To receive a tourist invitation to Russia, please indicate your citizenship. You will be provided with a registration form. Fill in all the fields carefully, then proceed to the next step to confirm and pay for your invitation.
3-Year Multiple-Entry Russian Tourist Visa for U.S. Citizens
U.S. citizens may request a multiple-entry Russian tourist visa valid for up to three years, with stays of up to 180 days per visit. Current Russian mission guidance explains how the requested three-year period relates to the first entry date in the tourist voucher. The issuing mission decides the validity and entries actually granted.
Need a tourist invitation for a regular Russian visa? Order only after checking that this is the correct route for your trip.
Order a Tourist Invitation — from $19Official 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.
Continue with the United States visa route
Use the country hub to choose between the e-visa and regular tourist visa. Order an invitation only when the regular visa route requires it.
Official sources for this guide
Visa rules and local procedures can change. Check the responsible Russian mission or MFA service before filing.
What the 3-year tourist visa means for U.S. citizens
US citizens may receive a multiple-entry Russian tourist visa valid for up to three years. Each visit can be up to 180 days; by contrast, single or double tourist visas allow stays of up to 30 days. There is no assurance that any particular validity period will be granted.
For this route, distinguish three pieces: the tourist voucher (invitation) from a registered hotel or tour operator, the visa.kdmid.ru application you complete and sign, and the visa that may be issued in your passport. The voucher supports your application but is not a visa.
- Multiple-entry tourist visas may be issued for up to 3 years.
- Each stay on a multiple-entry tourist visa can be up to 180 days.
- Single/double-entry tourist visas allow up to 30 days.
- For general tourism select COMMON TOURISM in the application.
| Visa type | Key points for US citizens |
|---|---|
| Multiple-entry tourist visa | Validity up to 3 years; up to 180 days per visit |
| Single/double-entry tourist visa | Stay up to 30 days |
| Private visit (friends/family) | Requires a private visa, not a tourist visa |
Tourist voucher: required content and accuracy
Your tourist voucher must come from a registered hotel or tour operator and include specific elements: your passport information, a confirmation number, a federal register reference, the host’s name and address, plus a stamp and signature. Voucher details should match the passport; obtain a corrected document before filing if any field is wrong.
Treat the voucher as the foundation for your application and check it line by line before you apply. Keep the confirmation number and host details to hand so you can enter the same data where the form asks for it.
- Obtain the voucher from a registered hotel or tour operator.
- Confirm every character of your personal data matches your passport.
- Obtain a corrected voucher before filing if any field is wrong.
- Keep the confirmation number and host details accessible when filling the form.
| Voucher field | What it must include |
|---|---|
| Passport details | Full data matching your passport |
| Confirmation number | Number issued by the registered host |
| Federal register reference | Host’s federal register reference |
| Host name and address | Registered hotel/tour operator details |
| Stamp and signature | Official stamp and authorized signature |
Need a tourist invitation for a regular Russian visa? Order only after checking that this is the correct route for your trip.
Order a Tourist Invitation — from $19Official tour operator (PTO 015681) · PDF by email · Verify the current filing rules for your location
Completing visa.kdmid.ru for the 3-year route
Complete the online form at visa.kdmid.ru, then print and sign it. For general tourism, select COMMON TOURISM. For the 3-year tourist route, the Embassy recommends entering the full three-year period starting from the first entry date shown in your voucher.
If you need to correct the application, you must start a new form to obtain a new draft ID. Any invitation (voucher) correction is a separate step, and the corrected voucher must still match your passport and application.
- Use your passport details exactly as shown.
- Copy voucher numbers and host data consistently where the form requests them.
- Align the first entry date in the form with your voucher.
- Do not assume a specific visa validity will be granted.
| Application point | Guidance from the Embassy |
|---|---|
| Purpose of visit | COMMON TOURISM for general tourism |
| Date range | Enter the full three-year period from the first entry date in your voucher (recommendation) |
| Form output | Print and sign the completed visa.kdmid.ru form |
| Edits | Corrections require a new draft ID; invitation corrections are separate |
Documents to prepare and stay limits
Prepare these items for a tourist visa: your US passport with at least two clear visa pages and validity at least six months after the requested visa expiry; the printed and signed visa.kdmid.ru form; a tourist voucher from a registered hotel or tour operator; and a photo. Keep the data consistent across all documents.
A multiple-entry tourist visa for US citizens allows up to 180 days per visit. Example: if your passport expires on January 15, 2031, set your requested visa end date no later than July 15, 2030 to satisfy the six-month passport-validity rule.
- Confirm your passport meets the six‑month validity and blank‑page rules.
- Keep voucher and application details perfectly aligned.
- Remember the 180‑day‑per‑visit limit on a multiple‑entry tourist visa.
- Do not rely on any specific visa validity being granted.
| Document | Requirement |
|---|---|
| US passport | Two clear visa pages; valid 6+ months after requested visa expiry |
| Visa application form | Completed at visa.kdmid.ru, then printed and signed |
| Tourist voucher | Issued by a registered hotel/tour operator with required fields |
| Photo | Photo to accompany the application |
Choose Washington, New York or Houston before filing
The three active U.S. filing posts publish different local procedures. Washington begins with preliminary document review by email. New York publishes its own appointment, payment and passport-return instructions. Houston accepts in-person filing by the applicant or a legal representative and states that visa applications are not accepted by mail.
Use the same selected post in the visa application and follow only that post’s current checklist. Appointment availability, payment and passport return are local operational steps; they are separate from the tourist voucher and from the consular decision.
- Select the receiving post before completing the application.
- Do not treat Washington email review as a mail-in visa application.
- Do not assume one post’s payment or timing rules apply nationwide.
| Filing post | Published starting point | What to recheck |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | Preliminary document review by email | Review instructions, appointment and passport return |
| New York | Local appointment procedure | Current fee, accepted payment and return method |
| Houston | In-person filing by applicant or legal representative | Appointment, representative documents and passport return |
Tourism and private-visit routes are different
A tourist visa and a private visa use different supporting documents. General tourism uses a tourist voucher from an eligible hotel or tour operator. A private-visa application follows the host and invitation rules published for that category, including the U.S.-specific direct-invitation route described by Russian mission guidance.
Choose the category that matches the purpose and supporting documents you will present. If the trip combines tourism with time spent with friends or family, confirm the appropriate category with the receiving mission rather than relying on a seller’s assumption.
- Select COMMON TOURISM only for genuine tourism.
- Ask the receiving mission which category fits a mixed-purpose trip.
- Use the supporting document required for the category selected in the application.
| Purpose | Appropriate route |
|---|---|
| General tourism with hotel/tour operator | Tourist visa (voucher + application) |
| Private visit supported by a host | Private-visa route under the receiving mission’s current rules |
| Unsure which to choose | Match your true purpose; do not mix routes |
Frequently asked questions
Can US citizens get a 3-year multiple-entry Russian tourist visa?
Yes, US citizens may receive a multiple-entry tourist visa valid for up to three years, with up to 180 days per visit. Issuance and the exact validity are not guaranteed.
What must a Russian tourist voucher include?
It must come from a registered hotel or tour operator and include your passport information, a confirmation number, a federal register reference, the host’s name and address, and a stamp and signature. Details should match the passport; obtain a corrected document before filing if any field is wrong.
How should I set travel dates on visa.kdmid.ru for the 3-year route?
The Embassy recommends entering the full three-year period starting from the first entry date shown in your tourist voucher. Keep the voucher, application, and passport data consistent.
What happens if I make a mistake on my application or voucher?
Application corrections require starting a new form to obtain a new draft ID. Invitation (voucher) corrections are a separate step, and mismatches should be resolved before filing.
Which route applies if I will visit friends or family in Russia?
Tourist and private visas use different supporting documents. Choose the category that matches the stated purpose and confirm a mixed-purpose trip with the receiving mission rather than assuming one route applies universally.
What documents do I need to apply for a Russian tourist visa?
You need a U.S. passport with two clear visa pages valid at least six months beyond the requested visa expiry, a printed and signed visa.kdmid.ru form, a tourist voucher from a registered hotel or tour operator, and a photo.
Where can a U.S. citizen file a Russian visa application?
Current Russian mission pages publish procedures for Washington, New York and Houston. Choose the post before completing the form because preliminary review, appointments, payment and passport return differ.
Need a tourist invitation for a regular Russian visa? Order only after checking that this is the correct route for your trip.
Order a Tourist Invitation — from $19Official tour operator (PTO 015681) · PDF by email · Verify the current filing rules for your location
Related guides and services
- Russian visa requirements for U.S. citizens
- Order a tourist invitation for U.S. citizens
- Russian visa fees for U.S. citizens
- End-to-end Russian visa timeline for U.S. citizens
- Compare Washington, New York and Houston filing routes
- Invitation letter sample for United States citizens
- Tourist voucher vs visa support letter for United States citizens
- Check an invitation before filing
Last updated: 2026-09-04. Information verified against consular requirements current at the date of update.