Russia – Passport and Visa Required
Visa Requirements for U.S. Citizens
Tourist Visa
- Valid and signed U. S. passport (must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of entry – MUST have at least 2 adjacent “visa” pages
- One (1) Visa Application Form (MUST BE SINGLE SIDED – NOT DOUBLE SIDED) – https://visa.kdmid.ru – completed online and signed (effective July 1, 2011). Applications not filled in correctly may result in a delay of the processing time. PLEASE PROVIDE US YOUR PASSWORD WHEN YOU SEND YOUR SIGNED VISA APPLICATION FORM.
Completing The Application Form Tips:
Select “Appointment Date” as the date you complete the application (Today)
Select “Your Visa Appointment Location” as United States.
Select “Visa Issuing Office” as “Russia Visa Center (Washington)” (this is very important)
NOTE: Make sure you provide the applicant’s past employment history (at least 2) – if this does not apply to the applicant, applicant must provide a signed statement with explanation.
Printing Hints: Before printing select “no page scaling” and uncheck the “center and rotate” option. - Two (2) passport type photographs – MUST meet the following criteria:
- Be taken within the last three months and printed on high-quality photo paper
- Be taken against an all white background
- 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 wear neither eyeglasses nor headwear except for religious purposes
- Your photo should not be affixed to your application and it may not display evidence of adhesive tape or staples
- Notarized parental consent from non-traveling parent(s) – applicable for applicant under 18 years old)
- Copy of flight itinerary (NOTE: If you are applying for rush processing, the departure date MUST be within 1 week from the date of submission)
- Standard Tourist Confirmation and Voucher from an authorized tourist company or hotel in Russia. This confirmation must be provided on the new standard form introduced by the Russian State Committee on Tourism. Receiving organization must be registered as a tourist company with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and assigned a special registration number. A reference number, and the registration number assigned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as personal information on the traveller, and the particulars of the trip, must appear on the confirmation. If you do not have the standard tourist confirmation and voucher and would like to Travel with the SameDayPassport-Visa to obtain visa support for you, please call 972-231-1600 or visit this link
- SameDayPassport-Visa Service order form
NOTE:
- Non-U.S. citizens, please submit a copy of your legal status in the USA and also a copy of the medical/health coverage
- 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.
Business Visa
- Valid and signed U. S. passport (must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of entry) – MUST have at least 2 adjacent “visa” pages
- One (1) Visa Application Form (MUST BE SINGLE SIDED – NOT DOUBLE SIDED) – https://visa.kdmid.ru – completed online and signed (effective July 1, 2011). Applications not filled in correctly may result in a delay of the processing time. PLEASE PROVIDE US YOUR PASSWORD WHEN YOU SEND YOUR SIGNED VISA APPLICATION FORM.
Completing The Application Form Tips:
Select “Appointment Date” as the date you complete the application (Today)
Select “Your Visa Appointment Location” as the United States.
Select “Visa Issuing Office” as “Russia Visa Center (Washington)” (this is very important)
NOTE: Make sure you provide the applicant’s past employment history (at least 2) – if this does not apply to the applicant, the applicant must provide a signed statement with explanation.
Printing Hints: Before printing select “no page scaling” and uncheck the “center and rotate” option. - Two (2) passport-type photographs – MUST meet the following criteria:
- Be taken within the last three months and printed on high-quality photo paper
- Be taken against an all-white background
- Be two inches by two inches
- Provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centred in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression
- You may wear neither eyeglasses nor headwear except for religious purposes
- Your photo should not be affixed to your application and it may not display evidence of adhesive tape or staples
- Notarized parental consent from non-travelling parent(s) – applicable for applicants under 18 years old)
- Original official letter of invitation from sponsor in Russia (Telex invitation is also acceptable). The letter of invitation must be from the Russian Ministry of Interior or its local offices, or the Russian Foreign Ministry or its regional representatives, or any other authorized Russian agency. The letter of invitation must contain the 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, and name of person(s) invited. NOTE: The embassy is now requiring the original invitation to be submitted with the application – applicable for single, double or multiple entries – effective January 15, 2013.
- If travel includes Moscow and/or the surrounding Moscow metropolitan area, and/or St. Petersburg and surrounding region, the invitation must be from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All commercial organizations in Russia must apply for business visas on behalf of the invitee through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The Russian Consulate MAY accept invitations from other government organizations. Any invitation not coming from the Foreign Ministry will be accepted only at the discretion of the visa-issuing authorities. The official invitation must contain the seal from the Foreign Ministry Consular Services, as well as the date and signature. The invitation submitted with a visa application MUST be original. If telex invitation, please provide a copy of the telex information. Multiple entry visas can be issued only if there is approval from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on the request of the hosting Russian organization.
- Copy of flight itinerary (NOTE: If you are applying for rush processing, the departure date MUST be within 1 week from the date of submission)
- SameDayPassport-Visa Service order form
NOTE:
- Please be informed that to obtain a student or work visa an HIV test should be presented. A person can enter the country on a student or work visa only five days after it has been issued.
- Non-U.S. citizens, please submit a copy of your legal status in the USA and also a copy of the medical/health coverage
- 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.
- If you wish to apply for a multiple entry visa for 3 years, please obtain an official invitation from your Russian sponsor (this is faxable or you could e-mail – a scanned copy – make sure it is good quality – please click here for the invitation details
Visitor Visa
- Valid and signed U. S. passport (must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of entry) – MUST have at least 2 adjacent “visa” pages
- One (1) Visa Application Form (MUST BE SINGLE SIDED – NOT DOUBLE SIDED) – https://visa.kdmid.ru – completed online and signed (effective July 1, 2011). Applications not filled in correctly may result in a delay of the processing time. PLEASE PROVIDE US YOUR PASSWORD WHEN YOU SEND YOUR SIGNED VISA APPLICATION FORM.
Completing The Application Form Tips:
Select “Appointment Date” as the date you complete the application (Today)
Select “Your Visa Appointment Location” as the United States.
Select “Visa Issuing Office” as “Russia Visa Center (Washington)” (this is very important)
NOTE: Make sure you provide the applicant’s past employment history (at least 2) – if this does not apply to the applicant, the applicant must provide a signed statement with explanation.
Printing Hints: Before printing select “no page scaling” and uncheck the “center and rotate” option. - Two (2) passport-type photographs – MUST meet the following criteria:
- Be taken within the last three months and printed on high-quality photo paper
- Be taken against an all-white background
- Be two inches by two inches
- Provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centred in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression
- You may wear neither eyeglasses nor headwear except for religious purposes
- Your photo should not be affixed to your application and it may not display evidence of adhesive tape or staples
- Notarized parental consent from non-travelling parent(s) – applicable for applicants under 18 years old)
- Copy of flight itinerary (NOTE: If you are applying for rush processing, the departure date MUST be within 1 week from the date of submission)
- Original OVIR permission called IZVESHCHENIE (separate for each location of stay) – applicant’s relatives or friends in Russia should obtain the IZVESHCHENIE for the applicant from the local authorities (OVIR) and send the original IZVESHCHENIE to the applicant here in the U.S.
- IZVESHCENIE is valid within one year from the date indicated therein. The period of stay in Russia is shown in a separate paragraph and must not exceed 90 days.
- In case of emergency (unexpected illness, death of relatives), visas can be obtained upon submitting a certified cable from a doctor of a Russian clinic or a copy of the death certificate.
- SameDayPassport-Visa Service order form
NOTE:
- Non-U.S. citizens, please submit a copy of your legal status in the USA and also copy of the medical/health coverage
- 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.
Russian visa (any category) cannot be changed or extended. If your travel plans changed after the visa had been issued, you have to reapply for a new visa.
Consulate fee / Payment Method:
$255.00/visa – 15 to 20 Business Day Processing (Regular Processing – Single or Double or Multiple Entries)
Note: SameDayPassport-Visa.com service fee and documents shipping cost additional applies. Call Us Today at (646) 469-6076 for more details. We accept all major credit cards.
