russian business visa freaquently asked questions

1. Q: Can I get a Russian visa in Russia, without leaving the country?
   A: No, Russian visas are issued by Russian Consulates worldwide, outside Russia. The only exception is getting an exit visa in UVIR. Your sponsor company which is indicated in your Russian visa, can do it for you.
   
2. Q: I am a German citizen can I get a Russian visa in a Russian consulate outside Germany, for example in London?
   A: Yes, if you have a residence permit in that country. If not, a German citizen can only apply for a Russian visa in Germany.
   
3. Q: Can citizens of European countries, USA, Canada, Japan apply for Russian visas in Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakstan or other CIS countries?
   A: Yes, but in this case they will need visas to those countries.
   
4. Q: I have a hotel reservation in Russia, is it enough to apply for a Russian tourist visa?
   A: No, you should have a tourist voucher issued by a Russian travel agency who will be in charge of you during your stay in Russia.
   
5. Q: Who issues business invitations?
   A: Business invitations are issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs upon requests of accredited companies.
   
6. Q: Who issues tourist invitations?
   A: Tourist invitations are issued by Russian travel agencies, accredited in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
   
7. Q: For which maximum period of time can I make a quickly processed invitation?
   A: A single or a double entry invitation for 3 months can be processed in 1 business day.
   
8. Q: Why does it take so long to make multiple entry invitations?
   A: Multiple entry invitations pass through certain personal verifications, which are time-consuming.
   
9. Q: Can I apply for a short-term and a long-term invitation simultaneously?
   A: Yes. It is normally needed when a long-term invitation is needed, but there's no time to wait for it. The first entry to Russia will be made with a short-term visa and then, when the multiple entry visa is ready, the foreigner can reenter on the new visa.
   
10. Q: I am in Russia and my Russian visa is about to expire. I have a new Russian visa with me, can I stay in Russia on my new visa without leaving the country?
    A: No. The visa becomes valid only after you show it at the border when entering Russia. Passport control puts an entry stamp on it. Without this stamp the visa is invalid.
    
11. Q: Does a child need a visa to enter Russia?
    A: If the child is under 16 years old and is travelling on his parent's passport, he/she doesn't need a separate visa, but needs to be encrypted into his parent's visa. If the child has a separate passport, a separate visa is needed. The price of the visa is the same as for an adult.
    
12. Q: If the foreigner is staying in a hotel and has hotel registration, does he/she need UVIR registration?
    A: No. It is only necessary, if the foreigner is going to get married, or to get a Russian driver's license.
    
13. Q: Does a child need registration?
    A: Children under 18 years old don't need registration.
    
14. Q: When a telex is better than an invitation?
    A: 1) In some cases a telex can be made faster than an invitation, for example urgent 1 business day visa support is made only by telex.
          2) Some Russian consulates accept either telex or the original of the invitation (fax copy of the invitation is not enough). Mailing of the invitation requires time and money.
    
15. Q: When an invitation is better than a telex?
    A: 1) When the foreigner can wait for the multiple entry invitation (it is cheaper than telex). When he/she can pick up the original of the invitation in Moscow and take it with him/her to apply for the new visa, or if some of his/her friends can pass the original of the invitation to him/her.
          2) If the foreigner doesn't know exactly in which Russian consulate he/she is going to apply for the visa. Normally, the invitation can be brought to any consulate, and the telex can only be sent to 1 consulate, indicated in the visa application form.