Travel Visa and Passport Expediting Services
Requirements for obtaining a Tourist Visa for Russia
Country: Russia
Visa Type: Tourist
The following are required to obtain a Tourist Visa for Russia
Please note: the Russian Embassy and Consulates have temporarily suspended 1 and 2 day processing. Minimum processing time is now 4 business days until further notice. If you have an emergency situation, please call us at (202) 536-2518 to discuss options.
EDS SERVICE REQUEST APPLICATION FORM
- Complete and return this form with all required information.
EDS Service Request Application Form
PASSPORT
- Original signed passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your requested stay.
- Your passport must have at least 2 clear blank visa pages available for the visa stamp(s).
- If you are a holder of a foreign passport, provide proof of immigration.
- EDS can obtain passport services for you on your behalf if needed. Please see our PASSPORT section.
APPLICATION FORM
- Visa application form completed and signed with blue ink. NOTE: There are two available forms. (Visa Application for US citizens and Visa Application for non US citizens.) All questions on the application form must be answered. Failure to complete all required fields on the form will delay the processing of your visa.
Russia Visa Application - Non-US Citizen
PHOTOGRAPHS
- One recent 2" X 2" passport type photograph, in color, front view, and with a plain light background. Digital and non-passort style photographs are not acceptable.
LETTER OF INVITATION
- You must furnish two copies of a letter of confirmation and a voucher from the receiving Russian travel agency, hotel or joint venture. The receiving organization should be duly registered as a tourist company at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assigned a special index. This index and a corresponding reference number should be indicated on the letter of confirmation. Both the letter of confirmation and the voucher must be carried with the visa.
- EDS can provide this service as an option upon request. Please refer to the Visa Support Documents Section
OTHER DOCUMENTS
- All NON-US Passport Holders must include a photocopy of your green card or valid U.S. Work Visa.
- Non-U.S. Passport Holders only must include a copy of your health insurance card.
ATTENTION FORMER USSR or RUSSIAN FEDERATION CITIZENS:
-
Applicants who used to be citizens of the USSR or of the Russian Federation and then emigrated from the USSR or from Russia must submit: one of the documents which confirms that they are no longer citizens of the Russian Federation (so called "Visa to Israel" or stamp in their passport saying that they left for "permanent residence abroad" before the 6th of February, 1992 or official document certifying that their Russian citizenship was abrogated). If you do not have such proof or left after the 6th of February, 1992, you are still considered the Russian Citizen and your application will not be accepted. As a result, you must travel on both the Russian and U.S. passports. We can help to obtain new Russian passport as well. Please call us with your questions.
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Russia requires that an on-line application be prepared by the traveler. EDS can complete this application on the travelers behalf for a fee of $25.00. If you have any questions, please call.
- The duration of the Russian tourist visa cannot be longer than one month! When entering Russia as a tourist, you may also be required to present the copies of your tourist confirmation, hotel voucher, and your return ticket with a fixed date of departure from Russia at the border check point or passport control.
- Visas cannot be changed or extended. If your travel plans change after the visa is issued you will need to re-apply for a new one.
- If a minor is traveling alone or with one parent, a letter of consent is required from the absent parent(s). If there is a mismatch in the last names, then a copy of the minor's birth certificate is required.
- Also note: Any visa applicant may be interviewed by a consular officer if necessary.
PAYMENT
- The consulate only accepts United States Postal Money Orders for the cost of the visas. If you prefer, EDS can obtain the money order for the consulate. EDS accepts VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, and American Express. Money orders and cash are also accepted.
ATTENTION FOR EU CITIZENS.
- IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VISA AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION AND THE EUROPEAN UNION, CITIZENS OF ALL EU COUNTRIES,
EXCEPT DENMARK, IRELAND, AND GREAT BRITAIN, ARE WELCOME TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING FEES FOR PROCESSING OF ALL TYPES OF VISAS TO RUSSIA:
(Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia.)
5-20 BUSINESS DAYS - $70.00
4 BUSINESS DAYS - $120.00
PLEASE NOTE:
- The service fees are non-refundable, once we receive your documents and start processing them. Due to the high volume of applications being submitted, the processing times may be delayed by the Russian Embassy. While such situations are beyond our control, we will do everything possible to accommodate your trip and will call you immediately to let you know about the status of your application.
Service Rates
|
| EDS Service Rates | Standard At least 8 business days | Rush 5-7 business days | Emergency At least 3 business days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Service | $190.00 | $300.00 | $350.00 |
| Shipping Rates | FedEx 2-day | FedEx Overnight | FedEx First Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx | $30 | $47 | $89 |
| PLEASE NOTE: A $25.00 surcharge is added for non-US Passport holders. | |||
| |||
SENDING YOUR DOCUMENTS
When you have completed the visa application form, the EDS Service Request form, and this pre-shipping checklist, you may send all of your documents to the address below. We recommend using FedEx, UPS, DHL, or the USPS Express Mail for next-day delivery.
Embassy Document Services
Attn: Visa Processing
14908 Honey Locust Court
Woodbridge, VA 22193
All same day requests must be received by 8am. We recommend using FedEx, UPS, or DHL. Applications received after 8am will be submitted the next business day.