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Russian Tourist Visas
Russian tourist visas are generally used by people who travel to Russia for tourism, leisure or short business trips, allowing for either a single or double visit and may be valid for a maximum period of 30 days.
The tourist visa will be issued for the exact dates you request, or as specified on the invitation if you are providing this yourself.
This is the most cost effective visa for short trips and if you know when and where you will be going, otherwise consider a Russian Business visa.
Please note, the Russian Consulate and Visa Application Centre will be closed on 23rd February 2010 for the Russian public holiday. We will not be able to lodge applications or collect visas on this day, and it will not count as a working day for visa processing. Please take this into account when ordering your visa.
How much will it cost?
We offer six levels of service dependent upon how quickly you need your visa with prices starting from £116.73 for UK passport holders.
For citizens of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia, Norway there are reduced consular fees which mean that the prices start from £96.73.
For all other passport holders, consular fees vary depending on nationality and are reflected in the prices below.
What is included in the price?
Our prices include all costs necessary to get your visa:
- Fees for all necessary visa support documents and letters of invitation
- Russian ministry processing charges
- Local taxes
- Consular tariffs
- Delivery, collection and management of your application at the consulate by our staff.
You also have the option of choosing:
- Central London courier delivery the day your visa is ready
- Royal Mail Special Delivery of your passport and Russian visa back to you (UK only)
- £5,000 of consequential loss postal insurance (UK mainland only).
You do not have to:
- Book a flight
- Book a hotel
- Provide your own “letter of invitation” or “visa support documents”
- Go to the consulate yourself.
The price you see is the price you pay!
How do I order?
| Service type | Single visit | Double visit | Processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard service | £116.73 | £143.48 | 6 to 8 days |
| Bronze service | £128.48 | £155.23 | 6 days |
| Next Day Service | £203.15 | £244.90 | 2 days |
- Click on the service type from the options above to order your visa online
- Click here if you have a group of 4 or more for our group discount page
- Not sure which visa or service you need? Click here for our visa calculator
What is the processing time?
The processing time is the number of working days that it will take us to obtain your visa once we have received your documents and lodged your application with the Russian consulate. We will lodge your application the next consular working day after we receive it, provided all the documents are in order. Visa applications received by our office after 16.30 on weekdays or at any time on Saturdays or non-working days will not start to be processed by our staff until the following working day.
The day we receive your visa from the Consulate, we will send it to you by Royal Mail Special Delivery so you will have it the next business day before 1pm or optionally hold it at our office for your collection.
What documents do I need to provide with my application pack?
The documents that you need to provide to allow us to lodge your application at the consulate depend on your nationality and residency in the United Kingdom.
Check your visa application requirements by selecting your passport nationality from the menu:
When can I apply for my Russian tourist visa?
Russian Tourist visas can usually be applied for within 90 days of the entry date requested on the visa. If we receive your application before this date then we will hold it and lodge it to the consulate at the earliest opportunity.
Currently the Russian consulate is accepting tourist visa applications with a requested entry date that is equal to or earlier than: 10 May 2010.
Please note that due to operational reasons the consulate may vary the date that it accepts applications; in this case we will contact you for your instructions.
How long can I stay in Russia using my visa?
Generally with a tourist visa you may stay in Russia for a maximum of 30 days during any one visit and only up to the maximum validity period of the visa in any event.
Please note that effective 01.06.07 according to new laws dependent upon your nationality there may be restrictions on how long you can stay in Russia within specific periods. This restriction, if it applies, will be written into the visa.
I am travelling on the Trans Mongolian, can you help me with these visas as well?
Yes, of course we can. We will process all three visas “back to back” and return your passport with all three visas when they are complete. See the following links for further details:
- Chinese visas
- Mongolian visas
- Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian visas
- Train tickets - online schedule and booking
I'm not staying in a hotel, what about visa registration?
For information and options please see our visa registration guide.
Do I need a visa for my child?
In most cases, the answer is yes. Please review the following information on taking a child to Russia.
Can I deliver my passport and collect my visa from your office in person?
Yes, of course you can, we have an office in central London and we will be happy to see you and assist with your application if needed. If you intend to deliver an application in person or collect your passport and visa we are open for collection and deliveries during the following times.
| Passport Collection and Delivery times | ||
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | 9.00 | 18.00 |
| Saturday | 09.00 | 11.00 |
| Bank / public holidays | By arrangement | |
Visa applications received by our office after 16.30 on weekdays or at any time on Saturdays or non-working days will not start to be processed until the following working day.
How can I pay for my visa?
You have several options to pay for your visa including:
- credit or debit card when you place your order online (please note there is an additional 2.5% card processing fee)
- credit / debit card by phone / fax
- cheque
- postal order
- cash
- bank transfer
Sounds good, how do I get my visa?
To order your tourist visa online, simply click on the level of service you want from the options above.
What will happen when I click the service I want?
When you select the service you want from the options above we will ask you to fill in a simple online form with details about yourself and your trip, and finally you will have the option to pay using your credit or debit card through our secure servers.
We will then email, fax or post (depending on your preference) your visa application form to you.
You sign the visa application form and send this, along with your passport and a single colour passport photograph to us. That's it, that's all you have to do!
We will generate your visa support documents, complete all the necessary forms and submit your completed visa application to the Russian Consulate. During the processing of your application, we will be on hand to answer any queries the Consulate may have and to ensure that your application is dealt with in a timely and efficient manner.
The day your visa is ready we will collect it in person and return this to you using Royal Mail Special Delivery, on the same day if possible, so you will have it the next business day before 1pm or hold it at our office for your collection.
You can follow the progress of your order through our online order tracking system which will detail the steps taken and the steps remaining to obtain your visa.
Remember, when you are in Russia, please ensure that you register your visa.
Are there any specifications for the passport photo?
The Russian consulate require that the photograph provided meet the following specifications; if the photograph you provide does not meet these then the application may be rejected or considered incomplete.
- The frame size must be 35mm x 45mm
- The photo must have been taken no earlier than 6 months before the application date
- The photo must be clear, well defined and taken against a plain white or light-coloured background
- Your face must be square to the camera with a neutral expression, neither frowning nor smiling, and with your mouth closed
- Sunglasses are not acceptable
- The photo must show the full front view of the head, with the face in the middle of the photo, and include the top of the shoulders
- It must be printed on normal photographic paper (camera print).
Can you tell me more?
You can quickly check your visa application requirements by selecting your passport nationality from the menu:
We try to give you as much information as we can to help you choose the service you need, though if you still have more questions please feel free to look at the Real Russian Forum, the Frequently Asked Questions section or contact us directly and we will be happy to help.