Frequently Asked Questions About Russian Visas

A Russian visa invitation, also called a Letter of Invitation (LOI), is a supporting document for the relevant regular-visa category. A tourist invitation normally contains a Tourist Voucher and a Confirmation document; business and private routes use different supporting documents. An invitation is not required for the unified e-visa. Always check the exact document list published by the consular office or visa centre handling the application.

A tourist invitation is commonly issued as a Tourist Voucher and a Confirmation document. It contains the traveller's details, travel dates and the tour operator's details, including its federal registry number. The sample below shows the layout used by our service with personal data obscured. Your document is sent after payment and data checks; verify every field against the passport and current filing instructions.

The price depends on the type of invitation, duration, and nationality. For more detailed information, please contact our managers.

Timing depends on the invitation type and the source data. Tourist invitations are sent after successful payment and data checks. The business service is limited to Schengen, U.S. and Japanese citizens; eligibility, document format, timing and price are confirmed before processing. For private and work routes, use the current timetable published by the competent authority handling the application.

Document-format requirements vary by consular office and visa centre. Before filing, check whether the office accepts a printed PDF or requests another format or an original document. The format requirement is separate from the visa decision, which remains with the consular office.

A tourist invitation supports a regular tourist-visa application and consists of a Tourist Voucher and Confirmation document; the iVisa service starts from $19. A business invitation supports a permitted business purpose. The iVisa business service is available only to citizens of Schengen countries, the United States and Japan, with eligibility, format, timing and price confirmed before processing. The consular office determines visa validity and entries.

To issue a tourist invitation online or with the assistance of our manager, a passport copy and hotel reservation are required. We do not provide hotel booking services, so reservations should be made in advance by the applicant. For business invitations, we will also need details about the inviting company in Russia and the purpose of your visit.

No, for a tourist visa you need accommodation confirmation as part of your invitation. However, you do not need to actually stay at the hotel listed in the invitation — it serves as a formal requirement. Our tourist invitation includes a hotel confirmation document automatically. You are free to stay at any accommodation during your trip. For business visas, no hotel booking is required as the inviting company takes responsibility for your accommodation arrangements. For private visas, the inviting individual provides their residential address.

The iVisa business-invitation service is available to citizens of Schengen countries, the United States and Japan. Our team checks the actual business purpose and required document format, then confirms eligibility, timing and price before processing. The consular office determines the visa decision and parameters.

Entry rules depend on citizenship, passport type and trip purpose. Citizens on the current 64-country list may apply for the unified e-visa for a stay of up to 30 days and must use authorised entry and exit checkpoints. Other travellers may have a bilateral visa-free route or need a regular visa. Verify the current rule with the official Russian MFA source before travel.

The maximum duration depends on the visa type. Tourist visas allow stays of up to 30 days (single entry only, non-extendable). Business visas can be issued for up to 1 year with multiple entries, allowing stays of up to 90 days per entry (with a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period). Work visas are valid for up to 3 years with multiple entries. Student visas are valid for the duration of the study program. Private visas allow stays of up to 90 days. Transit visas are valid for up to 10 days. The e-visa allows stays of up to 30 days. Note: the visa validity period (how long you can use it) differs from the permitted stay duration (how many days you can remain in Russia per entry).

All foreign citizens must complete migration registration within 7 business days of arrival in Russia (1 day for citizens of some countries). If staying at a hotel, hostel, or other commercial accommodation, the establishment handles registration automatically — you will receive a tear-off portion of the notification form. If staying in private accommodation, your host (the person at whose address you are staying) must submit a notification to the local migration office (GUVM MVD) through a post office, MFC (multifunctional center), or online via Gosuslugi. You must keep the registration document with you at all times. Failure to register can result in fines of 2,000-5,000 rubles and potential deportation.

Tourist visas cannot be extended under normal circumstances — you must leave Russia before your visa expires. Business and work visas can be extended through the local GUVM MVD (migration authority) office, but this requires valid grounds and supporting documents from your inviting organization. In emergency situations (medical emergency, natural disaster, flight cancellation), you can apply for a visa extension at the nearest GUVM MVD office with supporting documentation. Overstaying your visa by even one day can result in a 3-5 year entry ban to Russia. If you need more time, it is better to exit and re-enter on a new visa.

iVisa provides a tourist-invitation preparation service and includes the tour operator's registry details in the issued document. Before payment, review the company details, service scope and payment options shown in checkout. Use of the invitation depends on the filing office's requirements, and the consular office makes the visa decision.

An invitation does not guarantee visa approval. If an application is refused, follow the instructions from the consular office and check whether the invitation data and travel dates remain suitable before submitting anything again. Contact support if the invitation document itself needs correction; the consular office controls the visa decision and any new filing requirements.

Travel must remain consistent with the visa, declared purpose and applicable registration rules. Many destinations can be visited with a valid visa, but restricted territories and some border areas require separate permission. Keep accommodation and registration records current and verify special-access rules for each destination.

The unified e-visa is available to citizens of the current 64-country list published by the Russian MFA. It is single-entry, valid for 120 days from issue and permits a stay of up to 30 days; no invitation is required. Processing takes no more than four calendar days, the payable amount is shown on the official portal, and entry and exit are limited to authorised checkpoints.

Checkout displays the payment methods, currency and payable amount available for the order. Review those details before confirming payment. Do not send card data by email or chat; use only the payment page linked from the order flow.

A single-entry visa permits one entry, a double-entry visa permits two, and a multiple-entry visa permits repeated entries within the limits printed on the visa. Available entries and validity depend on visa category, citizenship, trip purpose and the consular decision. Check validity, number of entries and permitted stay on the issued visa before each trip.