Business visa Single-entry and double-entry business visas can be issued for no longer than 90 days, multiple re-entry business visa can be issued for 1 year. Documents required:

1. Official invitation (sample) issued by the Russian Federal Migration Service, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its regional offices. The letter must contain: official seal and legal address of the agency, document registration number, date of registration, signature and name of an authorized official, travel itinerary, dates of stay, names of persons invited. We reserve the right to request originals of any invitation. Copies of multiple business invitations are not accepted - please submit original.
2. Passport (original). Passport must contain at least two blank page marked "visas", otherwise the passport and documents will not be accepted and will be returned.
3. Copy of the passport's vital page( s).
4. Standard Application form (must be filled out completely with all information requested, must have original signature and dated), with one passport-size photo glued or stapled at the place for photo on the application form. To download application form for US citizens click: Visa Application Form for US citizens . To download application form for non US citizens or individuals with no citizenship click: .
5. Please be informed that in order to obtain student or work visa an HIV-test should be presented.
6. Method of payment Visa processing fee is payable to the Russian Consulate General by money order, cashier's check only. Please do not send cash, company check or personal checks. Penalty fee a bounced company check is $20.
7. A cover letter from your company (or from yourself if you are traveling individually) with information about the traveler, destination, terms and purpose of the trip, cities to be visited in Russia and telephone or facsimile number where you can be reached.
8. Please read important Additional rules and information which might apply to specifically to you.

The Consulate may request additional documentation. Visa processing starts only after we have collected all necessary documents. All paperwork once submitted is not subject to any change of the announced visa processing period or the period of stay in Russia indicated in valid invitation available at the moment of submission. If applicant needs to make changes in submitted paperwork before visa is processed, all documentation will be returned to applicant for resubmission. Visa-processing fee paid is not refundable. In case applicant requests correction in visa due to any reason other than computer misprint, applicant will have to reapply for a new visa. It is not possible to expedite visa processing after your documents have been accepted by the Consulate. The Consulate will not bear any responsibility for the errors in visas, which were not brought to our attention before departure from the USA and beforehand, within time allowing to review such visa. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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Private (homestay) visa Valid for single entry. Documents required:

1. Standard invitation (original only) (sample) issued by a local office of the Russian Federal Migration Service. You should ask your relative or friend to obtain one from a local of Russian Federal Migration Service.
2. Passport (original). Passport must contain at least two blank page marked "visas", otherwise the passport and documents will not be accepted and will be returned.
3. Copy of the passport's vital page (s).
4. Standard Application form (must be filled out completely with all information requested, must have original signature and dated), with one passport-size photo glued or stapled at the place for photo on the application form. To download application form for US citizens click: Visa Application Form for US citizens . To download application form for non US citizens or individuals with no citizenship click: .
5. Method of payment Visa processing fee is payable to the Russian Consulate General by money order, cashier's check only. Please do not send cash, company check or personal checks. Penalty fee a bounced company check is $20.
6. All visa documents must be accompanied by a cover letter specifying purpose of visit, dates of arrival and departure, cities to be visited in Russia and telephone or facsimile number where you can be reached.
7. Please read important Additional rules and information which might apply to specifically to you.

The Consulate may request additional documentation. Visa processing starts only after we have collected all necessary documents. All paperwork once submitted is not subject to any change of the announced visa processing period or the period of stay in Russia indicated in valid invitation available at the moment of submission. If applicant needs to make changes in submitted paperwork before visa is processed, all documentation will be returned to applicant for resubmission. Visa-processing fee paid is not refundable. In case applicant requests correction in visa due to any reason other than computer misprint, applicant will have to reapply for a new visa. It is not possible to expedite visa processing after your documents have been accepted by the Consulate. The Consulate will not bear any responsibility for the errors in visas, which were not brought to our attention before departure from the USA and beforehand, within time allowing to review such visa. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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Tourist visa Tourist visa can be single-entry or double-entry and can be issued for no longer than 30 days. Documents required:

1. Standard "Confirmation" and "Tourist Voucher" from Russian travel agency or  Standard "Hotel Confirmation" and "Hotel Voucher" for accommodation from the Russian Hotel. Travel Agency or Hotel should be duly registered as a tourist company with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and assigned a special reference number. This reference number should be indicated on the Confirmation Letter.

   Cruise-ship passengers are required to present a letter from the Cruise Company and a Cruise Confirmation Letter from the cruise company’s partner agency in Russia (ask your cruise operator for a copy of that letter prior to applying for a visa).

2. Passport (original). Passport must contain at least two blank page marked "visas", otherwise the passport and documents will not be accepted and will be returned.
3. Copy of the passport's vital page (s).
4. Standard Application form (must be filled out completely with all information requested, must have original signature and dated), with one passport-size photo glued or stapled at the place for photo on the application form. To download application form for US citizens click: Visa Application Form for US citizens . To download application form for non US citizens or individuals with no citizenship click: .
5. Method of payment Visa processing fee is payable to the Russian Consulate General by money order, cashier's check only. Please do not send cash, company check or personal checks. Penalty fee a bounced company check is $20.
6. All visa documents must be accompanied by a cover letter specifying purpose of visit, dates of arrival and departure, cities to be visited in Russia and telephone or facsimile number where you can be reached.
7. Please read important Additional rules and information which might apply to specifically to you.

The Consulate may request additional documentation. Visa processing starts only after we have collected all necessary documents. All paperwork once submitted is not subject to any change of the announced visa processing period or the period of stay in Russia indicated in valid invitation available at the moment of submission. If applicant needs to make changes in submitted paperwork before visa is processed, all documentation will be returned to applicant for resubmission. Visa-processing fee paid is not refundable. In case applicant requests correction in visa due to any reason other than computer misprint, applicant will have to reapply for a new visa. It is not possible to expedite visa processing after your documents have been accepted by the Consulate. The Consulate will not bear any responsibility for the errors in visas, which were not brought to our attention before departure from the USA and beforehand, within time allowing to review such visa. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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Student visa This attributes to the "long-term" students requesting entry visas. Short-term student projects' participants should refer to the business visa regulations. Documents required:

1. Official Invitation issued by the Russian Federal Migration Service, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or its regional offices. (sample)
2. Passport (original). Passport must contain at least two blank page marked "visas", otherwise the passport and documents will not be accepted and will be returned.
3. Your current diploma or educational certificate, certified by the State or Federal authorities.
4. General health certificate on your current health condition (must be certified by Apostil at the local office of the Secretary of your State and translated into Russian, then certified by the Consulate)
5. Official hospital HIV (AIDS) Test Certificate (must be certified by Apostil at the local office of the Secretary of your State and translated into Russian, then certified by the Consulate).
6. A confirmation of the payment arrangement directly from the University, Institute or College you are going to study at.
7. Copy of the passport's vital page (s).
8. Standard Application form (must be filled out completely with all information requested, must have original signature and dated), with one passport-size photo glued or stapled at the place for photo on the application form. To download application form for US citizens click: Visa Application Form for US citizens . To download application form for non US citizens or individuals with no citizenship click: .
9. Method of payment Visa processing fee is payable to the Russian Consulate General by money order, cashier's check only. Please do not send cash, company check or personal checks. Penalty fee a bounced company check is $20.
10. All visa documents must be accompanied by a cover letter specifying purpose of visit, dates of arrival and departure, cities to be visited in Russia and telephone or facsimile number where you can be reached.
11. Please read important Additional rules and information which might apply to specifically to you.

The Consulate may request additional documentation. Visa processing starts only after we have collected all necessary documents. All paperwork once submitted is not subject to any change of the announced visa processing period or the period of stay in Russia indicated in valid invitation available at the moment of submission. If applicant needs to make changes in submitted paperwork before visa is processed, all documentation will be returned to applicant for resubmission. Visa-processing fee paid is not refundable. In case applicant requests correction in visa due to any reason other than computer misprint, applicant will have to reapply for a new visa. It is not possible to expedite visa processing after your documents have been accepted by the Consulate. The Consulate will not bear any responsibility for the errors in visas, which were not brought to our attention before departure from the USA and beforehand, within time allowing to review such visa. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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Work Visa To apply for a work visa, an applicant should submit to the Consulate a completed visa application form, national passport, two standard passport pictures, Money Order (see page 1 points 1-4 of General Information), as well as:

1. Original letter of Invitation from the Russian Federal Migration Service. (sample)

2. If you apply for a work visa, you should submit original HIV blood test (AIDS) Certificate. This certificate is valid for 3 month only (HIV blood test should be taken not earlier than 3 months before applying for a visa).

3. If you submit the documents for the work visa, please be aware that the national passport has to be valid for no less than one and a half-year.

4. All documents should be submitted not less than 6 business days prior to the entry to the Russian Federation.

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Transit visa Transit visa permits to travel through the Russian territory without stay depending on your tickets, it is issued for up to 72 hours, you travel by air, or for up to 10 days, if using other means of transportation. Documents required:

1. The visa of the country of destination and a copy of the air, railway or other ticket with "OK" status.
2. Passport (original). Passport must contain at least two blank page marked "visas", otherwise the passport and documents will not be accepted and will be returned.
3. Copy of the passport's vital page (s).
4. Standard Application form (must be filled out completely with all information requested, must have original signature and dated), with one passport-size photo glued or stapled at the place for photo on the application form. To download application form for US citizens click: Visa Application Form for US citizens . To download application form for non US citizens or individuals with no citizenship click: .
5. Method of payment Visa processing fee is payable to the Russian Consulate General by money order, cashier's check only. Please do not send cash, company check or personal checks. Penalty fee a bounced company check is $20.
6. All visa documents must be accompanied by a cover letter specifying purpose of visit, dates of arrival and departure, cities to be visited in Russia and telephone or facsimile number where you can be reached.
7. Please read important Additional rules and information which might apply to specifically to you.

The Consulate may request additional documentation. Visa processing starts only after we have collected all necessary documents. All paperwork once submitted is not subject to any change of the announced visa processing period or the period of stay in Russia indicated in valid invitation available at the moment of submission. If applicant needs to make changes in submitted paperwork before visa is processed, all documentation will be returned to applicant for resubmission. Visa-processing fee paid is not refundable. In case applicant requests correction in visa due to any reason other than computer misprint, applicant will have to reapply for a new visa. It is not possible to expedite visa processing after your documents have been accepted by the Consulate. The Consulate will not bear any responsibility for the errors in visas, which were not brought to our attention before departure from the USA and beforehand, within time allowing to review such visa. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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