Since 1998 Russian visas can be issued in both old and new forms:
1.The old form for russian visa processing
This visa is a paper document, which bears the seal of a Russian Consulate. The following data must be typed on a visa: a persons name and passport data, visa type, dates of entry and exit.
2.The new form for russian visa processing
This visa will be glued into your passport. The visa bears the same information as the traditional one.
Since September 1996:
1.Only the Consular Service Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues invitation to Russia. In order to process a certified invitation, your Russian business partner must be specially registered at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In any case, we do not recommend you to use invitations processed by regional firms if you intend to visit Moscow. You will have a lot of stress trying to register your visa at an UVIR (Visa and registration department ) office in Moscow.
2.Children under the age of 16 may travel without visas if their names are registered in the visas and passports of their accompanying parents or guardians.
3.Certain changes in the procedures of visa processing have been recently introduced:
- Travelers (over the age of 16) who intend to stay in Russia for more than 90 days must submit recent (within 30 days from the date of issue) HIV Test Certificates.
- At present, most of Russian Consulates require the original passport to process a visa.
