Russia is the world's largest country, with a rich cultural heritage and a variety of places to visit. Despite its sometimes extreme climate, it is an affordable destination, much to the delight of tourists. To get there, you'll need a Russian visa, which is relatively easy and straightforward to obtain. Read on to find out what you need to know.
When should you visit Russia?
With a surface area of 17 million km², Russia boasts a sumptuous array of landscapes with different seasons. If you decide to take a holiday in this country, you should know that the months of June, July and August have a pleasant climate. Russia's major cities, such as Moscow and St Petersburg, are also great places to visit the main tourist attractions (museums, galleries, etc.).
Whether it's cinema, symphonic music or even visual art, it's all there to make you want to extend your stay in Russia. However, you will need to have one important piece of documentation before you set foot on Russian soil: a visa.
The classic visa for Russia
This type of visa is issued to travellers who wish to visit Russia for a stay not exceeding 30 days (including the date of arrival and departure). You must be in possession of a voucher and a tourist invitation before submitting your visa application.
To obtain this type of visa, you must be able to provide the following documents:
- A photocopy of your passport to the pages featuring your photo and signature,
- A form visa application form, completed and signed,
- A certificate issued by your insurance which covers illness and repatriation,
- A voucher (invitation) and proof of hotel or accommodation reservation,
- A passport photo colour, which must not be scanned.
You will need to enclose with these documents a sum of approximately 50 € for consular fees, excluding processing fees. You will receive notification of the validation of your visa between 7 and 21 working days.
e-visa for Russia
Since January 2021, Russia has introduced the unified electronic visa or e-Visa to make it easier for travellers to arrive in Russia. This is a visa that allows you to travel to the country for tourism, business, humanitarian purposes or to visit relatives.
This type of visa allows you to stay for 16 days and generally takes 4 days to obtain. To obtain a visa, it is generally advisable to go through an agency. The service is quick and straightforward. The consular fee is 50 € and the application can be made completely online.
However, before submitting your visa application online, you will need to provide some important information:
- Contact details foraccommodation (no voucher required)
- A passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of application
- A passport photoin any format
- A travel insurance repatriation + medical expenses
- A certificate of residence insurance
If your stay in Russia exceeds 7 working days, you must register with Russian immigration
An agency service 