Russia Visa for Indians - Definitive Guide

Whenever a foreign citizen is planning to travel to Russia for a particular purpose, be it short term or long term, a visa for Russia is issued. There are different types of this permit that are drafted as per the requirements of the applicant and the regulation of the Russian Federation. With the right kind of permit, the holder is allowed tourism and leisure activities, business activities, visiting friends and family members for short term purposes. For long term stays, the permit is issued if the applicant is willing to work or study in the country, live in the country with working member of the family, investing in a business in Russia and similar others. The validity and the stay permitted will also differ accordingly. The permit can be an e-visa or a stamp visa depending on the type of the permit.

The process of application for Russia visa from India will differ as per the type of the permit. Mainly, it can be obtained online for certain short term purposes. For long term purposes, the application must be made offline. Also, before applying, it is essential to check if the applicant is eligible for the same. The processes for getting a visa for Russia from India are as follows:

• Applying Online

1. You can start by filling out the Russia visa application form.
2. Confirm your email address.
3. Submit the form and attach all the required documents.
4. Attach recent photograph.
5. Pay the required visa fees.
6. Get the permit verified.
7. You will then receive your e-visa.

• Applying through VAC

1. Fill out the Russia visa application form online.
2. Submit the application form and the required documents to the Visa Application Centre (VAC) personally.
3. Pay the required visa fees.
4. Get the permit verified.
5. You will then receive your e-visa.

There are a few things that you need to note at the time of filling out the application form. The internet browser that you are using to fill out the form, must have the Javascript enabled - Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc. You also need to have a PDF file reader in the computer, preferably Adobe Acrobat Reader. It is also essential that you print or note the statement number on the top right corner of the page.

After the application has been submitted, there are other pointers you need to take care of. You can check the status of your permit online and the respective PDF file can be downloaded. There are detailed instructions in the file that provides guidelines for when you have the visa and what is the further procedure. After the submission of the documents and the application form, if you are not reverted back, you can then make an offline application for Russia visa to the Embassy of Russian Federation following the standard procedure. The offline process is given as follows:

1. Fill out the online Russia visa application form.
2. Print the application form/fill out in block letters once printed.
3. Attach a recent photograph.
4. Attach all the required supporting documents.
5. Submit the application form to the Embassy of Russian Federation.
6. Pay the required visa fee.
7. You will receive the permit after processing.

When you are filling out the application form, there are certain precautions that you need to keep in mind. The details on the application form must match with the details on the travel documents. If there is any kind of information that is found to be false or unverifiable, there are chances that the application will become inadmissible and even get rejected. There may be other reasons for a visa rejection as well. A visa rejection can affect your future applications to Russia or to any other country. Therefore, to minimise the chances of rejection, it is helpful to appoint a professional visa agency.

There are different kinds of visa for Russia. These can be classified based on the purpose of visit, duration of stay, validity of the permit, and others. Common types of issued visa for Russia from India are listed as follows:

• Russia Tourist Visa - A tourist visa for Russia is issued to the travellers who are willing to visit the country for the sole purpose of leisure. This is mostly provided to the tourists and foreigners who have plans of sightseeing and other leisure activities in Russia.
• Russia Business Visa - A business visa for Russia is provided to the business people who are planning to visit the country to carry out business activities. The process follows to get this permit is generally prior to arrival and the validity can vary as well.

• Russia Visit Visa - This permit is issued to the ones are visiting Russia for the purpose of meeting with their friends and family members. Other kinds of tourism and leisure activities are also allowed on this permit.

• Russia Student Visa - A student permit is issued to the students who are travelling to Russia for the purpose of education. It could be for short term courses or even for long term courses.
• Russia Transit Visa - It is the type is provided to the travellers who are going to transit Russia on their way to another country. It could be at the airport or in the sea.

The Russia visa requirements will differ as per the type of the permit. They also vary depending on the process that is being followed to get a visa for Russia from India. Some of the common documents are listed as follows:

• E Visa Requirements
  1. Passport valid for at least 6 months ahead of travel.
  2. Photo as per the photo specifications.
  3. Confirmed flight tickets.
  4. Travel Insurance.
  5. Proof of purpose of visit - exhibition pass, hotel bookings, invitation letter, etc.

• Stamp Visa Requirements
  1. Passport valid for at least 6 months ahead of travel.
  2. Completely filled and duly signed application form.
  3. Covering Letter.
  4. Photo as per the photo specifications.
  5. Confirmed flight tickets.
  6. Travel Insurance.
  7. Proof of purpose of visit - exhibition pass, hotel bookings, invitation letter, etc.
  8. Proof of sufficient funds - bank statement for the last three months, etc.

Note: Scanned copies of the documents must be submitted for e visa. Also, you may be asked to submit some of the documents in Russian language.

• One copy must be provided
• Photo size: 35 mm x 45 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided.
• It must be a JPEG image for E visa.
• Should not be older than 6 months.
• The face must cover about 70-80% of the frame.
• Head should well-centred.
• The picture must not be older than 6 months.
• The background must be white.
• Neutral expressions.
• Hair should not hide eyes.
• Both the ears must be visible.
• Teeth should not be visible.
• Glasses are not permitted, except for prescription glasses.
• Eyes must be clearly visible through glasses.
• Must be taken in clear light.
• There should be no red eyes or flashes messing the image.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The Russia visa fees is to be paid at the time of initial submission of the documents online. The fee can be paid using a standard electronic payment option. If you are paying with a credit or a debit card, the card does not necessarily have to be in your name. The fee will also vary as per the type of the permit and the validity and the stay permitted. For an offline permit, you need to pay the fee to the VAC if you are applying through one, else directly to the Embassy of Russian Federation.

The status of your permit can be checked online by visiting the Russia e visa portal. To check the status, you just need to enter your reference number and you can know the processing status of your visa for Russia. To check the status offline, you can contact the VAC if you have applied through one, or you can contact the Consulate for the same.

You will have to apply online to the Consular Department of Russian Federation to get a visa for Russia. The offline application is made to the Embassy of Russian Federation based in Delhi or the Consulate based in Mumbai. There are other ways for application as well. You can apply through a visa application centre or third party. Most importantly, it needs to be ensured that the application is submitted well in advance so that the processing is done in time.

At times, the process may seem complicated and the formalities involved can seem difficult to be carried out individually. In such cases, professional visa consultation can be considered from the visa agencies. This will allow you to have your documents handled professionally and the procedure may even be quicker than the normal process.