Sample of the Business Travel Requirements for a Russia Visa for Australian Citizens
Personal Appearance
The Embassy / Consulate requires applicants from your particular country to apply for a visa in person.VisasDirect is unable to assist in this instance.
Please contact the Consulate General of Russia directly for further information:
Russian Consulate
7 – 9 Fullerton Street
Woollahra
NSW 2025
Ph: 02 9326 1866
Sample of the Tourist Travel Requirements for a Russia Visa for Australian Citizens
Visa Validity
Visa is valid for the specific dates issued on the official voucher/invitation. Entry and exit must occur within these dates.
The validity of the issued visa is at the discretion of the Embassy/Consulate and may vary to that advertised.
When to Apply - Applicants can only apply for a Russian visa if the entry date into Russia is within 3 months from the date of lodgement. In exceptional circumstances, applicants may be allowed to apply outside of this time if evidence supporting the early application is provided.
Duration of Stay
The duration of stay permitted is as per the dates on the official voucher. Maximum stay is 30 days (for double entry visas, the final exit date must be no more than 30 days from the date of first entry).
The duration of stay issued on the visa is at the discretion of the Embassy/Consulate and may vary to that advertised.
Passport
The applicant's actual passport. The passport must:
- Be valid for six months beyond exit date
- Have two blank facing visa pages
Photograph(s)
You must provide a photograph. Upload your photo and we will print it to the exact specifications required for this visa. Follow https://visasdirect.com.au/photo-service to upload your photo.
Alternatively, you may provide one colour, passport-type photograph that meets the following strict criteria: be taken within the last three months against an all-white background and printed on high-quality photo paper; be 45mm (h) by 35mm (w); provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression. You may wear neither eyeglasses nor headwear except for religious purposes. Your photo should be glued to the designated section of the visa application form (in the absence of a designated area, affix to the top right or top left corner).
Letter of Invitation
A valid voucher and official confirmation letter issued by a registered Russian tour agency or hotel is required.
The Russian consulate will only accept a maximum of two physical vouchers issued by no more than two Russian tour operators. If the applicant has received vouchers issued by more than two different Russian tour operators, please contact VisasDirect.
If applying for a double entry tourist visa please ensure that the voucher requests a "double entry". It is not acceptable to provide two tourist vouchers both requesting a "single entry".
VisasDirect can obtain a Russian voucher and official confirmation letter. Please indicate that you require VisasDirect to arrange this when placing your online order.
Please note: There are certain restricted areas of Russia which VisasDirect is unable to provide a voucher for. We will contact you if a city you have requested is restricted and we are unable to assist.
Please Note: The Official Confirmation Letter must state the applicants full name as it appears in the passport.
Proof of Travel Arrangements
Details of travel arrangements. These must be provided as a copy of a detailed itinerary showing exact entry and exit dates and locations into Russia.
Visa Application Form
One fully completed and signed online application form completed on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website https://visa.kdmid.ru/ (do not print double sided). VisasDirect provides a guide to assist you in completing the online application. To access the guide follow the link: https://visasdirect.com.au/forms?formname=Russia+Online+Visa+Form+Guidelines.pdf.
At the end of the Online Application Process you will be asked to "Select the location where you will be applying for your visa". Please ensure you select the following, based on your Residential State:
- Applicants residing in ACT must select "Russian Visa Centre (Canberra)"
- Applicants residing in all other states must select "Russian Visa Centre (Sydney)"
Note: This application form can only be completed once you have received your Russian voucher and official confirmation letter as a section on the Russian visa application form requires the name of the tour operator and reference / confirmation number from the voucher e.g. Grand Service Group - MVT / MBT 0022113.
VisasDirect Order Confirmation
Please provide the VisasDirect Order Summary which will be emailed to you at the time of placing the order.
Double Entry Applicants
Double-entry tourist visas are granted only if the following conditions are met:
- In between entries into Russia the applicant is visiting only a neighbouring country (i.e. shares a common border with Russia), a C.I.S country or a Schengen member country
- The applicant holds a valid visa for that country (if required)
- The purpose of travel to that country is tourism
Cruise Ship Passengers
Tourists travelling on-board large cruise ships do not require a visa if the following conditions are met:
- The overall period of their stay in the Russian territory is no more than 3 days (72 hours)
- They stay overnight on-board the cruise ship
- They go ashore only as a part of a group of passengers on the excursions organized by the cruise company
- The visa exemption does not apply to River Cruise Passengers
Tourists intending to go ashore independently, and not take part in the cruise company's organized shore excursions will require a visa.
Please Note: VisasDirect cannot assist with vouchers for passengers travelling into Russia on a river cruise. The applicant must provide the voucher directly from the river cruise company.
A single entry visa will only allow the applicant to disembark the cruise ship once.
If applicants intend to disembark the cruise ship twice, whether on the same day or two separate days, a double entry visa will be required.
Please Note: Cruise Ship passengers are only permitted to apply for a single entry or double entry tourist visa - Multiple entry tourist visas will not be issued.
If cruise ship passengers intend to disembark the cruise ship more than twice within 72 hours, the additional shore excursions must be pre-arranged shore excursions organized by the cruise company. In this instance, the cruise company will arrange blanket visas. Applicants should confirm with the cruise company to ensure that blanket visas will be available.Russian Born Applicants
Applicants born in the USSR and applying with a passport other than a Russian passport must provide proof of "Renunciation of Russian Citizenship" with their application. If this cannot be provided the applicant must apply and travel on a Russian passport. For information on cancelling one's Russian citizenship please contact the relevant Embassy/Consulate directly.
Applicants that were previously citizens of the USSR or the Russian Federation must also advise that they are no longer citizens of the Russian Federation by indicating at Q.2 on the online visa form why they gave up their Russian Citizenship e.g. dissolution of the former USSR, they left for "permanent residence abroad" before the 6th of February, 1992 or that their Russian citizenship was abrogated, otherwise the applications will not be accepted. It is not sufficient to just write "became an Australian citizen". At the question regarding if the applicant held a previous nationality passport and that passport was Russian, they must select "No".
Current citizens of the Russian Federation regardless of any other citizenship they have, must travel to Russia on valid Russian documents only.
Traveller Registration (Highly Recommended)
Stay informed and safe by having VisasDirect subscribe you to the Travel Advice Email Alerts of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. Registration enables you to receive the most up-to-date travel advice regarding safety, security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health. VisasDirect will register the email address provided in the order. To enroll in this optional service, add this option to your order within the order flow. (Note: the Australian Government does not levy a fee for this service).
