We currently do not issue Visa support documents, please do NOT apply!!!
Below are options for obtaining the required official invitation documents, needed for a Russian visa application. A concierge visa service is available for travellers who prefer a pro take care of the entire process from start to finish, providing the expertise necessary to ensure your application is approved.
Travellers from most countries are required to obtain a visa when visiting Russia. Please see below, a list of the comprehensive Russian visa application services we provide, as well as helpful instructions.
A single-entry visa permits ONE entry to Russia within the specified period of time.
A double-entry visa permits ONE or TWO entries to Russia within the specified period of time.
A multiple-entry visa is valid for several visits to Russia over a period of 3, 6, or 12 months.
1. Cheapest and easiest to obtain.
2. Best visa type for short visits.
3. Single or double entry visas available for a maximum stay of 30 days.
4. Issued on the basis of an invitation and voucher provided by an authorized Russian tourist company – 56th parallel.
5. Non-extendable – if you wish to prolong your stay in Russia, you must leave the country and obtain a new visa.
1. Issued for foreigners who enter Russia for business purposes, (e.g. representatives of foreign governments, members of official delegations, cultural or sports exchange visitors, etc.). Tourists who intend to stay in Russia for more than 30 days often use this type of visa.
2. Issued on the basis of a business invitation from a Russian company authorized by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The invitation normally takes 14 -20 working days to issue. The original invitation is required to accompany the visa application – 56th parallel can assist you to obtain a business visa invitation.
3. Valid up to 12 months with single, double or multiple entry visas available. However, visitors are restricted to a maximum of 90 days in a 180-day period when using a multiple entry visa.
4. An original HIV Certificate showing a negative result is required for stays of over 3 months.
The Russian government requires all visitors to Russia to obtain a visa support document (sometimes known as a letter of invitation) from an officially licensed tourism organisation. You will need to provide a copy of your visa support letter to the Russian consulate when you apply for your tourist visa. 56th parallel will provide you such document, free, upon booking a tour. Alternatively, if you are travelling to Russia independently, you can apply for an invitation letter below without booking a tour.
No. Obtaining the visa support letter is just the first step towards receiving your Russian tourist visa. Once you have the support letter, you’ll need to provide it, along with a visa application letter (obtainable at your nearest Russian consular office, or their official website) in order to receive the actual Russian visa. If you don’t have the Russian visa in your passport, you either won’t be allowed to board your plane/train to Russia, or you will be deported by Immigration at your own cost!
A Russian tourist visa is issued for the exact dates you request, up to a maximum of 30 days. This is inclusive of your days of entry and exit. This means you should decide on your arrival and departure dates before you apply for your visa support letter.
Please note you may not enter Russia before the visa starts and you must leave Russia before the visa expires. Just in case, we suggest that you add a few days before and after your expected dates of travel or always apply for the full 30 days from the planned date of arrival, to allow for changes in your plans – you can then enter and leave Russia at any date within the specified period.
You can apply for a Russian tourist visa at the Russian consulate no earlier than 90 days before your requested visa start date.
If your child has a separate passport, you will need to get a separate visa for them. The process of applying for a child’s visa is the same as it is for adults.
No, but it is depending on your country of residence. A scanned copy is sufficient, we send our clients a copy of the invitation letter via e-mail. Simply print out your copy of the letter and hand it over to the consulate when you apply for your visa.
Most consulates in Africa, as well as those in Turkey, India and a few select others, may request an original document, in which case we can send it to you by courier at an additional cost (courier fees). Contact the Russian consulate in the city you intend to apply for a visa if you are unsure of what they require.
All foreign citizens arriving in the Russian Federation must register their visas within three working days of their arrival (excluding weekends and official public holidays). Usually, tourists register their visa at the first hotel they check into. As a rule, you need to register with each new hotel you stay in. Your 56th Parallel tour leader will ensure this is taken care of.
Generally, a Russian tourist visa cannot be extended. There may be a few exempt cases, such as:
In most cases mentioned above, you can extend your visa for up to 2 weeks and you will need to provide the appropriate documents to prove your case. The cost of the exit visa varies according to circumstances to between $100 to $500
If you lose your passport and visa while travelling, you’ll need to apply for a new exit visa. Your 56th Parallel tour leader will be able to assist you if this happens while on tour. First, you need to report the matter to a local police precinct to provide you with an official document confirming your visa was lost. You will then need to make arrangements to get a new passport from your national embassy in Moscow.
Once you have obtained the police report, your new passport, a matt finished photo and your return ticket, our customer support team will arrange a new exit visa for you. Please note that the processing takes no less than 5 business days.
If you have any urgent questions or enquiries, please give us a call +61 412 587 785