Russian Guest Visa

You are eligible for russian guest visa if you are planning to come to Russia for a personal visit (friends, relatives etc.) This russian guest visa can be valid for up to 3 months and is single entry only. This is probably the most "difficult to deal with" type of a Russian guest visa.

To obtain this visa, you need a personal invitation certificate (or visa entitlement certificate — "izveshchenie") from a person living in Russia. This person should go to a local OVIR office (immigration officials), get an application form, fill it in, pay a processing fee (about $30 US), and wait for about 30 (!) days for the immigration officials to check him (the person who's inviting you) and you.

You will also need the original copy of the invitation for the visa application to be processed at the Russian Consulate. So overall, you will need plenty of time in advance to actually get all the documents together before you can apply for this visa.

If you want to extend your guest visa you should apply to the local OVIR in the area of your residence in Russia.

To obtain a russian guest visa, you will need to submit the following documents to the Consulate :

1. A completed russian guest visa application form (one per person)
2. National passport (original) valid for at least 6 months after the intended date of departure from Russia.
3. Three identical professional passport sized (3x4 cm) photos on a white background. Pictures can be black-and-white or color, preferably on matt paper. Please write your name in capital letters on the back of the photos. One photo should be stapled to the specially marked place at the upper right-hand corner of the application form.
4. Original OVIR permission — IZVESCHENIYE. Your relatives or friends in Russia should obtain IZVESCHENIYE for you from local OVIR (Russian Immigration Office). IZVESCHENIYE is valid within one year from the date indicated therein. The period of stay must not exceed 90 days.

This is a standard list of requirements for this type of Russian guest visa. Some additional rules may apply in your country of residence. Please, contact your nearest Russian Consulate for complete information.