FAQ

The cost and timing of obtaining a Russian visa may differ at different consulates, depending on the period of visa processing. The shorter the period, the more expensive. Below is the standard cost of consular fees:

• 35 Euro for regular visa processing (5-10 working days)
• 70 Euro for urgent visa processing (3 working days)

Refusal to issue an invitation may be due to an early conviction of a foreign citizen or a ban on traveling abroad, as well as if a foreign citizen had 2 or more administrative offenses during the validity period of the previous Russian visa. Therefore, we urge you to clarify this information with the foreign citizens whom you plan to invite. In case of refusal to issue an invitation, the FMS issues an official letter and in this case the cost of issuing an invitation is not refunded.

Errors when filling out the visa application form

For example, a foreigner indicates in the application the wrong name of the host organization in the Russian Federation. As a result, a visa was denied. In the application form for the consulate, you must indicate the company from which the invitation was issued. There should be no discrepancies!
Or, for example, a foreigner is going to go to Russia on a tourist invitation, and in the column "place of residence" he indicates the address of friends or relatives. And he may be denied a visa. This is incorrect: with a tourist visa, you can only stay in a hotel, hotel or apartment intended for commercial rent, especially since the address of the place of residence is already registered in the invitation;

Errors in the interview with the consul

Selectively, the consul can schedule interviews with foreigners, and, as a result, the success of the visa issuance depends on its result. A foreigner must clearly answer questions, know the basic facts about the trip and its purpose. The consul may refuse if the real purpose of arrival does not coincide with the declared one. For example, the purpose of the visit is tourism and visiting excursions, and a commercial invitation is in the hands of a foreigner. And vice versa, a foreigner comes with a tourist invitation in his arms and says that he is going to negotiations, conferences or to visit relatives;

If a foreigner submits an incomplete package of documents to the consulate:

In each consulate, the list of documents required for obtaining a visa may differ, you should familiarize yourself with it in advance. These include, for example, the lack of a residence permit or work visa in the country where the foreigner plans to obtain a visa, etc .;

Errors in the invitation

When receiving an invitation, you must carefully check it for errors, inaccuracies and typos. If the passport number, name, travel dates are incorrectly indicated in it - such an invitation is invalid. Depending on the severity of the error, a refusal to issue a visa and a refusal to accept documents for a visa may follow;

Insufficient validity period of the passport (the passport must be valid for another 6 months after the expiration of the visa validity period) or the absence of blank spreads in it for the visa application;

The severance of diplomatic relations between countries or political differences between them. It is also possible to refuse to issue a visa if military operations are taking place in the foreigner's country of residence;

Violation of legislation by a foreigner, being under investigation, criminal history;

The presence of an epidemic or other diseases in the country from which the foreigner is traveling;

Refusal without explanation.

Any consulate has the right to refuse a visa application without giving a reason. But, as a rule, these reasons are:

• false information in the visa application form
• the purpose of the trip is not true
• criminal intent
• previous trips abroad were irregular

Unofficial reasons for refusal can be anything: from an unpresentable visitor to his nationality. The consulate is faced with the task of not allowing visitors with criminal (from the point of view of the consulate) intentions into the country. And criminal intentions, from their point of view, are immigration intentions and the desire to work in the country without a work visa, and the desire not to leave the country during the validity period of the visa, and much more. Difficulties may arise for people without a well-paid job and traveling alone.
Finally, embassy employees are also people with their own subjective view of things, their problems and they also have a bad mood. Of course, from our point of view, all this should not affect you, but such is life.

Tourist visa

• The fastest and most economical option for a short-term visa.
• Issued on the basis of a tourist invitation (the invitation consists of 2 parts - a voucher and a confirmation to it). The purpose of travel on this visa is tourism. Accommodation is assumed (but not required).
• The maximum period of stay for this type of visa is no more than 30 days.

Business visa (Business visa)

• Issued to foreign citizens staying on the territory of the Russian Federation for the purpose of negotiations, consultations, participation in conferences, etc.
• Drawn up on the basis of a business invitation. On a business visa, it is possible to stay in the Russian Federation for no more than 90 days out of every 180.
• The maximum visa validity period is 12 months.

Visa for private visit

• The receiving party for this type of visa are relatives or friends living in Russia. Can be issued for up to 90 days.
• Issued on the basis of the original invitation from an individual, on the form of the FMS. This visa can be issued for a period of 1 to 90 days.
• The term for issuing this invitation may take from 1 to 4 months.

Visas differ in multiplicity:

• A single entry visa implies a single (one-time) entry into the territory of the Russian Federation. The validity of the visa (entry / exit) is strictly prescribed.
• A double entry visa allows one and two entries. Dates of entry / exit are indicated without fail.
• Multiple entry visa allows you to enter the territory of the Russian Federation more than 2 times. To obtain this type of visa, you need the original invitation, as well as the presence of previously received single and double entry visas.