How do I obtain a visa for Russia?

Planning a trip to Russia? Let’s take a look at the steps you need to take to obtain a visa for Russia.

Moscow, its Kremlin and Red Square, St. Petersburg and the Hermitage, Lake Baikal, Kamchatka – whether you love the city or the countryside, Russia is sure to charm you. This extremely vast country (with 11 time zones) is a must-see. But first, you need to take the time to complete a few administrative formalities, and in particular apply for a visa for Russia.

Do I need a visa to travel to Russia?

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Yes, if you are planning to visit Russia, obtaining a tourist visa for Russia is compulsory. Unlike some countries, you need one from day one, and there are no exemptions for French nationals.

What type of visa should I choose for Russia?

To go to Russia, you can choose between the classic visa, which will be affixed to your passport, and the e-Visa, which is an A4 document that you receive by e-mail and have to print out.

You can apply for a single-entry or multi-entry visa.

Good to know: you’ll be asked to justify your trip and where you’re staying. So if you’re planning to visit Russia, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa. On the other hand, if you’re visiting relatives, you’ll need to apply for a private visit visa.

What is the validity of a visa for Russia?

Whether you choose the e-Visa or the classic visa, you can stay in Russia for a maximum of 16 days and 15 nights. The validity of the Russian visa is quite specific. Where visas are often valid for 3, 6 or 12 months, this document is only valid for the duration of your trip. As a result, you can only apply for one once you have booked your plane tickets, so that you can determine the exact dates of your stay in Russia.

How much does a visa for Russia cost?

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The classic visa costs €65, of which €30 is paid to the Russian visa center and €35 to the consulate. For an emergency application, the cost is €130 (€70 for the consulate and €60 for the visa center).

As for the electronic visa for Russia, it was free before January 2021, but now costs €34.

What documents do I need to obtain a tourist visa for Russia?

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To set foot on Russian soil, you need to provide certain documents attesting to your identity, as well as the nature of your stay. Here is the list of documents required to obtain your visa for Russia. You must then submit your complete file to the Russian visa center in Paris.

A passport

You must present your passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of departure from Russia. Two blank pages facing each other are required.

A form

The Russian embassy form is to be completed online and printed for a standard visa application.

A passport photo

The photo must meet French standards, i.e. 35 mm wide by 45 mm high. It must be less than 6 months old and have a white background. The face must be neutral, without glasses.

A voucher

Travelling to Russia means justifying the nature of your trip. For your tourist visa, you’ll need a voucher issued by the hotel you’re staying in or by your travel agency. Please note that some hotels charge for this voucher.

An insurance certificate

In Russia, travel insurance is compulsory. You must provide proof of this when you apply. We’ll come back later to the obligations regarding the care covered by this insurance.

How do I fill in the visa application form for Russia?

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You need to go to the Russian embassy website to fill in your form and then print it out for a standard visa application. Enter a password that will allow you to come back to your account and modify the form if you’ve made a mistake. Be careful, as a mistake could delay the issue of your visa for Russia.

When entering the form, you must provide the following information:

• Identity as shown on passport ;
• Passport number and expiry date, which must be at least 6 months after the date of your stay;
• Information about your professional situation ;
• Date of entry into and exit from the country, or dates of stay at the hotel ;
• Cities you plan to visit ;
• Name of insurance company.

When should you apply for a visa to Russia?

You can only obtain a visa for Russia in the 3 months preceding your departure, so it’s impossible to apply before then. You need to take into account the time it will take to process your application, so you can be sure of obtaining your Russian visa before you leave. For a standard visa application, you should allow between 8 and 15 working days. Note that you can make an emergency application and obtain your visa in 4 days maximum, but this will of course be subject to a surcharge. For an e-Visa, on the other hand, the processing time is only 3 to 4 working days.

Do I need insurance to travel in Russia?

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Yes, Russia does require travel insurance. And while it is compulsory to take out a policy, the country is demanding when it comes to guarantees.

Your insurance certificate must include the following information:

• Coverage of a minimum of 11,000 euros for repatriation and medical expenses;
• Your complete identity ;
• Your travel insurance policy number ;
• Contact details for our insurance partner in Russia;
• The dates of your stay.

We have just mentioned the minimum guarantees required to enter Russia. However, make sure you are well informed about the costs of medical consultations,hospitalization and repatriation. The aim of this travel insurance, over and above its compulsory nature, is to enable you to be taken care of financially.

e-visa in Russia: how does it work?

The electronic visa application for Russia is similar to the classic visa application. The main difference lies in its simplicity: this time, you don’t need to go to a Russian visa center to submit your application.

Here, everything is done entirely online. Fill in the form, which is identical to the one for a classic visa. Attach your documents (photocopy of passport, passport photo, voucher, insurance certificate), and within a few days you’ll receive your document by e-mail. All that’s left to do is print out your visa and set off to discover Russia.

Do I need a visa for Russia for a stopover?

For stopovers or transit, if you are not leaving the international zone, your passport is sufficient. On the other hand, if you are leaving the international zone, you need a transit visa. This allows you to stay on Russian territory for just 72 hours.

You can apply online, enclosing your plane tickets to justify your stopover or transit in Russia. Be sure to also justify this transit by providing a visa for the country you are visiting, or a passport for that country. You will be asked to provide a passport photo, travel insurance and a copy of the identity page of your passport.