Russian Visa for Irish citizens

Russia is a great tourist destination, with a lot of amazing places to see, and a lot of Irish tourists have already discovered this destination. I was encouraged to write this article to clarify the process of getting a Russian visa for you.

Do Irish citizens need a visa to Russia?

Yes, they do.

Don’t be intimidated by the prospect. Read on, and you’ll learn how to get your Russian visa in the most efficient way.

Step 1. Select your travel dates and visa type.

It’s not necessary to buy tickets to obtain your visa, and it’s not advisable to make any prepaid reservations before you actually get your visa. But you’ll need to decide on the dates of your travel and the purpose of trip, which will help you choose the suitable visa type. Find the description of the most common visa types below.

Russian Tourist visa for Irish citizens

• Your visit will last: no longer than 30 days

• You will enter Russia: once, or twice within visa validity

• Reasons for traveling:

• Sightseeing
• Attending concerts, festivals, fairs, exhibitions 
• Going on tours around the country
• Driving, cycling, hiking throughout Russia (Autoturism necessary for driving)
• Visiting health or sports resorts
• Going on cruises independently (if as part of group you can stay up to 72 hours in Russian ports without visa)
• Going on trans-siberian tour
• Visiting brief medical consultations, attending business meetings (Aim tourism)

• Who should invite you: A registered Russian tour-operator

Russian Private visa for Irish citizens 

• Your visit will last: no longer than 90 days

• You will enter Russia: once or twice within visa validity

• Reasons for traveling: 
  • visiting your relatives and friends, who are citizens or permanent residents of Russia

• Who should invite you: your Russian hosts, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

Russian Business and Humanitarian visa for Irish citizens

• Your visit will last: no longer than 90 days out of every 180. A visa can be issued for up to 1 year.

• You will enter Russia: once, twice or multiple times within visa validity

• Reasons for traveling: 
  • Attending business meetings, conferences, trainings and other events
  • Signing agreements and contracts, negotiating
  • Investing into Russian business
  • Looking for partners in Russia
  • Purchasing goods and services
  • Conducting short-term commercial activities (Commercial sub-purpose)
  • Providing technical maintenance works (Technical maintenance sub-purpose)
  • Entering Russia as part of plane crew or pilot (Crew member sub-purpose)
  • Attending cultural, religious, political, charity, sports and other events (Humanitarian visa type)

• Who should invite you: a registered Russian organization, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (telex invitation)

Russian Student visa for Irish citizens

• Your visit will last: from 90 days and beyond, depending on your study course duration. A student visa is issued for 90 days and can be extended by your school in Russia

• You will enter Russia: Once or multiple times (if your visa was extended to 1 year multiple in Russia)

• Reasons for traveling:
  • Studying at a Russian school or university

• Who should invite you: a Russian educational institution through the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

Russian Work visa for Irish citizens

• Your visit will last: 90 days or beyond, depending on the terms of your employment contract

• You will enter Russia: once, twice or multiple times. A visa is issued for 90 days but can be extended in Russia. A visa for Highly Qualified Specialists is granted for 3 years with multiple entries at once.

• Reasons for traveling: 
  • Intending to work for a Russian employer under a contract

• Who should invite you: The Russian employing company through the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Russian E-visa for Irish citizens

• Your visit will last: no longer than 8 days. Your visa is issued for 30 days, but you cannot overstay 8 days within its validity period

• You will enter Russia: Once

• Reasons for traveling: 
  • Tourism, Sightseeing within one of the allowed regions: Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Region, or Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad Region, or The Far East and Vladivostok

• Who should invite you: No invitation necessary. Simply complete the form online not later than 4 days before your trip. 

Russian Transit visa for Irish citizens

•  Your visit will last: up to 3 days if you make connection by air, up to 10 days if you cross borders by road en route to your country of destination

• You will enter: once

• Reasons for traveling: 
  • crossing Russian borders, following to another country of destination

• Who should invite you: No invitation needed, but you’ll need to submit your tickets for entry and exit from Russia.

Important: You don’t need visa if you make connection without leaving transit zone within 24 hours.

Important: You need transit visa even if you stay in transit zone, following to Belarus or Kazakhstan through Russia

Step 2. Collect the list of documents for visa application.

After you’ve known your visa type and chosen the dates for your trip, prepare the list of documents to submit for your visa.

• Original passport. Its validity should be at least 6 months beyond the expiry date of your Russian visa, and it must have minimum 2 blank visa designated pages.

• Visa application form filled online. Proceed to visa.kdmid.ru, complete the form, print on both sides, sign and date. Glue your recent color photo 3.5×4.5 into the marked field, use professional passport style photos.

E-visa applicants can get our professional help with application form here: Contact Visando

• Travel insurance policy. Copies accepted. Insurance must be valid on the territory of Russia and cover your entire period of stay. You can obtain it in any insurance company. We recommend this one: Travel Insurance Cherehapa

• Visa support document (invitation) corresponding to the chosen visa type:

• For Tourist visa – A tourist confirmation from the registered Russian tour operator. It’s normally made in less than 1 hour and accepted in copy. Get yours in 10 minutes here: Order tourist invitation

• For Private visa – An official invitation issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia upon request of a Russian citizen. Usually made in 20 working days. If you feel it’s too long and inconvenient, you might consider getting a tourist visa instead

• For Business visa – An official invitation issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia upon request of the inviting Russian company. Normally processed within 20 working days. Order yours here: Get Business invitation 

or an Official Telex Directive issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia upon request of the Russian host company. Normally made in 12 working days.

• For Student visa – An official invitation issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia upon request of a Russian school or university. Issued within 1 month

• For Work visa – An official  invitation issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia upon request of your Russian employer. Might take up to 2 months to get it. Unlike the rest, this invitation is accepted only in paper original. Make sure to order delivery to your place

• For Work/ Student visa a certificate stating you are HIV-negative is required. The test is taken via blood sample. The certificate mustn’t be older than 3 months at the time of application. It can be taken in any local clinic.

Step 3. Apply for visa and pay the required fees.

Irish citizens can apply for visa directly at the Russian Consulate in Dublin. No prior appointment is needed.

The amount of consular fee equals: 

Processing time	Single entry	Double entry Visa	Multiple entry Visa
Urgent within 3 working days	152€	243 €	456 €
Standard within 4-20 working days	77 €	122 €	229 €

Method of payment accepted – Postal money order payable in favor of Russian Embassy

Step 4. Collect passport and check your visa

So far there doesn’t exist any delivery service to get your passport back once the visa is issued. You’ll be notified on the status of your application, and when it’s ready, you’ll have to pick up your passport by yourself.

Opening hours of the Consulate:

9.00 – 11.45 each day except Saturdays, Sundays and Russian National holidays.

After you’ve received your passport, don’t forget to carefully examine your visa. Pay attention to the correctness of visa validity dates, and number of entries.

If everything’s in order, you can pack your bags and get ready for the trip. Take your passport, tickets, hotel bookings, insurance policy, and invitations.

Step 5. Travel to Russia and get registered

Finally, you’ve arrived to Russia. Welcome and enjoy your trip!

Two moments before you leave – you’ll need to get these documents for your stay:

• Migration Card
• Registration

Upon entry at immigration control or even before on board the plane you’ll be given migration card to fill in. It consists of two identical parts, and you’ll need to fill it with ink in Russian or English block letters. The information is simply – your passport details, place of stay, dates of trip and inviting company. After you’ve finished, sign it and hand to immigration officer for stamping. He’ll save one part, and give you another to keep. Carry it in your passport while in Russia. When leaving you’ll need to return it.

A foreign citizen must get registered, if his trip exceeds 7 working days as proof of his legal stay in Russia within the first 7 business days after arrival. Registration is made by hotel management, if you book a room there. In case you stay at your friend’s or book Airbnb apartment, make sure the owner of apartment can provide you with registration. To get it, he’ll need to contact the local post or police office. Carry your registration, along with migration card in your passport during your entire stay.

If you leave Russia, you’ll need to re-register again upon arrival.

Now you are ready for getting your visa and traveling to Russia. Enjoy your visit!

Let us know if you have any questions left by email.