Russian Visa Requirements: How do I get a Visa

My friend, even before you darken the immigration window of Russian customs you will be introduced to a portion of Russian hospitality while getting your Russian visa at your local Russian embassy or consulate. There is no way you will wriggle yourself out of filling that Russian visa application form, visas are required by all visitors to Russia, period!

If you are on a package tour, travelling with a group, the tour company should organise visas for you but if you are an independent traveller you will need to organise your own.

This is a complex and time-consuming process, but we are here to help and to break down for you a few things that just might make the process of application a bit smoother.

First of all, anybody who is brave enough to start the ball rolling should have either proof of pre-booked accommodation or a letter of invitation (visa support) either from a private individual or a tour company such as ourselves.

Also, document requirements change regularly and it would not hurt to check for any changes in the visa legislation in advance. This is easily done by checking your local Russian embassy's web-page or looking on the websites of tourist companies. Good companies should have regularly updated noticeboards on their websites.

Upon receipt of your invitation you will be required to fill in an application form (either by post or in person, in both cases again at your local Russian embassy). Various consulates request various additional documents but generally you need your invitation (in the case of a tourist company inviting you a faxed copy of your invitation is enough), correctly completed visa application and some photographs of your beautiful self. Oh yeah, you will also be expected to pay your visa processing fees. The cost of a visa differs by country and visa type.