Getting a Russian Visa took a bit of maneuvering, but it was pretty painless.
THINGS TO KNOW:
- Visa Time Frame:
- 30 days in Russia maximum
- This does NOT mean 30 days from when you arrive in Russia. You designate a pre-determined 30 day window of when your visa is valid. You designate these dates when filling out your application.
- In other words, you cannot depart before or stay after the 30 day window. If you arrive in Russia 3 days before you're scheduled to depart, you have to leave, no matter what.
- Russian Consolates: http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/russia
- Seattle | San Francisco | Houston | Washington DC | New York
- We live in Orlando, so we were unable to get the visa ourselves. We needed outside help, i.e. a travel agency.
- Visa Application: https://evisa.kdmid.ru
- You have to fill out one per person online, print and sign. Can use the same ID number if applying together.
- Cannot mail or send electronically. You (or someone who represents you, like a travel agency) has to bring it to one of the five Russian Consolates in the US.
- Don't need to know when you're getting there and when you're leaving, you just need to give yourself a window of 30 days.
- Need Invitation Letter from reputable hostel, hotel or travel agency. They will provide you via phone or email with a Reference # and Confirmation Invitation # to include in your application while you're filling it out.
- Current employment means where you currently work, not what your job status will be when arriving in Russia (for us, unemployed :)).
- Invitation Letter:
- Can get an invitation letter for FREE if you pre-book your hostel or hotel before arriving. If they are a large enough company, they should be able to provide an invitation letter for you.
- We didn't book beforehand and are pretty sure that we'll be staying at hostel that cannot give us an invitation letter, so we paid the travel agency for the invitation letter and an additional "Service Fee" to courier the applications for us. You have to pay separately for the Letter and the Service Fee.
- Some agencies will provide a letter for UP TO 2 people, instead of having to pay for each person.
- Processing Time:
- Typically, 2 - 3 weeks.
- Shortest time we found was Same Business Day, but that's if the consulate gets to your application same day. Also, should consider at least 2 additional days of shipping docs to/from travel agency if you need to use one.
- Additional Items You'll Need:
- 1 Passport Sized Picture - Tape to Application
- 1 Open Page in Passport
***UPDATE: You will also have to pay an additional fee (500 - 700 Rubles) to register through the hostel/hotel you are staying with, if you are staying in Russia for more than 7 days.
WHO WE USED:
There are tons of agencies out
there that will do essentially the same thing for you. All you have to
do is figure out which one will do it for less. Found these guys to be the cheapest, and as an added bonus, the most helpful.
- Red Star Travel - Seattle, Washington
- 206.522.5995
- http://www.travel2russia.com/visa_rus.htm
BREAKDOWN OF COSTS (6 BUSINESS DAY PROCESSING):
- $140 - Visa Application (x2) = $280
- $55 - Service Fee (x2) = $110
- $50 - Invitation Letter (Includes 2) = $50
- $5 - US Postal Service Mail
- $17 - 3-Day FedEx Return Label
- $462 TOTAL
