This article was co-authored by Anna Guryeva, a trusted member of wikiHow's volunteer community. Anna Guryeva is a Professional translator and Editor from Russia. She is certified in English to Russian Translation and has more than five years of experience in the field. She also received a degree in Financial Management in 2002 and worked in financial management for twelve years.
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Traveling to Russia can be an exciting experience, but you’ll need the necessary visa to complete your trip. Russia has a few different types of visas, including tourist, business, private, humanitarian, and student visas. You’ll have to make sure to get together the necessary paperwork and submit it in order. And remember to start early; bureaucratic processes can sometimes take a few months!
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Choose a tourist visa if you’re traveling for pleasure. These are perfect for taking shorter trips or vacations to Russia. They’re valid for 1-30 days (or up to 36 months if you’re a US citizen). You’ll be able to stay in whatever part of Russia you like. These typically take under 24 hours to process and cost $30 USD. [1] X Research source
Apply for a business visa if you’re going to Russia for work. If you’re traveling to Russia for work, this will most likely be the option for you. A business visa is valid for anywhere from 1 day to 12 months and allow you to travel freely through the country. [2] X Research source They typically take anywhere from 3-18 business days to process. They’re slightly more expensive than a tourist visa, usually costing somewhere between $80 and $300 USD. [3] X Research source
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Select a private visa if you’re visiting relatives in Russia. These are much less common than other types, but are typically used to visit relatives or close friends in Russia. A private visa is only valid for up to 3 months and allow you to travel freely throughout the country. [4] X Research source The price varies depending on your length of stay, but can cost anywhere from $80-$540 USD [5] X Research source . These typically take at least a month to process and require a lot of paperwork, so start well before you plan to travel. [6] X Research source
Choose a humanitarian visa if you’re traveling through an organization. These are pretty broad, but apply to traveling for cultural, political, scientific, religious, charitable, or sporting reasons. [7] X Research source Their allowed length of time in Russia varies pretty heavily based on your purpose there, but there is a 1 year maximum. You will be able to travel anywhere in the country. [8] X Research source The processing fees will also vary according to your length of stay, but expect to pay anywhere from $80-$540 USD. [9] X Research source These usually take anywhere from 5 to 20 business days to process, so give yourself plenty of time before traveling.
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Apply for a student visa if you’re studying in Russia. These are for students traveling to Russia for strictly educational purposes and allow you to travel anywhere within the country with an unlimited maximum stay. [10] X Research source These also require a decent amount of paperwork from your educational institution. Student visas take at least a month to process, and the price varies between $80-$540 USD depending on your length of stay. [11] X Research source The Russian Embassy also requires certification for a completed blood test, so be aware of that as well. [12] X Research source
