Get a Russia Visa

Visa Application Requirements for an Russia Business Visa

1. Passport

   You must provide your actual signed passport, including one copy of the personal information page of your passport. Your passport must:
   • Have at least two consecutive blank visa pages
   • Be valid for six months beyond the validity of your requested visa

   If your passport does not meet the above requirements, please contact VisaCentral at 877-535-0688 for further details.

2. Photograph(s)

   You must provide photographs. Upload your photo and we will print it to the exact specifications required for this visa. Follow https://visacentral.com/photo-service to upload your photo.

    

   Alternatively, you may provide two color, passport-type photographs that meets the following strict criteria: be taken within the last three months against an all-white background and printed on high-quality photo paper; be identical; be two inches by two inches; provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression. You may not wear eyeglasses or headwear except for religious purposes. Your photo should not be affixed to your application and the photograph may not display evidence of adhesive tape or staples.

3. Russia Business Invitation

   You must obtain a Russian Business Invitation to travel to Russia.

   If you have secured your own invitation from the Russian government, you need to send us the original. Copies are not accepted by the consulate. Requirement to provide original invitation is waived if it is issued electronically. 

    If you have secured your own Telex then you must apply for your Russia Business visa in the city where the Telex is approved. That city may be different than the city where you have been directed to processes your visa. If you are unsure about the Telex please contact VisaCentral  for further directions.

   If you obtain your own letter from your host company (also known as a Direct Invitation) in Russia, the document may be a copy if it follows the following structure exactly. The letter must:
   

   • Be written in Russian on company letterhead paper and possess a company seal
     
   • Include the host organization's full name, complete address, the first and last name of the person signing the statement, patronymic, and the tax payer identification number if the host organization is a legal entity or enterprise
     
   • Request a 36 month multiple entry visa, list the applicant's full name, date of birth, citizenship, gender, passport number, number of entries sought, purpose of travel to Russia, requested period of time in Russia, the address of where the applicant will stay, and the cities to be visited
     
   • Must state exact start and end dates of the 3 year visa (for example Dec. 1, 2013-Nov. 30, 2016)
     
   • Display the Russian company's "INN number" (tax ID number)
     
   • Be signed by the director of the company, stamped, dated, and show the full name and job title of the signer
     

   Direct invitation for 3 years is for U.S. citizens only and can be for general business purposes only and can't be used for Employment, Study, Religious, Crew or Technical service visas.

4. Visa Application Form

   The Russian Consulate requires a visa application completed online. The application must be completed online by all travelers, and can be found at https://visa.kdmid.ru/PetitionChoice.aspx. This application, hosted by the Russian government, may take up to an hour to complete and requires very detailed information. For New York issuing office for UN Staff travelling on UNLP, enter “Russian Consulate New York" in the drop down box. Your visa request cannot be processed if you do not complete the application form online. Your completed application must:

   • Provide answers for all fields (handwritten changes are not accepted)
   • Include your name as it appears in your passport
   • Include the institution or organization in Russia to be visited
   • Ensure that you have answered Question 27 (Previous Work Experience) or provide a letter explaining why the field is left blank
   • Ensure that you provide a valid email address and phone number in addition to a street address in Question 38 (Permanent Address)
   • Ensure that you have answered Question 40 (Place of Work).  If retired then click "Yes" and write "Retired."  If you have never worked then provide a letter explaining why the field is left blank
   • Display an original signature inside the box found directly below the section where we will attach your photograph
   • Be accompanied by a copy of your Application ID and password
   • Not have fields obscured or cut off when printing; all fields must be fully visible (Use the "Fit to Page" setting when printing)
   NOTE: You must submit two copies of the visa application form with your original signature. 

   VisaCentral provides a guide to assist you in completing the application. To access the guide follow this link: https://visacentral.com/forms?formname=Russia Business Guide.pdf or type the address into your browser.

5. VisaCentral Order Form

   Provide the VisaCentral Order Form included in this kit.

6. Former Russian Nationals Only

   You must provide a cover letter stating the date that you renounced your Russian citizenship. The consulate will not issue a visa to former Russian nationals who do not supply this cover letter.

7. Activities in Russia

   If you will not be staying in a hotel, or are engaging in activities other than business, additional documentation will be required. For more details, please contact VisaCentral for more information.

8. Former Soviet and Ukrainian Citizens

   If you were born in a state of the former Soviet Republic or Ukraine, you must supply a copy of your Soviet or Ukrainian passport along with a letter stating when you immigrated to the US. You must also provide:

   • Copy of US naturalization certificate
   • Copy of your original US entry visa (from when you first arrived in the USA)

9. Paper Invitation for Travelers Age 65 and Older

   Travelers age 65 and older are not permited to secure a Russian Business Invitation Telex.  VisaCentral can assist travelers age 65 and older in securing a Russian Business Invitation printed on paper or a Tourist invitation.

10. Humanitarian Business

    If you are planning to travel for humanitarian business, you must obtain your own invitation from the Russian government. The invitation must indicate the purpose of the visit.

11. Urgent Applications

    If you have an urgent visa application that carries a tight deadline, VisaCentral can help you to save valuable time and avoid expensive delays. A VisaCentral expert will review all of your documents to certify your application is accurate, complete and ready for submission. We will contact you personally to quickly handle any mistakes ensuring your application is submitted correctly. Visit https://visacentral.com/visa-pre-check-service to learn more about this service.

12. Document Preparation Service

    The Consulate of Russia requires a visa application be completed online. Make sure your documentation is accurately prepared. Simply provide answers to all of the fields in the optional Document Preparation Service form and a senior VisaCentral Specialist will work with you to ensure the required documents are prepared quickly according to government and consular requirements. Once your application is complete, we will return it to you via a secure and encrypted email keeping your personal information safe.

13. 3-Year Multiple Entry Option Also Available

    The Russian Federation offers U.S. nationals the opportunity to apply for a three year multiple entry visa.  To be eligible for consideration, the traveler must have a passport valid for at least three and a half years beyond date of first entry into Russia with at least two blank pages.

    Requirements for the 3-Year visa are different. For further information about how to apply for this visa, return to the VisaCentral website and choose the appropriate 3-Year visa option.