All foreigners visiting Russia need a visa. Among citizens of former Soviet Republics only citizens of Georgia and Turkmenistan need a visa to enter Russia

To get a Tourist Visa to Russia you should submit the following documents to the Russian Consulate:

1. Current passport which should be valid for a minimum of six months after the expiry date of the visa and has at least one blank page.
2. Visa application form filled in and obtained at the Consulate.
3. One recent passport size photo glued to the indicated space on the application form.
4. Original Tourist Voucher from an authorized travel agency stamped and signed by an authorized person.
5. Tourist Confirmation (in Russian language) of acceptance from the authorized Russian travel agency or a hotel, registered with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The confirmation must contain the agency’s reference number and registration number. You can obtain this from the hotel or the travel agency.

PRIVATE VISA (VISITS TO RELATIVES OR FRIENDS)

If you are going to visit Russia to stay with your relatives or friends you have to obtain an official invitation (Пригла�?ение) to apply for a Private visa. You will need to obtain original invitation documents issued by the Ministry of Interior (MI) of the Russian Federation. For this kind of invitation your relatives or friends will need to present a photocopy of your passport and personal data to the local branch of the MI (ОВпР or ПВС) in Russia. With this invitation you should apply to the Consulate along with:

1. Current passport which should be valid for a minimum of six months after the expiry date of the visa and has at least one blank page.
2. Visa application form filled in and obtained at the Consulate.
3. One recent passport size photo glued to the indicated space on the application form.
4. The original invitation only.

BUSINESS VISA

A business visa is required if you pretend to enter Russia on any type of business, to work or study in Russia or participate in a conference, an exhibition etc. You have to submit the following to the Consulate:

1. Current passport which should be valid for a minimum of six months after the expiry date of the visa and has at least one blank page.
2. Visa application form filled in and obtained at the Consulate.
3. One recent passport size photo glued to the indicated space on the application form.
4. Invitation (Приглаѿение) from the Russian Foreign Ministry or its regional representatives or from special local offices of the Ministry of Interior (ОВпР or ПВС). The invitation must contain: official seal and legal address of the host institution, document registration number, date of registration, signature and name of the official authorized to invite foreigners to Russia, travel itinerary, dates of stay, names of persons invited. For a multiple entry visa you are required to submit the original invitation; for single and double entry visas a copy may be submitted though the Embassy reserves the right to request the original invitation.
5. Introductory letter from your company (or from yourself if you are self-employed) giving full details of the traveler, destinations, terms and purpose of the visit. It must be indicated in the letter who is financially responsible for your stay in Russia. Self-employed applicants must show copies of their bank statements for the last three months.

TRANSIT VISA

If you are going to transit via Russia to any other country you need a Transit Visa. However, a Transit Visa is not required if you remain in the transit zone of the airport in order to catch an onward or connecting flight within 24 hours of arrival. Transit visas are normally valid for maximum of 3 days. In order to apply for a Transit visa you will need:

1. Current passport which should be valid for a minimum of six months after the expiry date of the visa and has at least one blank page.
2. Visa application form filled in and obtained at the Consulate.
3. One recent passport size photo glued to the indicated space on the application form.
4. Both the original and a photocopy of your confirmed air ticket to and from Russia.
5. A valid visa (if required by that country) to the country you want to enter after leaving Russia.

MIGRATION CARDS

Every foreign citizen (with the exception of the members of the diplomatic missions and international organizations) will have to complete migration cards when crossing the border into Russia.

Migration cards are available free of charge at the Russian border and should be completed with the personal data, the terms and purpose of the visit and the prospective place of residence of the visitor. The card must be presented at the time of applying for registration in Russia within three days. Everyone, who has not put a registration mark due to the address, will be considered illegal.

Migration cards are introduced for the purpose of migration control on the territory of the Russian Federation. Foreign citizens should hand these migratory forms back at their departure.

In case of loss or damage of migratory cards foreign citizens should report to the regional bodies of domestic affairs domiciliary within 3 days. The re-entry of a foreign citizen will be restricted in case if the person did not submit the migration cards during his last stay in the Russian Federation.

Visitors should carry their passports with a registered visa and migration card (or photocopies of every document). Otherwise you can face detention and fines although this is not a very common case. More likely you will be harassed by the city police.

RUSSIAN VISA

MIGRATION CARD