Russian visa for Turkish citizens

Turkey and Russia have a long history of friendly relationships. Both countries welcome each other’s travelers. Russia provides a huge variety of opportunities in spheres of tourism, business, education and work for Turkish citizens. However, there still exists visa-regime between our countries.

Do Turkish citizens need a visa to Russia?

Yes, they do.

Only in case you hold an official or diplomatic passport you can enter Russia without a visa. But even if the process of getting a visa can seem complicated for you, we are here to give you some insights on the visa procedures, provide you with advice and step-by-step instructions. Read on to know how to get your Russian visa in a fast and economical way.

Step 1. Choose which visa type you need

There are several main visa types for travelers to Russia. See the description below and make your choice.

Russian Tourist visa for Turkish citizens

You need it if: 

• You want to explore Russian landmarks, take tours and excursions, attend a concert, festival or exhibition etc;

• The duration of your trip will be no longer than 30 days. 

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

• You have the visa support document: Tourist confirmation from a registered Russian tour operator. You can order this document in e-format from us, after you book a hotel for your stay in Russia:  Get tourist confirmation Print it out and use

Russian Business or Humanitarian visa for Turkish citizens

You need it if: 

• You are planning to take part in business meetings with partners, conferences, seminars and other events, sign contracts and agreements, invest into business, conduct negotiations and 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 visa support document: An official invitation issued by the MIA or MFA of Russia upon request of the Russian company. 

Russian Private visa for Turkish citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going to spend some time 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 a visa support: an official invitation issued by the MIA Russia upon the request of your Russian host.

Russian Student visa for Turkish citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going to study a course at a Russian school, college, university or institute

• Your stay can last 90 days or more. This visa is issued for 90 days with possibility to extend it while in Russia, if your course lasts longer.

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

• Your school or university has provided you with the visa support – an official invitation issued by the MIA of Russia

Russian Work visa for Turkish citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going to enter Russia on work purposes;
• You will stay 90 days and longer, depending on your labour contract conditions. A work visa can be issued for 90 days with possibility to extend it while in Russia. If the applicant is invited as a Highly Qualified Specialist 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 has provided you with a visa support: an official invitation issued by the MIA of Russia in original

Russian E-Visa for Turkish citizens

You need it if: 

• You are going on a brief tourist, business, humanitarian or private visit to one of the 3 regions of Russia: 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 an electronic form on the MFA website and received a visa decision in e-form. The application should be filled correctly not later than 4 days before your trip. If you want to have professional assistance in filling the form, get it here: E-Visa form filling

Important: If you need to visit other regions of Russia or stay longer, consider obtaining a tourist visa instead. 

Russian Transit visa for Turkish citizens

You need it if:

• You are going to travel through Russia on your way to another state

• 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

• 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 necessary documents

The documents you’ll need to collect for your visa application are the following:

• Your original passport with minimum 2 blank visa designated pages. It should be valid at least 6 months beyond your Russian visa expiry date (if you apply for student/work visa your passport must be valid for 18 months more from the date of your visa issuance)

• A hotel and flight reservation for tourist visa applicants

• An invitation corresponding to your travel purposes and issued by the appropriate Russian authority. Check which is the inviting organization above in types of visa description. An invitation is accepted both in copies and originals, apart from the work visa where you are demanded to submit only the paper original invitation.

You can get your legal tourist invitation from us: get visa support invitation

• A duly filled application form from the website visa.kdmid.ru. After you complete it, print it on both sides of the paper, sign and date. Glue your recent color photo in the marked space on the form. Read more on photo specifications here: Russian visa photo requirements. Avoid making any corrections on the form.

• For Work/Study visa applicants planning to stay in Russia beyond 90 days it’s also required to present a valid HIV certificate. The test should show negative results and be taken via blood sample in any authorized local clinic not earlier than 90 days before application

• Travel insurance is not mandatory, but you can get it for the period of your trip to safeguard yourself

Step 3. Apply for your visa in Turkey

After you have all necessary documents in your hands, apply with them for your visa at:

• Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Ankara
• Consulate General in Istanbul
• Consulate General in Izmir
• Consulate General in Trabzon
• Russian Visa Center VFS Global in Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara or Trabzon

Remember, if you want to apply through the Consulate, you’ll need to book an appointment on their website. Visa Center receives applicants without prior appointments. Here you can find their contacts: Russian Embassies and Consulates

Along with your application you’ll need to pay visa fees. At the consulate you’ll pay only Consular fees, if you choose to apply through the visa center, you’ll also need to pay service fee.

Consular fees for a Russian visa for Turkish citizens:

Visa type	Standard processing fee (4-20 working days)	Express processing fee (1-3 working days)
Single entry	80 USD	160 USD
Double entry	128 USD	256 USD
Multiple entry	240 USD	480 USD

Service fee paid in VFS Global center: 35 USD

At the Visa Center you can also order additional services like sms notifications on the status of your application, photocopies, application form filling, courier delivery of your passport back to you etc. all surcharge.

Step 4. Get your passport back and check visa for mistakes

After the process is finished, you can collect your passport back. Attentively check your Russian visa stamp. It bears the following information:

If you see any mistakes, apply for correction. If everything is fine, start preparing your bags and get ready for the trip.

Step 5. Get migration card and registration in Russia

When you arrive to Russia you’ll need to get some more documents there:

• Migration card
• Registration

A migration card is given to foreign nationals arriving to Russia at migration control points. It has two identical parts, one of which is surrendered to the immigration officer. You’ll need to write on it the details of your trip, dates of travel, places of intended stay. After you have it stamped by the officer, keep the second part of the card with you, and don’t lose it. You’ll have to return it back when leaving Russia.

You’ll need to get registered upon arrival, if you stay longer than 7 working days in Russia.

If you stay in a hotel, you’ll get registered by the hotel manager. If you stay with your Russian friends, ask the owner of the apartment to register you at the local post or police office during the first 7 days after your arrival. Carry your registration with you. You might need to show it when returning from Russia.

I’m glad to have shared with you this useful guide, and hope it has helped you get your visa without any complications. If you need some advice, feel free to contact us by email.

Have a great trip to Russia!