01/04/2013
Russian Federation Visa Types
If you are a US passport holder and wish to travel to the Russian Federation, you must have a visa. Visas are issued by the Embassy of the Russian Federation. However, since April 10, 2012, the embassy has employed a middleman company, Invisa Logistics Services, to organize the processing of Russian visas. (For information, click here and for reviews on this middleman, click here.)
Passport Visas Express.com is here to help you understand which visa you need, and even applying for and delivering your application for you. Our experts have been working with the Russian Federation’s embassy for the past fifteen years, and with Invisa Logistics for as long as it’s been in existence, so we know exactly what you’ll need to get your visa and get going!
There are eight common Russian visa types. Please click on the visa type for detailed application information. If you do not find your visa type here, please give us a call at 1-(888)596-6028 or chat with one of our friendly representatives!
Single, double, and multiple-entry visas are available for those who will travel to Russia as tourists, valid for up to 3 years. This visa is also intended for anyone traveling to Russia for any personal reasons. You must provide a letter of invitation from your tour company or the hotel you will be staying at.
This visa is intended for those planning to travel to Russia for any personal reason(s), and who will stay with friends or relatives. If you have friends or family in Russia whom you are staying with, this is the correct visa for you. Single, double, and multiple-entry visas are available, valid for up to 3 years. You will need a visa entitlement certificate (Izvesheniye) from your host. Be prepared to wait up to 6 weeks for the certificate to be issued and then sent to you- you will need the original when you apply for the homestay/private visa. Alternatively, you can apply for a tourist visa instead.
This visa is for those intending to conduct business in Russia, but not for working
for a Russian business. For those requiring a visa to work for a business in Russia, see below for “work visa.” A multiple-entry visa for up to 3 years is also available in addition to the single and double entry visa.
If you will be traveling to Russia and working as an employee of a Russian company, you will need a work visa. This requires a letter of invitation from the Russian Ministry of the Interior or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs- your employer will obtain this for you. You will also need to provide proof of an HIV test done no more than 60 days prior to applying for the visa.
This visa is intended for those studying at a Russian university or institution, and can be extended for as long as you remain a student. As with work visas, you will need proof of an HIV test done no more than 60 days prior to applying for the visa.
If you stop in Russia on the way to another country and need to travel to another airport for your connecting flight, you must have a transit visa, valid for 3 days. Note these are not necessary for layovers of less than 24 hours. Click
here for more details.
You must have a diplomatic or official US passport in order to be eligible for this type of visa, which is intended for those involved in US-Russia diplomacy.
This visa is intended for crew members who work on international trains, airlines, or any such vessel, as well as for his or her family members.
Not sure of how to proceed with your application? Having trouble with the Invisa Logistics? You’re not alone. At Passport Visas Express.com, we do our best to save you time and energy trying to figure out the process of obtaining a Russian Visa. Give us a call or a chat, and we can walk you through your application, review it, and deliver it to the necessary offices. We represent you and all your visa needs—to the Russian Federation, and the world.
Here's How to Apply:
Select the Visa Type you need to find out more information about how to apply:
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