Russian Visa Invitations

Russian Rail is a non-Government based service.
Russian Rail and our sister company CR Tour is a non-governmental organization that is officially registered as a Russian tour operator and is officially authorized to issue Russian visa invitations (sometimes called a Russian visa voucher or Russian visa support), the document necessary for foreign travelers to apply for a Russian visa at their local Russian Consulate. It is impossible to apply for a Russian tourist visa without this document.

Our fees are listed below and are based upon a service fee for the issuance of this visa invitation. Russian tourist visa invitations are not issued directly by the Russian government but are rather issued by a qualified Russian tour operator that arranges tour programs and hotel accommodations in Russia. Russian visas can be applied for directly with the Russian Consulate using the official site of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

For your rail trip through Russia, RussianRail through our parent company Express to Russia can help you obtain two types of Russian visas - a Russian tourist visa or Russian business visa. If your stay in Russia is under 30 days only a Russian tourist visa will be required for your rail trip.

Russian Consulates require that all foreign travelers to Russia have a Russian visa invitation in order to issue the applicant a Russian visa. Russian Visa Online can quickly and professionally issue this invitation for both Russian tourist and business visas. We first issue the Russian visa invitation (sometimes called a voucher) and then email it, fax it or mail it to you. Customers ordering Russian visa support will be responsible for paying the Russian Consular fees themselves and the logistics involved in getting their passports to and from the Russian Consulate. Our customer service representatives will walk you through this process and answer any questions that you may have.

Alternatively, customers can order full visa support from us and we will take care of all contact with the Consulate. You just send us your passport and documentation and we take care of the rest. This service is available only in the US, UK and Canada.

Our Value Proposition and Services for Russian Visa Support

Processing Time: 5 - 12 Days for Full Visa Service, 1-3 days for Visa Invitations
Fee: Consulate Fee and Service Fee for Full Visa Service, Service Fee only for issuance of Visa Invitations
Support: Telephone, Email and Live Chat

Recommended By

Our travel group under the names City Realty or Express to Russia is recommended by the following travel guides for travel and accommodation in Russia.

IN USD: PURCHASE YOUR VISA INVITATION FOR USD STARTING AT 18 USD
IN EUROS: PURCHASE YOUR VISA INVITATION FOR EURO STARTING AT 15 EURO click here

To pay in USD, please use the following table and click on the visa invitation that you would like to purchase. To pay in Euros, please go to the next table by clicking here.

Visit the Official Websites of Russian Foreign Ministry to Apply for a Russian Visa	Processing time	Fees
Visit Russian Foreign Ministry Site to Fill in Russian Visa Application and Apply	3-10 days	Free application
Visit Russian Consulate in USA for Tariffs for Visa Application Submission	3-10 days	140 - 450 USD

Tourist Visa Invitation type	Processing Time / Price, USD
Tourist Visa Invitation type	3 days	1-2 days	12 hours
Tourist single entry for countries of migration risk*	30
Tourist double entry for countries of migration risk*	30
Tourist single entry	18	25	39
Tourist double entry	18	25	39
Tourist with registration in St. Petersburg	55	60	70

*List of countries of migration risk:
Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Channel Islands, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Faroe Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Greenland, Guadalupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Mongolia, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Islands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Republic of Korea, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Vatican City, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, Yugoslavia

Business Visa Invitation type (sent by Telex)	*Processing time / Price USD**
Business Visa Invitation type (sent by Telex)	13 days	4 days
Business 1 month single entry		200
Business 1 month double entry		200
Business 3 months single entry		200
Business 3 month double entry		200
Multiple entry 6 months	280
Multiple entry 1 year	320

Business Visa Invitation type (paper invitation that must be mailed to you)	*Processing time / Price USD**
	20* days	6* days
Multiple entry 1 year	190*

*This is for a paper invitation that must be mailed to you. Postage is not included and is extra. Express postage is charged at market rates (approximately 100 USD per package).

Russian business visas can only be applied for within 45 days of the applicant's planned entry into Russia. All Russian business visas listed except where indicated are sent by telex to the Russian Consulate where you will pick it up.
Delivery by post of the Russian visa invitation is not included and the charge will be between $10 and $100 depending on which postage option is chosen.

IN EUROS:

Tourist Visa Invitation type	Processing Time / Price, EURO
Tourist Visa Invitation type	3 days	1-2 days	12 hours
Tourist single entry for countries of migration risk*	25
Tourist double entry for countries of migration risk*	25
Tourist single entry	15	20	30
Tourist double entry	15	20	30
Tourist with registration in St. Petersburg	45	50	58

Business Visa Invitation type (sent by Telex)	*Processing time / Price EURO**
Business Visa Invitation type (sent by Telex)	12 days	4 days
Business 1 month single entry		160
Business 1 month double entry		160
Business 3 months single entry		160
Business 3 month double entry		160
Multiple entry 6 months	220
Multiple entry 1 year	250

Business Visa Invitation type (paper invitation that must be mailed to you)	*Processing time / Price EURO**
	20* days	6* days
Multiple entry 1 year	150*

*This is for a paper invitation that must be mailed to you. Postage is not included and is extra. Express postage is charged at market rates (approximately 80 EUR per package).

Russian business visas can only be applied for within 45 days of the applicant's planned entry into Russia. All Russian business visas listed except where indicated are sent by telex to the Russian Consulate where you will pick it up.
Delivery by post of the Russian visa invitation is not included and the charge will be between 8 EUR and 80 EUR depending on which postage option is chosen.

For business visa support, please fax a copy of the first page of your passport to +7 812 315 9151 or scan a copy and email to visa@russianvisaonline.com.

New Russian visa regulations

1. Foreign citizens can obtain Russian visas ONLY in the country of his or her citizenship. Exceptions include those who have a residence permit for a foreign country for the period more than 90 days.
A Russian visa may also be issued in a country other than an applicant's own in case of urgent necessity, such as participating in international, governmental, official, scientific, sport and cultural events. A final decision in these cases would be left up to the consulate.

2. A multiple entry Russian business visa allows nationals of all countries to stay in Russia up to 90 days out of the period of 180 days.

3. US citizens can apply to 3 year multiple entry visa that allows to stay in Russia not more than 6 months. You can order 3 year multiple entry visa here

After receiving your visa invitation or voucher, you should visit the website or contact the Russian Consulate in your country to learn how to submit your documents and apply for a Russian visa. Different countries have different rules. To find out the telephone numbers and addresses of the Russian Consulate closest to you, please visit http://www.mid.ru/zu_r.nsf/strawebeng

Some Russian Consulates will request the original of the visa invitation instead of a copy. This is frequently the practice for business visas, however often for business visas a telex can be sent to the Russian Consulate.

If you discover that the original invitation or voucher is required by the Russian Consulate, please tell us and we will send it to you by express post. We require that express postage be paid by the customer.

Documents necessary for Russia visa processing by the Embassy or Consulate are:

Usual requirements for applying for a Russian visa for NON-US CITIZENS are written below:

Russian visa application form for non-US citizens (citizens of all other countries) (PDF),
Original passport with expiration date at least 6 months beyond the end of the visa expiration date. You must have 2 free / clean pages (no stamps or marks on these 2 pages) in the passport to which the visa will be inserted - they should be side by side
3 passport size photos
Consular visa processing fee payable to the Russian Consulate by cashiers check or money order
Cover letter (doc)
You can usually submit your application in person at the Russian Consulate closest to your home. Different countries have different rules. To find out the telephone numbers and addresses of the Russian Consulate closest to you and additional information on your country's application process, please visit http://www.mid.ru/zu_r.nsf/strawebeng
For UK and Canadian citizens: If you cannot submit the documents in person, you may use a third party agency to submit the documents on your behalf. Our company also offers this option under the name full visa service. This is where you send your passport and other documentation to our processing center and we obtain the Russian visa for you. To learn more about this option, please visit the Full Visa Service page. You may also use other agencies for this process.
For business visas only, if you plan to stay in Russia for more than 3 months a HIV test is required (please contact the nearest Russian Consulate or Embassy or review its web site for further information)

Requirements for applying for a Russian visa for US CITIZENS

A completed visa application form (one per person) with one professional passport-size photo glued to the appropriate space of the form. Applicants should complete Visa application on-line and print it out on the web-site: http://evisa.kdmid.ru. Please note that any other application forms are not acceptable.
A valid passport (original) and a copy of its vital pages with bearer's personal data, passport validity extension, the bearer's name change, etc. Passport must be valid for six months beyond the visa expiration date and contain at least two blank pages marked "visas", otherwise the passport and documents will not be accepted.
1-2 Passport size photos
Confirmation of the hotel reservation, a contract for provision of tourist services, confirmation of reception of the tourist. The above mentioned documents shall have register number from the Uniform Federal Register of the Tour Operators of the Russian Federal Tourism Agency and the seal of the host organization.
You may submit your application in person at the Russian Consulate closest to your home. For more information on applying and hours of the Russian Consulate closest to you, please visit the official Russian Consulate website.
If you cannot submit the documents in person, you may use a third party agency to submit the documents on your behalf. Our company also offers this option under the name full visa service. This is where you send your passport and other documentation to our processing center and we obtain the Russian visa for you. To learn more about this option, please visit the Full Visa Service page. You may also use other agencies for this process.

Russian Visa registration
Russian law requires that travelers register their Russian visas if they are staying in Russia more than 3 business days. If travelers are staying in Russia more than 3 business days they should apply for registration immediately upon arrival (on the same day). Travelers who do not have their visas registered are required to pay fines when they attempt to exit Russia or if they are stopped by the police..

If you are staying at a hotel, the hotel will register your Russian visa.
If you are staying at an apartment you will have to apply to a local migration department (OVIR) to have your Russian visa registered.

RussianRail is also available to answer all of your questions regarding Russia visa invitations. Please contact us.

Please note that due to licensing issues, Russian Visa Online does not handle Russian visa support to citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Chad, Egypt, Ghana, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, N. Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri-Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.