Russian Visa Application for Foreigners

Visa application is imperative for a foreigner, who plans travelling to Russia. Citizens of other countries can't visit the territory of Russian state without this document.

Russian visa application for foreigners is associated with some important nuances.

What a foreigner needs to know about Russian visas:

• invitation - you are not able to submit your documents for visa without it;
• type of invitation - depends on the type of your visa.

Who needs Visa and is it necessary?

The foreign citizen doesn't need Russian visa only in following situation: if there is a visa-free agreement between Russia and the country, where the applicant has a citizenship. But only for such purposes as tourism or visiting relatives and friends.

In other cases, a foreigner can't freely cross the state border of Russian Federation. You should process documents according to the procedure and, if necessary, use competent specialists' help.

Types of Russian Visas

The type of visa depends on the purpose of your trip: usually it is tourism or business, but often foreigners come to Russia for work and study, as well as in transit. Sometimes they make a private visit. First two options are the most accessible and simple in documentation, the last one is more time consuming and has certain difficulties.

Thus, the applicant has a choice: to apply for a tourist, business, work, study or transit visa to Russia.

Sample of Russian Visa

Russian Tourist Visa

Russian tourist visa is the easiest type to obtain.

Advantages: if you cooperate with an accredited travel company, it is issued very quickly; relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain; can be single or double. However, it's difficult to do this paperwork by yourself.

Usually it's relevant for people, who come to visit the most important Russian cultural and historical objects, protected area; to see what the country is known abroad with their own eyes.

Business Visa

The second most popular among foreigners, who plan to obtain permission to enter Russia is business visa. This type is suitable for people, entering Russian Federation with the following objectives:

• resolving issues with partners, suppliers or other business participants;
• conducting trainings, presentations;
• participation in conferences, seminars or exhibitions.

Advantages: you can choose visa's different multiplicity options. For example, it can be single or double (duration period - 15 months) or unlimited by the number of visits - it can be issued for a period of six months; one, two, three, four or five years.

But the foreigner has no right to find a job with this type of visa.

Working Visa

The foreigner who is just about to get a job in Russia needs to receive an invitation from the employer. One of the ways to find it - is coming to the country on business or tourist visa. Work permit is issued for a period of 1 to 3 years. Often, foreigners are invited to work in branches of Russian international companies. Sometimes they are invited to local firms as experts. In this case, permission is also issued.

Transit Visa

There is such a thing as a transit visa in Russia, as in many countries. It's necessary for those foreigners, who travel to another state through the territory of Russian Federation. To obtain it, a foreigner needs to show proof that he is indeed sent to a third country - for example, show tickets.

Attention! If a foreigner is to fly over Russia without landing, along the route, visa is not issued. If a foreigner doesn't leave the transit zone during the transfer at the airport - visa is also not required.

Education Visa

Want to study abroad? Welcome to Russian universities! Studying in Russia is both prestigious and advantageous. You can be sure that you will acquire all the knowledge you need in your chosen subject. Russia has a lot of universities, so you have a wide choice. All you need to do is to choose a program you like, prepare the documents required, come to Russia, and start studying.