Russia

Updated: 02nd November 2021

Visa Procurement

Please be advised that visa requirements are subject to change and that visa procurement is the responsibility of the traveller and not On The Go Tours, therefore it is essential that you check current visa requirements with the embassy before travel. Please also ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your planned date of departure from Russia.

Most nationalities require a visa when travelling to Russia, and tourist visas are only issued to travellers who have fully booked and confirmed travel arrangements for the duration of their stay. In order to obtain a visa you can use a booking from a registered Russian hotel or a booking confirmation from a registered Russian tourist agency which is what we will provide. The booking confirmation you will receive from us is two pages (a tourist voucher and a confirmation) and it covers the duration of the tour and any pre or post night's accommodation that you have booked through On The Go. If you book your own pre or post tour accommodation you will need to request a separate booking confirmation from the hotel for these nights.

Please provide us with your passport details as soon as possible after booking. We need this information in order to provide you with a booking confirmation and train tickets.

Russia visa information for

UK Residents

The Russian government introduced biometric applications in the UK in 2014. That means that you need to apply for your Russian visa in person at the visa application centre in London, Manchester or Edinburgh and submit your biometric data at the time of application (fingerprints and facial image), along with the visa fee and your booking confirmation.

At present, it is advised that visas are taking longer than usual to process for UK nationals and therefore a minimum of 20 working days is recommended to complete your visa application.

Standard visas take on average 9 to 10 working days, and you must leave a minimum of 3 weeks before your trip to ensure you get your visa on time. Visa applications are only accepted 3 months or less prior to the date of your exit from Russia. If you need your visa faster than that then you'll need to pay an express visa fee.

If you’re a resident in the UK and would like someone to assist with your visa application then we recommend CIBT, please follow this link for more details on how to start your visa application with them - www.cibtvisas.co.uk/onthego

If you want to apply for your own visa please visit the relevant website below for a visa application form and instructions.

http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk
E-Mail: [email protected]
Tel: 09058890149

Russia Visa Application Centre
15- 27 Gee Street,
Barbican, London
EC1V 3RD

Russia Visa Application Centre
Peter House, Oxford Street,
Manchester
M1 5AN

Russia Visa Application Centre
64 Albion Road (back entrance)
Edinburgh
EH7 5QZ

RUSSIA VISA INFORMATION FOR

South African Residents

As of 30th March 2017, South African passport holders will be granted visa-free entry to Russia for a duration of up to 90 days when travelling without the intention of living, working or studying in Russia. For more information visit the Russian Embassy website.

Russia visa information for

Australia & New Zealand residents

Please visit the relevant embassy link below for visa form and instructions.

Australia
Embassy of Russia - Sydney
7-9 Fullerton Street, Woollahra NSW 2025
Tel : (02) 9326-1188 9326-1866
Fax : (02) 9327-5065
https://sydney.mid.ru/web/sydney-en/tourist-visa

New Zealand
Embassy of Russia - Wellington
57 Messines Road, Karori, Wellington
Tel: (04) 476 6113
Fax: (04) 476 3843
https://newzealand.mid.ru/en/

Russia visa information for

USA & Canadian Residents

Please visit the relevant embassy link below for visa form and instructions.

USA
Embassy of Russia
2650 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington DC, 20007
Tel: (202)298-5700
Fax: (202)298-5735
www.russianembassy.org

Canada
Embassy of Russia
285, Charlotte Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K 1 N 8 L 5, Canada
Tel: +1 613 236 1413
Fax: +1 613 236 6342
https://canada.mid.ru/en_US/web/canada-en

All nationalities -

Visa Application Guidelines

Here are guidelines on how complete the online Russia visa application form.

Please note that your visa application cannot be processed until all sections of the form have been completed and (if necessary) proof of residency is provided. Please use the following information to fill in the application:

• Please complete every question (in English) on the application form
• Visa Category and type: Common Tourism
• Type of passport: Tourist
• Purpose of section: Tourism
• Purpose: Tourism
• Reference Number: 000904
• Number of confirmation (this is the voucher number on your booking confirmation - which you will receive from your On The Go consultant)
• Name of tourist organisation: Via Hansa St Petersburg
• Medical Insurance: Is compulsory, your application will not be accepted unless ‘yes’ is ticked
• Please type your details, print out the page exactly as specified on the Russian Embassy Website and sign and date it in BLACK ink
• Hotel in Russia:
If your tour starts in Moscow: Izmailovo Delta Hotel, Izmailovskoe Shosse 71, Izmailovo, 105613 Moscow, Russia. Tel: +7 (495) 7377000
If your tour starts in St Petersburg: Harbor Club Hotel, 9-Ya Sovetskaya Ulitsa, 3, St Petersburg, Russia, 191036. Tel: +7 812 291-30-30
• Route of journey (e.g. Saint Petersburg, Veliky Novgorod, Moscow) - check your itinerary and note all cities visited in Russia in the order visited

The granted tourist visa is valid strictly for the specified dates of your itinerary including your chosen trip and any pre or post trip accommodation you may require. The visa lists entry/exit dates - so please exercise care when completing this section on your visa application form as On The Go cannot be held responsible for incorrect dates and your passport data.

Please note that once you have completed the visa application form online, you will need to print it out EXACTLY as stated on the Russian Embassy website and also ensure that your photo EXACTLY fits the photo box on the visa application page - otherwise the Russian Embassy can and will reject your visa application.

See Also

For more useful information when planning your trip to Russia, have a look through our handy Travel Guide resources:

Best Time to Visit - climate and seasons in Russia
Best Places to Visit - where to go and what to see in Russia
Top Travel Tips - what to expect of Russian trains, food and shopping
Traveller Reviews - hear why our passengers enjoy our Russia tours
Russia Video Lounge - see Russia revealed in these video picks
Visiting the Golden Ring - the region's history, the top attractions and how to get around
White Nights Festival - find out about this popular event in St Petersburg

Top Russia Deals