizens need a visa to enter Russia?

Yes, they do.

The prospect of undergoing a complicated visa application process seems quite daunting. However, it is not as hard as it sounds. You can get your Russian visa on your own following several steps as described below. 

Step 1. Choose the dates for your travel and learn the visa type you need

Even though, you can be unsure about your exact travel dates, you should choose at least the approximate travel time. You can start the visa procedures not earlier than 3 months before your trip. Think of the purpose of your travel to Russia and how long you are planning to stay there, as well as who will provide you with the required invitation. Read on to know the main Russian visa types and their features. Remember that you don’t need to buy tickets, or make any non-refundable bookings in advance.

Russian visa types overview

Visa types	Validity period	Travel purpose
Tourist visa	30 days	tourism and leisure
Private visa	90 days	private guest visits. Not recommendable: see why here
Business visa	30 -90 days (up to 5 years max)	conducting business in Russia, looking for partners, negotiating, investing etc.
Transit visa	3 -10 days	crossing Russian territory on your way to another country
Student visa	90 days and above	studying a course in a Russian school or university
Work visa	90 days and above	working under contract for a Russian employer
Electronic visa	8 days	short tourist, business or humanitarian visits

Russian Tourist visa for Estonian citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going to familiarize yourself with Russian sights, take a tour to some part of the country, attend concerts, festivals or exhibitions, go to sports or health resort etc;

• The duration of your trip will be no longer than 90 days. A tourist visa can be issued for 6 months, but you cannot overstay the 90 days in total sum of your trips.

• The number of planned entries to Russia will be: single, double, multiple

• You have the basis for visa: Tourist confirmation from a registered Russian tour operator.

 You can also order it here: Get your tourist confirmation

Russian Business and Humanitarian visa for Estonian citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going to look for business partners, attend meetings, conferences and other events, purchase goods and services, invest into business, conduct short-time commercial activities; visit political, religious, cultural and other humanitarian events etc.

• Duration of your trip will be no longer than 90 days out of 180. Visas can be issued for up to 1 year

• Number of entries will be: single, double or multiple 

• Your have the basis for traveling: An official invitation letter from the Russian company, or invitation issued by the MIA or MFA of Russia upon request of the Russian company. 

You can alternatively order it from us here: Get your business invitation

Russian Private visa for Estonian citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going to visit and stay with your Russian relatives or friends

• You will stay no longer than 90 days

• Number of entries will be: single, double

• Your Russian host can provide you with the basis for visa: an official invitation from the MIA Russia

Russian Student visa for Estonian citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going to study at a Russian educational institution

• Your stay can last from 90 days and over, depending on your study course. This visa is issued for 90 days with possibility to extend it while in Russia, if required by the study course.

• Number of entries will be: single, double, multiple

• Your school or university has provided you with the basis for visa – an official invitation from the MIA of Russia

Russian Work visa for Estonian citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going to work under an employment contract for a Russian company or legal individual;

• You will stay from 90 days and over, depending on your contract conditions. This visa is issued for 90 days with possibility to extend it while in Russia. If the applicant is invited as a Highly Qualified Expert he’s granted a 3 years multiple entry work visa at once, with possibility of further extension in Russia.

• Number of entries will be: single, multiple

• Your Russian employer will provide you with the basis for visa – an official invitation from the MIA of Russia

Russian E-Visa for Estonian citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going on a brief tourist, business, humanitarian or private visit, going only to the specified areas, namely one of the 3 regions: Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Region, Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad Region, the Far East and Vladivostok. You are allowed to enter and leave through the same border point. You cannot leave the region of entry.

• You will stay no longer than 8 days out of 30 days period of your visa validity

• Number of entries – single

• You have filled electronic form on the MFA website. The form should be filled not later than 4 days before your trip completely and without mistakes. If you want to get professional assistance in filling the form, get it here: E-Visa form filling

Russian Transit visa for Estonian citizens

You need it if:

• You are going to travel through Russia to enter another country

• You will need to stay up to 3 days for connections by air, or up to 10 days for crossing Russia by road or railway

• Number of entries will be: single, double

• You have the tickets of entry and exit from Russia, showing your route

Important: If you make connection and stay at the airport transit zone, without passing passport and immigration control, you don’t need a visa. Otherwise, you require a transit visa.

If you travel to Kazakhstan or Belarus with connection in Russia you need a transit visa.

Step 2. Collect the documents needed to apply for your visa

Have you chosen the appropriate visa type for you? If you still have a trouble with this, contact us by email, and we’ll gladly help you.

After deciding on the visa type and dates of your trip, it’s time to start the paperwork.

While the visa types are different, there’s a standard list of documents required to apply for a Russian visa. Certainly, the consulate has the right to ask for additional documents, but it’s normally these papers that you need to prepare:

• Your personal original passport, valid 6 months beyond the exit date from Russia as minimum, containing at least 2 blank visa designated pages

• Invitation you received from Russia. Check the inviting authorities in types of visa above, and contact them to get your visa support document. All invitations nowadays can be presented in photocopy if they are issued in an e-format bearing a barcode, except from the work one, which is required in original only. 

Count 10-30 min for a tourist confirmation, 1 day for a business invitation letter from company, 20 days for a business, humanitarian or private invitation issued by the MIA of Russia; and from 1 to 2 months for student/work invitation; 

• Completed online visa form. 

For regular visas proceed to visa.kdmid.ru, fill the form in, print it on both sides, sign, and date.

For an E-visa, request professional help to fill the application here: http://visando.com/apply-evisa 

Note: E-visa applications must be filled not later than 4 days before your trip.

• Your recent passport-style color photo 3.5 x 4.5 cm on white background. 

Read more about photo specifications here: Visa photo requirements. Carefully glue the photo into the indicated field in the visa form

• Tourist medical insurance policy in original or copy. Make sure it covers the period of your stay in full, and is valid on the territory of the Russian Federation. The policy should be stamped by the insurance company, and contain details of the insured person and insuring organization, as well as its individual number. The amount of cover shouldn’t be less than 30.000 euro.

• For Work/ Study visa, if you are planning to stay over 90 days, you’ll also require an HIV-negative certificate, obtained in any local clinic. It’s valid for 3 months and submitted in original.

Step 3. Apply your documents for visa and pay the fees

Citizens of Estonia can choose to apply for a Russian visa in one of these organs:

• At the Russian Consulate in Tallinn or Narva. You can apply in person after booking an appointment on the website of the consulate

• At the Russian Visa Center in Tartu, Tallinn or Narva in person during working hours

When applying for a visa you should pay the visa fees. At the Consulate the amount is

– 35 EUR for standard processing 4-20 days 

– 70 EUR for expedited processing in 1-3 days

If you choose to apply through the visa center, which was created to facilitate the procedure, and provide more convenient services for the applicants, you’ll also need to pay the service fee, which amounts to 21 EUR (including VAT).

A Visa center also provides extra services surcharge, such as:

• Photo facilities
• Filling visa application forms
• Pre-checking the package of documents
• Courier passport delivery back

Whichever way you choose, remember that the visa fees are non-refundable. 

You can find the list of websites and addresses of consulates and visa centers here: Russian consulates and embassies

Step 4. Receive your passport and check your Russian visa stamp

The Consulates don’t provide delivery service, so you’ll need to collect your passport there in person, once you receive notification that your application process has finished. 

If you have chosen to apply through the visa center and paid extra for courier delivery, you’ll simply wait until the courier brings you your document.

Carefully examine your visa stamp. It bears the following information:

If everything is correct, you can pack your bags and prepare for your trip to Russia.

Remember to carry with you:

• your passport with visa
• hotel and other bookings
• travel insurance policy
• invitation issued by the Russian company

Step 5. Final documents to get in Russia

Two more documents you’ll need to have during your trip in Russia are:

• Migration Card
• Registration

A migration card is given to travelers free of charge by either personnel of transport companies or the officers of immigration control. A traveler has to fill two identical parts in block letters with pen and hand them to the officer, who then stamps them with the date of entry to Russia and returns one part to the traveler. When you leave the country you’ll need to return the document at immigration control.

If you happen to lose it, you’ll need to turn to the local police or migration service office and ask for a duplicate.

Registration is required in case a traveler stays over 7 working days in Russia. You can get it at the hotel where you’ll be staying or ask your Russian host to make one for you at the local post or police office department. 

Carry both documents in your passport during your trip.

I hope that our step-by-step guide will make it easier for you to obtain your Russian visa and travel soon! Do not hesitate to ask us any questions by email.

Happy journey to Russia!!