How to get a visa for Russia?

Are you planning a trip to Russia? What if we take stock of the steps to be taken to obtain a visa for Russia?

Moscow, its Kremlin and his place Red, St. Petersburg and its Hermitage Museum, Baikal Lake, Kamchatka, which you loved the city or the countryside, Russia will make you fall under its charm. This vast country (it has 11 time zones) is to be discovered absolutely. But first of all, you have to take the time to carry out some administrative formalities, including making your visa application for Russia.

Is a visa required to travel to Russia?

Yes, if you plan to visit Russia, get a tourist visa for Russia is mandatory. Unlike some countries, you need it on the first day, there is no exemption for the French.

What type of visa to choose for Russia?

To go to Russia you have the choice between the classic visa that will be affixed to your passport and the e-Visa that, it is a document in A4 format that you receive by email and that you need to print.

You can request a single entry visa or a multi-entry visa.

Good to know. : you will be asked to justify your trip and the place of your stay. Also, if you plan to visit Russia, you need to apply for a tourist visa. However, if you're going to see relatives, you have to apply for a private visa.

What is the validity of a visa for Russia?

Whether you choose e-Visa or the classic visa, it allows you to stay to the maximum 16 days and 15 nights Russia. The validity of the Russian visa is quite specific. Indeed, where visas are often valid 3, 6 or 12 months , this document is valid only for the duration of your trip. Also, you can only make the request after you booked your plane tickets to determine precisely the dates of your stay in Russia.

What is the visa price for Russia?

Classic visa costs 65 € , of which 30 € are paid to the Russian visa center and 35 € to the consulate. For an emergency request, you must count 130 € (70 € for the consulate and 60 € for the visa center).

As for the electronic visa for Russia, it was free before January 2021, it costs today 34 € .

What documents are required for a tourism visa in Russia?

To crowd the Russian soil, you must provide some documents attesting to your identity, but also to the nature of your stay. Here is the list of documents requested to obtain your visa for Russia. Then you'll have to file your full file at the Russian visa centre in Paris.

A passport

You must submit a passport and it must be valid for another 6 months after Russia's departure date. Two blank pages face to face are imposed.

A form

The Russian Embassy form is to be completed online and printed for a classic visa application.

A photo of identity

This photo must be in French standards, 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. It must date less than 6 months and be on a white background. The face must be neutral, without glasses.

A voucher

Leaving to Russia implies justification for the nature of his journey. Also, for your tourist visa, it is mandatory to provide a voucher that will be issued by the hotel in which you stay or by your travel agency. Careful, some hotels charge this voucher.

A certificate of insurance

In Russia, travel insurance is mandatory. Also, you must provide an attestation at the time of your application. We will go further on the care obligations of this insurance.

How to complete the visa application form for Russia?

You must go to the Russian Embassy website to complete your form and then print it for a classic visa application. Enter a password that will allow you to return to your account and change the form if you made an error. Be vigilant, an error could delay the issuance of your visa for Russia.

When entering the form, you must provide the following information:

• Identity as shown on the passport;
• Passport number and expiry date that, remember, must be at least 6 months after the date of your stay;
• Information on your professional situation;
• Date of entry and exit of the country, or even dates of stay at the hotel;
• Cities you plan to visit;
• Insurance name.

When do you apply for a visa for Russia?

Getting a visa for Russia can only be done in 3 months before your departure so impossible to make your request before. You must take into account the processing time of your application in order to be sure to get your Russian visa before your departure. For a standard visa application, you must count between 8 and 15 working days. Note that you can do one emergency request and get your visa within 4 days, it will be subject to a rate supplement naturally. For an e-Visa, this time, the deadline is only 3 to 4 working days.

Do you need insurance to travel to Russia?

Yes, Russia imposes travel insurance. And if it is mandatory to enter into a contract, the country is demanding in terms of guarantees.

Your insurance certificate must state the following information:

• A minimum of 11,000 euros for repatriation and medical expenses;
• Your complete identity;
• Your travel insurance contract number;
• The contact details of the partner insurer in Russia;
• The dates of your stay.

We have just mentioned the minimum guarantees to enter Russian territory. However, make sure to keep you informed of the costs in case of consultation , but also, and especially in case of hospitalization and repatriation . The objective of this travel insurance, beyond its mandatory character, is to allow you to be financially taken care of.

The e-visa in Russia: how does it work?

The application for an electronic visa for Russia looks like the application for a classic visa. The main difference lies in its simplicity since this time, you do not need to go to file your file in a Russian visa centre.

Here everything is done entirely online . Complete the form, identical to the standard visa form. Join your documents (photocopy of the passport, photo of identity, voucher, insurance certificate), you receive your document in just a few days by email. You only have to print your visa and go to Russia’s discovery.

Do we need a visa for Russia for a stopover?

In the event of a stopover or transit, if you do not leave the international zone, your passport is sufficient. However, if you get out, you need one transit visa . It allows to remain only 72 hours in Russian territory.

You can make an online request to which you will need to attach your plane tickets to justify this port of call or transit in Russia. Attention also to justify this transit by providing a visa from the country in which you visit or a passport of this state. You will be asked for a photo of identity, travel insurance and a copy of your passport identity page.