Russian visa for citizens of the Netherlands

Published by Mike Lomberg March 30, 2020
Dutch passport holders

Are you getting ready for a trip to Russia? Then you should know how to get your Russian visa first. If you are asking yourself:

Do Dutch nationals need a visa to Russia?

Yes, they do.

This article will tell you how to go about the whole bureaucratic visa application process in a smooth and efficient way. There’s truly no need to buy an expensive package tour with visa support included, or pay any agents to provide you with visa. I will show you how to do it on your own in several simple steps.

Step 1. Select the appropriate visa type and decide on your travel dates

Revise the information on main Russian visa types below. It will help you select the necessary visa type for you. Also, you’ll need to decide on the dates, duration of your trip, and number of entries. There’s no need to buy tickets or make prepaid bookings in advance, though. Remember, that you can start the visa application process as early as 3 months before your entry date.

Russian Tourist visa for Dutch citizens

Duration of trip: 30 days. 

Number of entries: single, double (issued for travelers planning to visit neighbouring to Russia countries and returning back through Russia)

Purpose for traveling: 

Basis for visa: Confirmation of reception by a registered Russian tour operator

Russian Private visa for Dutch citizens

Duration of trip: up to 90 days

Number of entries: single, double

Reasons for traveling:

Basis for visa – official invitation obtained through the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs Department of Migration by the Russian host

Russian Business/ Humanitarian visa for Dutch citizens

Duration of trip: 90 days out of each 180. A visa can be issued for up to 5 years.

Number of entries: single, double, multiple

Reasons for traveling:

Basis for visa:

Russian Study visa for Dutch citizens

Duration of stay: 

90 days and over, depending on the duration of study contract. Initially a study visa is issued for 90 days, but can be subsequently extended on the territory of Russia, if your course lasts longer.

Number of entries: single, multiple. 

Reasons for traveling: 

Basis for visa: Official invitation issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (MVD), or a Telex issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) upon request of a Russian educational institution (both original and electronic invitations are valid). 

Russian Work visa for Dutch citizens

Duration of stay:

90 days and over, according to your employment contract. A standard work visa is issued for 90 days and can be extended in Russia if so required by the employment contract. A work visa for Highly Qualified Specialists is issued for 3 years with multiple entry at once. 

Number of entries: single, double, multiple

Reasons for traveling: 

Basis for visa: Original official original invitation issued by the MVD of Russia upon request of the Russian employing company.

Russian Transit Visa for Ducth citizens

Duration of stay: for air connections up to 3 days, for crossing Russia by road or rail – up to 10 days

Number of entries: single

Reasons for traveling: 

Basis for visa: Entry-departure tickets showing your route

Important: Air-travelers making connections without the need to leave transit zone do not need visas. Please check with your airlines whether you require transit visa to make your connection.

Important: Passengers following to Belarus or Kazakhstan with connection in Russia require transit visa

Russian Electronic Visa for Dutch citizens

Duration of stay: 8 days out of 30 days visa duration

Number of entries: Single

Reasons for traveling: 

Note: Only the region which you entered is allowed for travel. You should leave only through the border point through which you entered. 

Basis for visa: filled application form for E-visa. It should be filled not later than 4 days before entry to Russia. 

Step 2. Prepare documents for visa application

Dutch citizens need the following documents to apply for a Russian visa:

E-visa applications should also be filled online and printed. If you want to get professional assistance to avoid any mistakes, contact Visando

Important: When choosing the place of visa application in the electronic form – choose always “Russian Visa Center (Hague)”, regardless of the actual place of application in the Netherlands. 

Step 3. Apply for Russian visa and pay the fees

A Dutch citizen can apply for a Russian visa in one of these places:

It’s recommended to apply through the visa center for facilitation of the process. Moreover, at the visa center you can use many extra services including delivery of passport back to your place. However, you should remember you’ll need to pay extra service fees.

If you choose to apply at the Consulate you’ll need to pay Consular fee only:

Visa typeStandard processing (7-20 business days)Urgent processing (3 business days)
Private, Study, Business, Humanitarian, Transit, Tourist visas35 €70 €
Work, Study single entry 90 days visas75.2 €15.4 €
Work, Study double entry 90 days visas120.3 €240.7 €
Work, Study visa multiple entry over 90 days visas225.7 €451.4 €

If you choose to apply at the Russian Visa Center, you’ll also need to pay 30 € for service fee, and another 27€ for courier delivery (per 1 envelope). If you order courier you pay for the service after you have applied and visa center has received your passport with visa from the Consulate, never before! The payment is done through bank transfer to:

Company NameIBAN
TRAVELCO B.V.NL62 ABNA 0865 7483 06

Payment confirmation is then sent in scan to [email protected]

Find the addresses of consulate and visa centers here: Russian consulates and embassies

Step 4. Collect your passport and check your visa

The Consular department doesn’t offer delivery of documents back to your place, so if you’ve applied there, you’ll have to return to the Consulate to pick up your passport after the processing time passes.

If you paid for delivery at the Visa Center wait for 1-2 days to get your passport back. 

Now that you have your visa in your hands, carefully check all information – your name, surname, visa validity, number of entries, inviting company. If you find any mistakes – contact the Consulate department or Visa Center.

Russian visa stamp

If everything is okay, you can pack your bags. Don’t forget to take with you:

Have a safe trip!

Step 5. Arrive to Russia and get registered

There’ll be two more documents to obtain after you come to Russia:

The first is a form, which is normally distributed to passengers free of charge on board the plane, or can be found at immigration control points. You are required to fill in pen two identical parts of the document in Russian or English. indicating your travel dates, inviting company, place of stay. Don’t lose it, and always carry along in your passport while in Russia. You’ll be asked to return it when you leave the country.

Russian migration card

The second document – Registration – is required if you plan to stay beyond 7 working days in Russia. Normally, the management of your hotel will take charge of it, and provide you with the required registration for the period of your stay. 

If you stay at your friends or relatives’ place, or book an apartment via airbnb, you’ll need to contact the owner of the apartament and ask to provide you with registration. It’s made at the local post or police office within the first 7 business days after your arrival to Russia.

Russian registration

I hope you will follow the described steps and get your Russian visa without any problems. 

If you need more information, you are welcome to write to our email to get a free consultation. 

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