The largest country in the world, Russia, is a diverse country and attracts a lot of visitors from across the world. Russia visa is a courtesy to these enthusiastic foreign visitors. There sure is much more to Russia than just tourism and leisure.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
Entry | Purpose | Stay Duration | Validity | Fees |
---|---|---|---|---|
Single entry Normal | Business | 30 days | 3 months | 5610.0 |
Single entry Express | Business | 30 days | 3 months | 6970.0 |
Double entry Normal | Business | 30 days | 3 months | 6426.0 |
Double entry Express | Business | 30 days | 3 months | 8602.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Business | 30 days | 3 months | 8330.0 |
Multiple entry Express | Business | 30 days | 3 months | 12410.0 |
Single entry Normal | Transit | 30 days | 3 months | 3800.0 |
Single entry Normal | Tourist | 30 days | 3 months | 8050.0 |
Single entry Express | Tourist | 30 days | 3 months | 9750.0 |
Double entry Normal | Tourist | 30 days | 3 months | 6426.0 |
Double entry Express | Tourist | 30 days | 3 months | 8602.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Tourist | 30 days | 3 months | 8330.0 |
Multiple entry Express | Tourist | 30 days | 3 months | 12410.0 |
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.
To get the visa extension, you must first have a legitimate reason to do so. You can apply for an extension at a local office of FMS, at the migration registration. You will have to provide copies of your passport and the printed visa or visa stamp page to the FMS local office and you will then be provided with an extension after the payment of the fee. There are certain other details to take care of as well. The criteria for the extension shall differ as per the type of the permit.
A medical test is a health examination performed by an authorized doctor to ensure that the applicant does not possess any kind of contagious diseases. These do not just include HIV/AIDS, but also other contagious diseases that can spread. However, this medical test is not necessarily required for all kinds of visa. These are mandated for the long term visas and may not be compulsory for all types of short term visas.
The amount that is required in your savings bank account is not specified clearly by the Embassy of Russian Federation. There may be requirements as per the type of your visa and whether the permit is a long term or a short term type. You may need to confirm this information once you know what kind of visa you require. The requirements may change based on several factors.
As per the guidelines provided by the Embassy of Russian Federation, the application is to be made at least 20 days prior to the intended date of entry for an online permit. For an offline permit, you can apply at least 3 to 4 weeks prior to the intended date of travel. This shall give enough time to the officials to verify the application, conduct an interview if required and process the permit. At times, the processing may even take longer.
The rejection percentage known for the Russia visa for Indians has not been high. Generally, the visa will be provided online. If not, it can be applied for offline to the Embassy of Russian Federation.