Who Needs a Visa?
As a rule of thumb, Russia’s visa-free travel agreements are reciprocal, meaning that if Russians need a visa to visit your country, you can pretty much be certain you need one to visit Russia as well (exceptions to this rule of thumb include cruise ship passengers, for example; we’re not covering such cases here). Specifically, citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and all member countries of the EU have to apply for a visa in order to visit Russia. On the other hand, most Latin Americans, citizens of many Asian countries, as well as South Africans, don’t.
How Does One Get a Russian Visa?
You get it at the Russian embassy or consulate in the country where you reside. In addition to all the ho-hum stuff (passport, application form, etc), and possibly additional country-specific stuff (which depends on the country in which you’re applying), the list of document includes one item that causes much confusion: a “tourist invitation.”
What is a Tourist Invitation / Voucher?
A “tourist invitation” (also called a voucher) is a document issued by a licensed tour operator or a hotel, which basically confirms that you have booked your accommodation. Many people immediately ask: can’t I just stay in an AirBnB? You can, but there are some rules to follow (read on). The thing to remember is that even if you intend to rent yourself, you still need a voucher (or a hotel reservation) to apply for your visa. One frequently used tactic is to request a voucher from a hotel, pay the voucher fee, obtain a visa with the voucher, and then cancel the reservation. Or you can simply go with a stand-alone voucher. One minor downside is that you are still required to register your residence once you’re in Russia. If you were staying at a hotel, this would be done for you automatically. If you’re booking elsewhere, you’ll have to do it yourself.
Vouchers are not particularly expensive: the cost is typically around 30 dollars (for tourist vouchers) or the price of one additional night at the hotel (for hotel-issued ones). Just make sure the organization issuing the voucher is licensed to do so. Its license number should be on the document.
It is technically possible to obtain a visa by requesting a personal invitation (e.g. from a friend of family member), but the paperwork is much more complicated, so we're not covering this option.
Applying
With a voucher in hand, you can go to your local consulate. The list of documents to bring (double-check the rules at your local embassy or consulate) normally includes:
- Passport
- Visa application form
- Photo
- Voucher
- Visa processing fee payment
- Proof of insurance
Migration Card
When you enter the country, you will be given a “Migration Card” which you should always keep with you, preferably in your passport. This document will be needed if you’re ever asked for an ID by a police officer. In addition, you need it in order to register your place of residence in Russia.
Residence Registration
You are supposed to register your address in Russia within 7 days of arrival. This can be done at the local office of the Federal Migration Service, FMS (ФМC in Russian) or through a Post Office, using a special form.
If you’re staying at a hotel, this turns into a simple formality: the staff will do it automatically. Likewise, if you booked your accommodation through a company that provided you with the invitation and visa support, they should register you automatically.
It gets a little more complicated if you obtained a tourist voucher and have booked your accommodation independently. By law, your landlord (this category includes AirBnB hosts) is supposed to register you. You’ll probably do well to ask them whether they know how to do it before booking. Chances are, if they are hosting foreign guests frequently, they know the procedure. It's worth noting that it is the hosts' obligation to register any foreign guests staying at their property (they are risking fines if they don’t do it), but it never hurts to check in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises such a host who is reluctant or unwilling to help with this formality.
Regardless of your situation, you should keep your copy of the registration form (or the receipt from the FMS) with until the end of your trip: you may be asked to show it when leaving the country.
Links:
- Visa_policy_of_Russia (Wikipedia)
- Migration Card (Wikipedia)
- Federal Migration Service (Russia)
- Migration Registration (mid.ru; the Foreign Affairs Ministry; official site)