Russia - Visa Information
Andrews Travel House can assist you with your application to the Russian Consulate, please find below detail information regarding the requirements, prices and timescale's involved in this process.
We can also process business visa authorisation for you (through the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs) or if you are going for tourism prepare a tourist invitation. To make an order, please complete our order form and send to ATH together with required documents and payment. If you need assistance with tourist invitation or business authorisation, please follow this link for more information on invitations to Russia.
You can send all documents by Registered Mail or bring them in person to our office. Please contact us to confirm receipt of delivery. We will always recommend you use a method of delivery that we need to sign for.
Web site address:
Russian Consulate web site address
Russian Visa Centre web site address
Addresses:
Consulates address, for addressing letters etc:
Consulate of The Russian Federation
5 Kensington Palace Gardens,
London
W8 4QS
Visa centre's address (where the applications are submitted):
Russia Visa Application Centre in London:
15-27 Gee Street,
London EC1V 3RD
Opening Hours:
08.30 - 17.30, (we must submit before 12.00).
Visa Requirements for UK and US passport holders:
UK and US passport holders do require visas to enter Algeria for business and tourist trips.
Important Information:
You can only have one valid visa at any time in any passport. If you have a valid visa in any passport it must be cancelled before or at the same time that we apply for a new one! The consulate does and most probably will find out if you try to apply for an extra visa. It is very likley that they will reject your application and will not refund the fees. Please don't try this!
Russian Visa Requirements
All Nationals
- Passport, with 2 blank pages (must have 6 months validity left on it past the proposed visa expiry date).
- 1 passport size photo, adhereing to the following specifications:
- No glasses.
- No hats or other head covering unless for religous beliefs or ethnic backgrounds.
- Must be printed on photographic paper.
- Your head should be about 3cm in height on the photo.
- No facial expressions.
- Look directly forwards.
- Your facial features must be clear and in focus.
- On a white / off white background.
- Cannot be the same photo as the one in your passport.
- Must be a recent photo.
- ATH Order Form (PDF) - can be completed by hand
- Questionnaire for the consulate - this opens a new window, this is hosted by the Russian Government. You must make a note of the ID and Password that it allocates you as it is likley that amendments will have to be made. Please do not print these on two sides of the same piece of paper, please print one sided over 2 sheets. Please see our guide to this form here.
- Both the consulate application form and our ATH order form must be fully completed and signed – failure to do so may cause delay to your application.
Additional requirements for visa type and nationaliy
- Tourist visas
-
- Hotel voucher/confirmation.
- If you have a lot of Russian visas in their passport there is a high chance you will be asked for a letter from your employer explaining that they are in fact going for a holiday and that it is not related to work.
- 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, if the visa is multiple entry then you need the original letter (if you have a telex or it is only a single or double entry invitation then a good copy is acceptable).
- 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.
- Work/Employment
-
- You must apply for this in person, we cannot submit this for you, we can only collect these on your behalf and check your documents.
- 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, if the visa is multiple entry then you need the original letter (if you have a telex or it is only a single or double entry invitation then a good copy is acceptable).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Accompanying family members
-
- 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, if the visa is multiple entry then you need the original letter (if you have a telex or it is only a single or double entry invitation then a good copy is acceptable).
- 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).
- Children under 18
-
- Copies of both parents passports.
- A letter of consent signed by both parents, addressed to the consulate.
- Unemployed, self-employed (working from home) or a Director of your own company
-
- Provide your last three months bank statements - if they are online statements they should be stamped by the bank, though quite opten they accept them not stamped, this depends on the bank. 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
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- 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.
- French nationals
-
- Last three months bank statements.
- Flight bookings.
- Nationals of Schengen states (most EU countries)
-
- must provide proof of insurance (medical or travel) valid for full period of stay in Russia. If they are covered by their employers company policy then a letter stating this from the employer is usually accepted, otherwise you must provide a certificate.
Austria Greece The Netherlands Belgium Hungary Norway The Czech Republic Iceland Poland Denmark Italy Portugal Estonia Latvia Slovakia Finland Lithuania Slovenia France Luxembourg Spain Germany Malta Sweden
- Nationals of countries in the below table must have a residence permit in order to apply at the consulate in the UK.
| Afghanistan | Georgia | Pakistan |
| Algeria | India | Rwanda |
| Angola | Iran | Sri lanka |
| Bangladesh | Iraq | Somalia |
| Chad | Nepal | Syria |
| China | Nigeria | Turkey |
| Ethiopia | North Korea | Vietnam |
- 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.
| Albania | Hungary | Norway |
| Austria | Iceland | Oman |
| Bahrain | Ireland | Romania |
| Belgium | Japan | Sierra Leone |
| Bulgaria | Latvia | Slovenia |
| Croatia | Libya | Saudi Arabia |
| Denmark | Lithuania | South Africa |
| Egypt | Luxembourg | South Korea |
| Estonia | Macedonia | Spain |
| Finland | Mali | Switzerland |
| Germany | Mexico | United Arab Emirates |
| Greece | New Zealand | Venezuela |
Russian consulate processing speeds and charges
Please note that you should expect the charges for Russian visas to be made up from the following:
- Invitation (if required),
- Agency fee,
- Consulate fee,
- Visa centre fee,
- Plus any additional delivery fees or credit card surcharges.
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:
Entries on the Visa |
Costs | |
| 2 Working Day Service | 6 Working Day Service | |
Single (tourist, Business or Work) |
£100 | £50 |
Double (tourist or Business) |
£130 | £65 |
Multiple (business or Work) |
£300 | £200 |
- All other nationals should check the visa centre's website for more details regarding the cost of their visas, as there is an extensive list available Click here for the visa centres' website.
- Nationals in the below table must provide their residence permit or permission for continuous stay in the UK for over 90 days or their visas will be processed at the speeds below for the same price as a 6 working day service.
- For EU passport holders as they will not have this then 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.
| Country | Consulate Processing Times |
| Australia | 10-14 working days |
| France | 10-14 working days |
| Israel | 10-14 working days |
| Italy | 10 working days |
| The Netherlands | 10 working days |
| Turkmenistan | 10-14 working days |
| USA | 10-14 working days |
ATH Agency Fees for Russian Visas
ATH will charge the following agency fees for processing the visa at the consulate:
Entries on the Visa |
Costs | |
| 2 Working Day Service | 6 Working Day Service | |
Single Entry |
£90+VAT (£108 inc VAT) | £65+VAT (£78 inc VAT) |
Double Entry |
£90+VAT (£108 inc VAT) | £65+VAT (£78 inc VAT) |
Multiple Entry |
£90+VAT (£108 inc VAT) | £90+VAT (£108 inc VAT) |
Visa Centre FeesWe now also have to pay the visa centre (the privatized counter service for the Russian Embassy) an additional £22+VAT (£26.40 inc VAT) for a 6 day service or £28+VAT (£33.60 inc VAT) for a 2 day service. Download formsATH Order Form (PDF) - can be completed by hand Questionnaire for the consulate - this opens a new window, this is hosted by the Russian Government. Please make a note of the ID and Password that it allocates you as it is likley that amendments will have to be made. Please do not print these on two sides of the same piece of paper, please print one sided over 2 sheets. Please see our guide to this form here.
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