Tourist Visa For Russia For Indian Citizens
Are you an Indian citizen? Do you want to travel to Russia? You may be eligible for a tourist visa for Russians. What is a Tourist Visa for Russians? It’s a type of visa if you do not intend to live in Russia and will only be there for business or leisure. Most countries will issue these if you are visiting family or friends, but many countries require that your friend or family member also be of dual citizenship before they will accept it.
If you’ve ever wanted to travel to Russia, you would probably have heard of the Russian Tourist visa. It allows you to enter Russia for a short visit and is valid for one year from the date of issue. To apply for a tourist visa online, you must go through an authorized travel agency that will help you in acquiring this visa.
Tourist visa for Russia is only issued to Indian Citizens who are traveling to Russia in a group of minimum 2 people and maximum 50 people. Tourist visa for Russia is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. The fee for tourist visa for Russia is US $90 and it can be paid through bank transfer, cash or credit card at the embassy.
Tourist visa for Russia is not required if you are traveling to Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast (Sankt-Petersburg, Leningrad region) with a valid Russian visa or residence permit issued by the Federal Migration Service of Russia.
Types of Russian Visas
- Tourist Visa – The tourist visa allows visitors to stay up a maximum of 30 days in Russian Federation. A tourist visa is issued to those individuals who wish to enter Russia for the sole purpose of tourism and sightseeing. Visitors are not allowed to engage in any form of employment.
- Business Visa – Indians who wish to explore business opportunities and investment options in Russia can consider the application for the business visa. The visa is valid for 5 years and it allows the visitor to stay up to a maximum of 90 days with each entry.
- Private Visa – In specific situations, an applicant can apply for the private visa to meet a Russian friend, however, getting a tourist visa is comparatively easy which also allows the visitors to meet their Russian associate. The visa allows visitors to stay up to a maximum of 90 days.
- Employment Visa – Also referred to as work visa, it enables foreigners to work in Russia under specified conditions. The visa is initially issued for a period of one year which can also be extended for a maximum of three years.
- Transit Visa – Individuals who are travelling through Russian Federation to another destination country and expected to leave the airport transit area must obtain a transit visa. The Russian transit visa is issued to all visitors who are travelling by air, water, and land of Russia to another country.
How To Apply For A Russian Visa
All applicants must fill out the application form, attach their passport sized photograph along with required documents, and submit it to the nearest Russian Embassy/Consulate. Applicants can either fill the application form online through the official website – https://visa.kdmid.ru (Consular department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation) or obtain the physical form from the nearest Russian Embassy/Consulate. Depending on the visa category, the applicant will need to furnish specified and additional documents, invitation letters, etc. The invitation letter is a mandatory document which needs to be submitted by applicants of all visa categories. Based on the specific category of the visa, the invitation letter could be either issued by a friend, relative or an establishment.
Documents Required for Russian Visa Application
Russian Tourist Visa:
- Invitation – Invitation letter from either a friend, relative or an establishment such as a travel agency which is authorised to issue invitation letters.
- Passport – Original passport with at least 2 blank visa pages for immigration stamping. The passport should also be valid for at least six months from the date of leaving the Russian Federation.
- Application Form – Two copies of completed visa application form along with passport sized photographs (as per applicable guidelines)
- Letter of Confirmation – Applicable for those visitors who are travelling in a group or in a cruise. The letter of confirmation must include details of itinerary along with the particulars from an authorised travel company.
Russian Business Visa
- Invitation Letter – An invitation letter issued from either a friend/relative or an authorised travelling agency.
- Passport – Original and photocopy of the passport with at least 2 blank visa pages for immigration stamping. The passport should also be valid for at least six months from the date of leaving the Russian Federation.
- Application Form – Two copies of completed visa application form along with passport sized photographs (as per applicable guidelines)
- Additional Documents – Depends on the purpose of the travel, period of stay, etc. the applicant may require submitting additional documents for the application of business visa to Russia.
Russian Private Visa
- Invitation – The invitation letter issued from either a friend/relative or an authorised travelling agency.
- Passport – The original passport with at least 2 blank visa pages for immigration stamping. The passport should also be valid for at least six months from the date of leaving the Russian Federation.
- Application Form – Two copies of completed visa application form along with passport sized photographs (as per applicable guidelines)
- Entitlement Certificate (Izvesheniye) – An official document issued by the Russian Ministry of Passports through the inviting party. Izvesheniye must contain the details of the invitation including the applicant’s name, nationality, passport number, date of birth, arrival and departure date, etc. The application for Izvesheniye takes around 4 – 6 weeks and its subject to payment of the additional required fee.
Russian Work Visa
- Invitation – The invitation letter issued from the employer in Russia. The letter must contain the details of the applicant, employer, and the work in Russia.
- Passport – The original passport with at least 2 blank visa pages for immigration stamping. The
- Application Form – Two copies of completed visa application form along with passport sized photographs (as per applicable guidelines)
- Additional Documents – Based on the work category, the period of stay, and other factors, the applicant will need to provide documents of various types of approval authorising him/her to work in Russia.
Russian Transit Visa
- Invitation – The application for a private visa requires the applicants to submit the invitation letter issued from either a friend/relative or an authorised travelling agency.
- Passport – Original passport with at least 2 blank visa pages for immigration stamping. The passport should also be valid for at least six months from the date of leaving the Russian Federation.
- Application Form – Two copies of completed visa application form along with passport sized photographs (as per applicable guidelines)
- Visa of Destination Country – Applicants must provide a photocopy of the visa to the destination country.
- Tickets – All applications must include the copy of both round way tickets.
Russian Embassy/Consulate in India
The completed application form along with the documents can be submitted to any of the Russian Embassy/Consulate listed below:
New Delhi –
Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of India, Embassy Consular Section
Address: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, 110 021 India
Phone: (8-10-91-11) 2611-05-60, 2467-85-64
Fax: (8-10-91-11) 2467-85-64, 2611-05-60
E-mail: indconru@del2.vsnl.net.in, indconru@gmail.com, emb@rusembassy.in
Website: rusembassy.in
Business hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – from 09.00 to 14.00
Mumbai –
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai
Address: 42, Jagmohandas Marg (Nepean Sea Rd), Mumbai, 400 036 India
Phone: (8-10-91-22) 2363-36-27, (8-10-91-22) 2363-36-28
E-mail: consul@mtnl.net.in
Fax: (8-10-91-22) 2363-04-03, 2363-14-93
Web: www.russiaconsulmumbai.mid.ru
Business hours: Consular issues: daily from 8.00 to 13.00; Visa Section: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – from 09.00 to 13.00
Kolkata –
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Kolkata
Address: 22A, Raja Santosh Road, Alipore, Kolkata, 700 027 India
Phone: (8-10-91-33) 2479-70-06
E-mail: rus.consul.kolkata@gmail.com
Fax: (8-10-91-33) 2479-88-89
Web: www.kolkata.mid.ru
Business hours: From Monday to Friday – from 10.00 to 13.00
Chennai –
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Chennai
Address: No 33 (old 14), Santhome High Road, Chennai, 600 004 India
E-mail: madrasrus@vsnl.net
Phone: (8-10-91-44) 2498-23-20, 2498-23-30
Fax: (8-10-91-44) 2498-23-36
Web: www.chennai.mid.ru
Business hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday – from 09.30 to 12.30
Conclusion
The tourist visa is a common visa used by people who want to visit Russia. Tourist visa is not issued for the first time to the citizens of countries with the short term visa regime, if they have such a regime. Often the tourist visa can be obtained in electronic form – it’s cheaper, faster and easier!