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.
Russian Private vs Tourist Visa for US Citizens Visiting Friends
For general sightseeing choose a tourist visa supported by a tourist voucher. The Russian Embassy in Washington says visiting friends or family requires a private visa; the private route uses host-side invitation documents rather than a tourist voucher.
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.
Tourist or private visa: choose based on purpose
Match your visa to your main reason for travel. For general tourism—sightseeing, hotels, museums—apply for a tourist visa and select COMMON TOURISM in the application.
If your primary plan is to visit friends or family, use the private visa route. A tourist voucher is for tourism; private visits rely on a host’s notarized direct invitation rather than a tourist voucher.
- Choose based on your main purpose, not convenience.
- For general tourism select COMMON TOURISM in the application.
- A tourist voucher does not cover a guest visit to friends or family.
- Private visits require a notarized host invitation, not a tourist voucher.
| Scenario | Visa type | Key support document |
|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing and hotel-based travel | Tourist visa | Tourist voucher from a registered hotel or tour operator |
| Staying with or primarily visiting friends/family | Private visa | Notarized direct invitation from an eligible Russian host or qualifying US resident in Russia |
Tourist visa essentials for US citizens
For a tourist visa you submit: a passport with two clear visa pages, valid at least 6 months after the requested visa expiry; a printed and signed visa.kdmid.ru application; a photo; and a tourist voucher issued by a registered hotel or tour operator.
Voucher details should match the passport and include the required issuer and trip fields; obtain a corrected document before filing if anything is wrong. Single/double tourist visas are up to 30 days, and US citizens may receive a multiple-entry tourist visa up to 3 years with up to 180 days of stay per visit.
- Ensure voucher data exactly matches your passport details.
- Select COMMON TOURISM as the purpose for general tourism.
- For a 3‑year tourist visa, the embassy recommends entering the full three‑year period from the first voucher entry date.
- Any application correction generates a new draft ID; invitation corrections are a separate step.
| Item | Requirement/Option |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid 6+ months after requested visa expiry; 2 clear visa pages |
| Application | Printed and signed form from visa.kdmid.ru |
| Photo | Recent photo per consular specs |
| Tourist voucher | Includes passport info, confirmation number, federal register reference, host name/address, stamp and signature; must fully match passport |
| Validity & stays | Single/double: up to 30 days; Multiple (US citizens): up to 3 years; up to 180 days per visit |
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
Visiting friends or family: the private visa route
The embassy states that visits to friends or family require a private visa. The official three‑year multiple‑entry private route uses a notarized direct invitation letter from an eligible Russian host or a qualifying US resident in Russia.
This route relies on host‑side documents, not a tourist voucher. Coordinate with your host to obtain the notarized invitation and follow consular instructions for private visa submission.
- Ask your host to arrange the notarized direct invitation letter.
- Choose the private visa if your main purpose is a guest visit.
- Follow consular guidance for submitting a private visa with the host invitation.
| Aspect | Private visa (guest visit) |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Visiting friends or family |
| Support document | Notarized direct invitation from an eligible Russian host or qualifying US resident in Russia |
| Validity | Official route allows up to three years, multiple entry |
| Tourist voucher | Not used for private visas |
Filling the tourist visa application correctly
For general tourism, select COMMON TOURISM in the online form. If you intend to apply for a 3‑year multiple‑entry tourist visa available to US citizens, the embassy recommends entering the full three‑year period starting from the first entry date shown on your voucher.
Keep all data consistent with your voucher: host name/address, federal register reference, and confirmation number. If you must correct the application, you will create a new draft ID; correcting an invitation is a separate action handled with its issuer.
- Print and sign the completed visa.kdmid.ru form.
- Check that your passport number, names, and dates exactly match the voucher.
- Keep track of the new draft ID if you submit a corrected application.
| Field | What to enter for a 3‑year tourist visa |
|---|---|
| Purpose of visit | COMMON TOURISM |
| Intended dates | Full 3‑year period counted from the first voucher entry date (embassy recommendation) |
| Host details | Copy exactly from the tourist voucher (name, address, federal register reference, confirmation number) |
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit a friend in Russia on a tourist visa?
No. The Russian Embassy in Washington indicates that visiting friends or family requires a private visa; a tourist visa with a voucher is for general tourism.
What must a Russian tourist voucher include for US citizens?
It must show your passport details, confirmation number, federal register reference, the host’s name and address, and bear the issuer’s stamp and signature. All details must match your passport.
How long can I stay on a 3‑year Russian tourist visa as a US citizen?
US citizens may receive a multiple‑entry tourist visa valid up to 3 years, with stays up to 180 days per visit.
Which dates should I enter in the tourist visa application for a 3‑year visa?
The embassy recommends entering the full three‑year period starting from the first voucher entry date when applying for the 3‑year multiple‑entry tourist visa.
What if my voucher or application has an error?
Ask the original issuer to correct an inaccurate voucher before filing. Any correction to the online application generates a new draft ID; handle the invitation correction separately.
Do I need a hotel voucher if I plan to stay with a friend?
For a tourist visa you need a tourist voucher from a registered hotel or tour operator. If your main purpose is staying with or visiting a friend or family member, apply for a private visa supported by a notarized host invitation.
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
Last updated: 2026-09-04. Information verified against consular requirements current at the date of update.