How Long Does It Take to Get a Russian Visa Invitation for Canadian Citizens?
Canadian citizens receive a Russian tourist visa invitation after payment and data checks when ordering online: complete a short form, pay from $19, and the PDF voucher arrives by email. The invitation is accepted as a printout by the Russian Embassy in Ottawa — no original document or courier delivery is needed for tourist visas.
Need a tourist invitation for a regular Russian visa? Order only after checking that this is the correct route for your trip.
Get visa invitation from 19$Official tour operator (PTO 015681) · PDF by email · Verify the current filing rules for your location
Where to submit your Russian visa application
After preparing your tourist voucher and application, choose the city where you will file. Each page explains the confirmed local submission route and links to the official source.
Two clocks: invitation time vs consulate time
The responsible embassy, consulate or visa centre controls the current fee, processing option and timetable. Check its official tariff and filing instructions before booking, paying or making non-refundable travel plans.
Since the invitation is the cheap and instant part (from $19), the sensible strategy is to order it as soon as your dates are approximately known and spend your planning effort on the Ottawa logistics.
Exact timelines by invitation type (2026)
Current issue times for Canadian citizens are shown below. All tourist invitations are electronic; original paper invitations concern only certain business and private visa scenarios.
| Invitation type | Issue time | Price | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist invitation (single entry, up to 30 days) | after payment and data checks | from $19 | PDF by email |
| Tourist invitation (double entry) | after payment and data checks | from $29 | PDF by email |
| Express tourist invitation (priority queue) | after payment and data checks | $39 | PDF by email |
Need a tourist invitation for a regular Russian visa? Order only after checking that this is the correct route for your trip.
Get visa invitation from 19$Official tour operator (PTO 015681) · PDF by email · Verify the current filing rules for your location
Canadian pitfalls that add days
The errors that actually delay Canadian applications are predictable. Passport validity is the first: your passport must be valid at least six months beyond your planned departure from Russia, and Canadian ten-year passports issued in the mid-2010s are now reaching expiry — check yours before anything else. The second is the bilingual name trap: if your passport shows a compound or accented name (common in Quebec), the invitation must reproduce it exactly as in the machine-readable zone, without accents, in the same letter order.
The responsible embassy, consulate or visa centre controls the current fee, processing option and timetable. Check its official tariff and filing instructions before booking, paying or making non-refundable travel plans.
If your travel dates move after you have ordered the invitation, request a corrected reissue rather than submitting mismatched documents. For electronic tourist invitations a reissue takes minutes and is far cheaper than a refused application.
Recommended schedule for a Canadian application
The responsible embassy, consulate or visa centre controls the current fee, processing option and timetable. Check its official tariff and filing instructions before booking, paying or making non-refundable travel plans.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can Canadians get a Russian visa invitation?
after payment and data checks. The tourist invitation is issued electronically and emailed as a PDF, which the Russian Embassy in Ottawa accepts as a printout with your visa application.
Do I need to send an original invitation to Ottawa?
No. For tourist visas, a printed copy of the electronic invitation is accepted. Original documents are only relevant for some business and private visa cases.
How long does the Russian visa itself take in Canada?
The responsible embassy, consulate or visa centre controls the current fee, processing option and timetable. Check its official tariff and filing instructions before booking, paying or making non-refundable travel plans.
I live in Vancouver — does that change the invitation process?
No, the invitation arrives by email wherever you are. It changes visa logistics: add courier time for sending your passport to Ottawa and receiving it back.
What does the process cost for a Canadian citizen?
The invitation service starts from $19. Check the current consular tariff and any courier or agency charges with the responsible filing office before payment.
My dates changed after I got the invitation — what now?
Request a corrected reissue from the issuing service. Electronic tourist invitations are reissued in minutes. Your visa dates must fall within the invitation dates.
Need a tourist invitation for a regular Russian visa? Order only after checking that this is the correct route for your trip.
Get visa invitation from 19$Official tour operator (PTO 015681) · PDF by email · Verify the current filing rules for your location
Related guides and services
Last updated: 2026-07-23. Information verified against consular requirements current at the date of update.