At the Consulate

If you have enough time and patience, you can make your Russian visa application yourself. If you don’t feel like standing in a queue at the Consulate, you may apply for help with the application to an authorized Russian travel agent in your country. Whether you choose to use an agent or not, our STEP-BY-STEP CONSULATE GUIDANCE will be invaluable:

* Russian Consulates and Embassies tend to have their own methods of processing and their own fees, which differ from area to area, whilst the Russian visa rules and regulations are subject to change, so our advice is to locate your nearest Consulate and contact them to obtain accurate and up-to-date Russian visa information.

* Find out from the Consulate what the Russian visa processing period is, plus the amount of Consulate fee, the possible ways of submitting your documents (mail, in person, etc.), what the necessary documents are and the payment methods available (credit card, bank transfer, or cash, etc.)

* Prepare and submit all the documents, including the Visa application form>>>. Make your application in good time, (but not normally more than 3 months before you plan to travel, unless you are applying for a settlement visa, for example as the spouse of a Russian citizen).

* Pay the Consular Fee. This is non-refundable. Consular fees vary greatly from one Consulate to another, depending on the type of visa, your citizenship and the speed of processing. Faster processing costs more. Please contact your nearest Russian Embassy/Consulate to find out the exact amount that you will need to pay, together with their available methods of payment.

* Pick up the visa and its related documents from the Consulate. Besides the visa, you will get a two-part Arrival/Departure card which you should present to the passport control authorities when crossing the Russian border. To avoid losing this card please staple it into your passport.

* Check your Russian Visa. Make sure that all the information is correct before leaving the Consulate, as this is the only authority which is allowed to make amendments. If you think there is anything wrong with your visa you should contact the visa department at the Consulate immediately to tell them and rectify the mistake, as no mistakes in your visa can be corrected after you have arrived in Russia!

It’s worth keeping in mind

• All paperwork, once submitted, is not subject to any change of the visa processing period or the period of stay in Russia to that which has been indicated in the invitation. If the applicant needs to make changes in their submitted paperwork before the visa is processed, all documentation must be returned to the applicant for re-submission.

• In case the applicant requests a correction to their visa due to any reason other than a computer misprint, the applicant will have to re-apply for a new visa.

• The Consulate will not be responsible for any mistakes in the visa which were not brought to its attention prior to your departure.

• A mistake in your visa can lead to problems when entering Russia, including a refusal of entry to Russia; problems with registering your visa once in Russia; fines by police; deportation or a return trip earlier than you planned - and all at your own expense! So make sure your visa is correct!

• There may also be an extra Consular fee for citizens of other nationalities who do not apply in their own country, for example, if a British national was to apply for their visa in Finland.

• The payment of Consular fees is usually conducted by cheque or cash when you apply in person or through a courier service; and by certified cheque or postal order when you apply through the mail.

• As with all other visa related documents, it is important to avoid confusions and contradictions with other documentation. One of the most common reasons for rejecting an application is contradictions in documentation, for example, if your visa application form states that you will be in Russia for tourist purposes, but your invitation states otherwise.

• If you are processing your visa through an authorized Russian travel agent, apart from the visa, you are likely to receive from the Consulate a copy of your invitation, together with a copy of your tourist voucher, information on how to register your visa and contact details of your sponsoring company. Please keep all the documents you receive from your agency with you for the whole period of your stay in Russia.

• Please, note that visas cannot be changed or extended. If your travel plans change after the visa has been issued, you must re-apply for a new one.

• Any visa applicant may be interviewed by a consular officer if necessary.

• Processing time, requirements and fees are subject to change without notice.

Apply for your Russian visa support online

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