RUSSIA : INFORMATION FOR TRAVELLERS
 
If you are citizen of United States or Canada and to want to travel to Russia, you shoild have valid passport and obtain visa. An exit visa is also required and is issued along with the entry visa.
Citizens of the Russian Federation regardless of any other citizenship they have must travel to Russia on valid Russian documents only.
 
Business visa
Business visas are issued on the basis of support from a Russian individual or organization, known as a sponsor.
To obtain visa applicant should submit to the Consulate General ( in person) :
  • Original of completed visa application form, one per person.
  • Passport or other travel document in original. At least three pages of the passport should be free from notes.
  • One photocopy of information pages of the passport.
  • One professional passport photo sized picture of each applicant. (Photo booth pictures are acceptable).
  • A letter from your company, travel agent or from yourself (if travelling individually) explaining who is travelling, where, when and for what purpose.
  • If the visa application is submitted by mail you must include a return envelope with your address and sufficient postage. If submitted by courier a prepaid waybill with an appropriate account # or credit card # must be included.
  • The most important document to be submitted is INVITATION or VISA SUPPORT.
    INVITATION from your Russian host must be issued by the local office of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation and be submitted in original (a copy - only for a single-entry visa). Every invitation must contain name in full, date of birth, citizenship and passport number of the applicant, name of hosting organisation, reason and period of visit. Invitation must be signed by authorised person and carry the official seal of Interior Ministry.
    VISA SUPPORT is provided by Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation or by Ministry’s local offices only. If applicant is applying for a multi-entry or double entry visa, it should be specifically mentioned in the Visa support.
  • Applicants planning to stay in Russia for more than 3 months or applying for a visa valid for more then 3 month or applying for multientry visa must present a valid HIV TEST CERTIFICATE.
     
    Private visa (to visit your relatives or friends)
    To obtain visa applicant should submit to the Consulate General in person) :
  • Original of completed visa application form, one per person.
  • Passport or other travel document in original. At least three pages of the passport should be free from notes.
  • One photocopy of information pages of the passport.
  • One professional passport photo sized picture of each applicant. (Photo booth pictures are acceptable).
  • A letter from yourself explaining who is travelling, where, when and for what purpose.
  • If the visa application is submitted by mail you must include a return envelope with your address and sufficient postage. If submitted by courier a prepaid waybill with an appropriate account # or credit card # must be included.
  • The most important application document to be submitted is an INVITATION. It is to be arranged by YOUR HOSTS through the local office of the Interior Ministry in Russia and to be submitted only in original. Invitation is valid for one year from the date of its issuance (or as indicated). The allowed period of stay is shown on the document and is not to exceed 90 days.
    If applying for a double entry visa, it should be specificallymentioned in the invitation.
  • In the case of an emergency (unexpected illness, death, etc. of close relatives) a private visa can be obtained within several hours upon the submission of a certified document from a Russian hospital or a copy of a death certificate. Documents confirming relationship are required.
     
    Tourust visa (maximum 30 days only)
    To obtain visa applicant should submit to the Consulate General ( in person) :
  • Original of completed visa application form, one per person.
  • Passport or other travel document in original. At least three pages of the passport should be free from notes.
  • One photocopy of information pages of the passport.
  • One professional passport photo sized picture of each applicant. (Photo booth pictures are acceptable).
  • The most important application document to be submitted is a STANDARD FORM OF CONFIRMATION AND VOUCHER FOR FOREIGN TOURISTS. CONFIRMATION is issued by the Russian hosting travel company. It carries a REFERENCE-NUMBER of the hosting company (which confirms that this company is allowed to receive foreign tourists), personal data of each tourist, dates of trip, itinerary in Russia, services as paid. CONFIRMATION must be signed by authorised person and carry the official seal of the Russian travel company.
  • A VOUCHER from Russian hosting tourist company explaining who is travelling, where, when, services as paid. VOUCHER must be signed by authorised person and carry the official seal of the Russian travel company.
    Attention! Be ready to present copies of tourist Confirmation and Voucher to the passport control officer at Russian border.
  • If the visa application is submitted by mail you must include a return envelope with your address and sufficient postage. If submitted by courier a prepaid waybill with an appropriate account # or credit card # must be included.
     
    Tourist visas require sponsorship through a travel agent. Travel agents work with local travel agencies/companies in Russia, who act as the sponsor for tourist visas. Canadians visiting Russia on a tourist visa must stay at a hotel. The hotel will register the visa for the tourist (generally for a fee). Individuals visiting Russia on tourist visas are forbidden from staying in private accommodations and will not be able to register their visas if they do so. Registering the tourist visa is a legal requirement, and failing to do so can lead to serious problems with local authorities.
     
    Upon arrival in Russia, travellers must fill out a customs declaration form, go through the red customs line, and have the form stamped by a customs official. Without the stamp, any undeclared currency and valuables, including items that could be considered antique, may be confiscated upon departure. Furthermore, currency exceeding the amount stated on the declaration form will be confiscated if the traveller has not obtained an official bank receipt authorizing the clearance of these sums. The declaration form must be kept until departure. Upon departure, a second customs declaration form must be filled out and the two forms must be presented to a customs official. Individuals who fail to declare in writing any amount of currency in their possession may be detained and face criminal charges leading to incarceration, in addition to the confiscation of undeclared currency and valuables.
     
    Effective March 15, 2003, an individual leaving Russia may carry the equivalent of US$3,000 in any hard currency without a customs declaration. Any amount between US$3,000 and US$10,000 must be declared to customs officials, but no other supporting documentation (e.g. entry customs declaration or bank receipt) is required. Any amount over US$10,000 must either be declared on arrival or the traveller must be able to show proof that it was received while in Russia, either by bank transfer, purchase or payment.
     
    Consulate General of the Russian Federation in New York : www.ruscon.com
    Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Toronto : www.toronto.mid.ru
     
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