Types of Russian visas

Ordinary tourist visa is a permission for a short-term stay on the Russian territory for a sightseeing.

Tourist visa validity varies from 1 to 30 days^[3], according to your planned period of stay.

Ordinary business visa permits you to stay on the Russian territory with a purpose of business conducting, participation as a foreign specialist to solve any problem or taking part in conferences or seminars.

Business visa validity varies from 1 to 12 months (in some cases up to 5 years)^[3]. You can stay on the Russian territory no longer than 90 days in a row, according to the 90/180 rule.

• Commercial
• Technical maintenance
• Lecturing
• Negotiations
• Business
• Treatment
• Adoption

• Inspector
• Driver
• Media business trip
• Press
• Crew member
• Accompanying family member (in a business trip)
• Readmission

Ordinary private visa allows you to visit Russia to meet your friends or family living in Russia and also as a guest of officials of foreign states, who are currently resides on the Russian territory. Besides, this visa can be obtained in specific cases such a death of a relative in Russia.

Private visa validity may vary from 1 to 3 months^[3].

• Private
• Homestaying
• Legally separated family
• Visit to the graves
• Special cases

• Ambassador’s guest
• Guest of the head of representation
• Guest of the Consul General
• Consul’s guest
• Guest of a military attache
• Diplomatic officer’s guest
• Technical employee’s guest
• Guest of an employee

Ordinary humanitarian visa permits you to visit Russia for creative, scientific or charitable activity and for pilgrimage.

Humanitarian visa validity varies from 1 to 12 months (up to 5 years)^[3]. You can stay on the Russian territory for up to 90 days, according to the rule, and no more than 90 out of 180 days per year.

• Cultural relations
• Scientific and technical relations
• Religion
• Pilgrimage
• Charity

• Youth relations
• Sport
• Humanitarian aid
• Accompanying member of a family

Russian work visa is a permission to stay in Russia for a long period of time to work in a Russian company as a highly qualified employee.

Validity of work visa varies from 1 to 3 years^[3]with a possibility of continuous stay on the Russian territory.

• Employment
• Foreign employee
• Teacher

• Reporter
• Mass media technician
• Accompanying member of a family (during work)
• Work holidays

Ordinary student visa allows you to stay in Russia for a long period of time in order to study at Russian university or another accredited educational institution.

Validity of student visa is up to 1 year^[3]. Every year it should be extended at local interior ministry.

• Postgraduate study
• Internship
• Courses

• Study
• Specializing
• Accompanying member of a family (during study)

Ordinary asylum seeker visa to Russia is a permission for you and your family to stay on the Russian territory while authorities determine whether you are considered a refugee.

Asylum seeker visa validity is 3 months^[3]. After your arrival to Russia, you should immediately begin visa processing for permanent residence in Russia. In this case, there are several possible results:

• If authorities consider you a refugee, you will get a temporary resident visa.
• If they refuse, then you should leave Russian territory.

Obtaining asylum in Russia is a complicated process requiring its own article.
As for a visa, I can just say, that according to official statistics of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs such visas haven’t been issued, which indicates a scarcity of practice.

Ordinary visa for the citizenship admission gives you a right to stay on the Russian territory with your family, while authorities decide on your citizenship of the Russian Federation.

Validity of this visa is 1 year^[3]. After arrival to Russia, you should start citizenship obtaining procedure. Herewith, there could be several authorities decisions:

• If their decision is positive, you will obtain a passport of the Russian Federation and you will be able to stay in Russia without restrictions.
• If there is a denial, you should leave Russia.

Process of obtaining citizenship is really difficult and require individual article.
According to official statistics of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such visas haven’t been issued.

If you plan to cross Russian territory while going to another country, you need to get a transit visa.

Validity of this visa is up to 10 days^[3]

Temporary resident visa is being issued to a foreigner, who has a temporary resident permit of the Russian Federation.

Validity of temporary resident visa is limited only by validity of temporary residence permit, which is based on a reason of person’s stay in the country. It means, that your stay in Russia could be even termless.

Also, there is a visa for obtaining a temporary residence permit. Validity of such a visa is 3 months.

Russian diplomatic visas can be obtained only by those foreigners, who are bearers of diplomatic passports. It refers to:

• foreign heads of state
• heads of government
• members of foreign official delegations
• consular officials, members of diplomatic missions and representatives of international organizations
• diplomatic and consular couriers
• family members of state leaders, foreign diplomats and consular officers

If you are a bearer of official passport, you need a service visa to trip to Russia. Official passport could be used by:

• members of official delegations
• service staff of consulates, diplomatic authorities and representative offices of international organizations
• their family members
• military personnel of the armed forces of other States entering Russia with the permission of the Russian Federation authorities or under international agreements

E-visa gives you the right for short stay in Russia with tourism, business or personal purposes.

Duration of e-Visa from 1 to 8 days, depending on your planned dates of visit.

The variations of purposesfor a visit:

• tourism;
• business negotiation;
• sports connections;
• cultural ties;
• scientific and technical links.