Visa to Russia: Transit Visa

Apply for Visa

1. Visa Type and Validity
2. Processing Time
3. Visa Requirements
4. Application Form

Purpose of visit	Visa required?
Business	Not Applicable
Tourist	Yes if layover is more than 24 hours or changing airports.
Notes	Please note: The Russian Embassy as well as the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affiars will be closed from January 2 through January 9th, 2012 and will reopen on January 10th, 2012. Orders for visa processing as well as visa support (letter of invitation) will not be processed during this time. See the 2011 Embassy closing schedule. Russian Federation No Visa Required if: Transit visas are not required for lay-overs, which last less than 24 hours. You must stay in the international terminal of the airport. You cannot leave this area for any reason. You must be on a direct flight through the territory of Russia or travel by international airline and change flights in the same airport within 24 hours to transit without a visa. Visa Required: Travelers who are laying over for more than 24 hours in Moscow or another international airport in Russia and who continuing onward to a final destination will be asked to present a Russian transit visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. Russian authorities may refuse to allow a traveler to continue on to the final destination if the person is not in possession of a valid Russian transit visa. Travelers who are not allowed to proceed are immediately returned to the point of embarkation at the traveler's sole expense. Russia transit visas are valid for not more than 72 hours and can be single-entry or double-entry depending on the need. For example a single entry Russian transit visa allows for a traveler to enter Russian once within a 72 hour period. The traveler may exit the airport, stay in a hotel overnight, or explore a city before traveling on to a final destination. A double entry Russian transit visa would allow for the same except you may enter Russia twice within the 72 hour validity. The 72 hour / 3 day period is date specific and indicated on your Russian Transit visa. For example a Russian transit visa with a validity of June 1 to June 3 would allow a traveler to transit once or twice (depending on the number of entries issued) between June 1 and June 3. The visa is not valid outside of the specified date range.

Business

Not Applicable

Tourist

Yes if layover is more than 24 hours or changing airports.

Notes

Please note: The Russian Embassy as well as the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affiars will be closed from January 2 through January 9th, 2012 and will reopen on January 10th, 2012. Orders for visa processing as well as visa support (letter of invitation) will not be processed during this time. See the 2011 Embassy closing schedule.

Russian Federation

No Visa Required if:

Transit visas are not required for lay-overs, which last less than 24 hours. You must stay in the international terminal of the airport. You cannot leave this area for any reason. You must be on a direct flight through the territory of Russia or travel by international airline and change flights in the same airport within 24 hours to transit without a visa.

Visa Required:

Travelers who are laying over for more than 24 hours in Moscow or another international airport in Russia and who continuing onward to a final destination will be asked to present a Russian transit visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. Russian authorities may refuse to allow a traveler to continue on to the final destination if the person is not in possession of a valid Russian transit visa. Travelers who are not allowed to proceed are immediately returned to the point of embarkation at the traveler's sole expense.

Russia transit visas are valid for not more than 72 hours and can be single-entry or double-entry depending on the need. For example a single entry Russian transit visa allows for a traveler to enter Russian once within a 72 hour period. The traveler may exit the airport, stay in a hotel overnight, or explore a city before traveling on to a final destination. A double entry Russian transit visa would allow for the same except you may enter Russia twice within the 72 hour validity.

The 72 hour / 3 day period is date specific and indicated on your Russian Transit visa. For example a Russian transit visa with a validity of June 1 to June 3 would allow a traveler to transit once or twice (depending on the number of entries issued) between June 1 and June 3. The visa is not valid outside of the specified date range.