• Nationals of countries in the below table must prove they have UK residence either in the form of a stamp or visa in their passport.  EU passport holders will not have this and they may provide a Utility bill, Bank Statement (or equivalent) that covers a three month period, the latest of which should be less than a old (this must show their UK address), they may also have a company letter stating how long they have been working for the employer.
  
  

For French nationals:

• Last three months bank statements.
• Flight bookings.

Nationals of Schengen states (see below table)

• must provide proof of insurance (medical or travel).
  
  

For Children under 18:

• Copies of both parents passports.
• A letter of consent signed by both parents, addressed to the consulate.

For Private Visas:

• An official original invitation (brown A5 paper) issued by the Russian migration authorities.
• A letter from the person or company inviting the traveller.

For Tourist visas:

• Hotel voucher/confirmation.
• If they have a lot of Russian visas in their passport there is a high chance they will be asked for a letter from their employer explaining that they are in fact going for a holiday and that it is not related to their work.

For Business/Commercial/Cultural visas:

• Official Letter of invitation issued by the Russian migration authorities (brown A5 paper, or telex, usually in the form of an email containing a 6 digit reference number) this must be the original or a telex if it is for multiple entries, otherwise a clear fax or email is fine.
• UK company letter, addressed to the consulate and dated, must state that the traveller is travelling for business, has insurance and enough funds for accommodation and flights, this must also state the name of the inviting organisation. If self employed; a letter from yourself and your last three months bank statements.

For Work/Employment:

• An official original invitation (brown A5 paper) issued by the Russian migration authorities.
• Copy of HIV test taken within three months, this can be taken in either the UK or Russia.
• Letter of support from either the UK or Russian company, addressed to the consulate and dated, must state that the traveller is travelling for work or employment, has insurance and enough funds for accommodation and flights; this must also state the name of the inviting organisation.

For Journalists:

• Must have a telex from Russia, we are not authorised to provide this, they must organize this themselves.
• UK company letter, this must be addressed to the consulate and dated, must state that the traveller is travelling for journalistic purposes, has insurance and enough funds for accommodation and flights; this must also state the name of the inviting organisation.

For accompanying family members:

• Letter of invitation issued by the Russian migration authorities (brown A5 paper or telex).
• Letter of support from the UK (or Russia in the case of employment), this must be addressed to the consulate and dated, must state that the traveller is accompanying their relative who is travelling for business/work or employment, has insurance and enough funds for accommodation and flights; this must also state the name of the inviting organisation.
• HIV test (for anyone over the age of 14 applying for Work/Employment visas i.e. a wife/husband/child).

If you are unemployed or self-employed (working from home) or a director of your own company:

• Provide your last three months bank statements - if they are online statements you will also be required to provide proof of your address with a recent utility bill, there must be a minimum of £ 100 per day of your proposed stay in Russia.

If you had Russian citizenship or were born in Russia after 1992 you must either:

• Show evidence that you no longer have Russian citizenship; if you no longer have Russian citizenship then the Russian Government would have issued you documents to that effect.
• Or travel to Russia on your existing Russian passport, or apply for a new Valid Russian passport.

Russian consulate processing speeds and charges

The consulate will process most applications in either 2 or 6 working days.  The costs are outlined below, they charge relative to the amount of entries and nationality – not by the length or type of visa.

• UK passport holders can refer to the table below; the exceptions follow this table:
  

Visa Centre Fees

We now also have to pay the visa centre (the privatized counter service for the Russian Embassy) an additional £22+VAT for a 6 day service or £28+VAT for a 2 day service.

Download forms and information

ATH Order Form (PDF) - can be completed by hand

Questionnaire for the consulate - this opens a new window on the visa centre website.

• For all passport holders - the Questionnaire for the consulate must be completed online - please state that you will apply in London and also in person on the when asked.
• Please do not pay them online; we will do this when we apply, also you must note the web refernece number as you will need this if you need to make any amendments to the form once completed.
• The Questionnaire may be slightly different depending on your nationality (US and UK passport holders will complete a different Questionnaire from all other applicants) but the online system will decide this for you.

All information regarding Russian visas (PDF)