Checking Out A Breakdown Of The Russia Visa Fee For Travelers

Tourist visa

This is the cheapest and simplest visa. In particular, it allows a short-term stay of no more than 30 days. To apply for this visa, you need an invitation issued by a Russian travel company authorized by the Russian tourism agency.

With a tourist visa, you can enter the nation not just for vacation but also to conduct business negotiations or to see friends and family who live in Russia. Nonetheless, tourism should be the declared reason for your travel.

For a tourist visa, there are three entries: a single entry, a double entry, and multiple entries.

A tourist double-entry visa to Russia can be obtained for visits from Russia to nearby countries (such as the CIS countries, the Baltic states, etc.) and then re-enter Russia. 

An invitation letter, which can only be provided by a Russian travel agency listed on the federal register of tour operators, is required in order to obtain a tourist visa. Verification of a hotel reservation is insufficient to apply for a Russia tourist visa.

Business visa

The most common type of Russia visa for business travelers and extended stays is the business visa. This visa has a validity period of one month to one year and is applicable to applicants coming to Russia for the purpose of exchange, market survey, etc.

Particularly, it can be a single-entry or double-entry business visa, which is valid for up to 3 months. Besides, if you register for a multiple-entry visa, it can be valid for up to 1 year or up to 3 years in some cases.

However, according to Russian law, the duration of a business visa holder's stay in Russia cannot exceed 90 days out of a 180-day period.

Work visa

The most expensive and complicated type of visa required for foreigners to work permanently in Russia is the work visa.

There are two categories of work visas:

• Single-entry visa: Based on the work visa invitation, which is provided on the basis of a work permit, it is offered by the Russian diplomatic missions. Besides, its validity lasts 90 days.

• Multiple-entry visa: The local office of the Russian Migration Police will reissue a multiple-entry visa based on a single-entry visa for the duration of the work permit (no more than a year).

Student visa

For people who want to travel to the Russian Federation to study, a student visa is granted. The student visa is granted by Russia in response to invitations from the Ministry of Interior. The visa can be a single entry, a double entry, or multiple entries.

Its validity period of 90 days may be extended later by the Ministry of Interior for a maximum of one year.

Transit visa

For foreigners planning to pass through Russia on their way to a third nation, a transit visa is ideal. In fact, obtaining a transit visa is cheap and straightforward. It includes single-entry or double-entry transit visas.

If you stay in a transit area of the airport for more than 24 hours after your arrival in order to catch an onward or connecting flight, or if you have to stay longer in the event of a forced stop, you do not need a transit visa. Typically, transit visas have a maximum validity of three days for air travel and ten days for land travel.

A visa invitation is not mandatory. When your travel documents and visa to the destination country (if required) are presented to a Russian diplomatic mission, a transit visa is considered and issued (if accepted). Besides, applying for a tourist visa could be a good idea if you are having trouble getting your transit visa.

Humanitarian visa

Foreign nationals who are traveling to Russia for academic, cultural, political, or sporting purposes are eligible to apply for this visa. Additionally, it is also used for religious interactions and communication, traveling, almsgiving, or providing relief to the needy.

Private visa

Those who are going to Russia for a brief visit are granted this private visa based on an invitation letter. For foreigners who have friends or family in Russia, a private visa is acceptable.

Because obtaining a private visa is more complicated and time-consuming (particularly for your friends and family), it is advised that you use a tourist or business visa instead of a private one.

A private visa has a maximum validity period of 90 days. For this type of visa, you can be allowed a single entry or a double one to Russia.

At the request of an individual (a Russian citizen or a foreigner holding a Russian permanent residence permit), the local office of the Russian Migration Police will issue an invitation for a private visa (on a stamped form). The processing time of the invitation for a private visa may take up to three months.

Group I: Unlimited visa-free stay

• Belarus

• South Ossetia

Group II: Visa-free stay for no more than 90 days

• Countries whose nationals are obtaining an alien passport: Estonia;

• Countries whose nationals hold a non-citizen passport: Latvia;

• Countries whose nationals can visit Russia visa-free for non-commercial purposes: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Venezuela;

• Other countries: Abkhazia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.

Group III: Visa-free stay for no more than 60 days for non-commercial purposes

• Mauritius

• Samoa

• South Korea

Group IV: Visa-free stay for no more than 30 days for non-commercial purposes

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Laos

• Macao

• Mongolia

• Montenegro

• North Macedonia

• Palau

• Serbia

• Seychelles

• Thailand

Note:

• For Macau, Russian authorities just accept the Russian entry of the holders of a Macau Special Administrative Region passport.

• For North Macedonia, its nationals are required to provide a letter of guarantee or invitation along with a tourist voucher when entering Russia.

Group V: Visa-free stay for no more than 14 days for non-commercial purposes

• Brunei

• Hong Kong

• Nauru

Note:

• For Hong Kong, Russian authorities just allow the holders of a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport to enter Russia.

Group VI: Visitors in possession of a Belarus visa

Visitors holding a Belarus visa will be able to visit Russia without a Russia visa thanks to the agreement on visa recognition between Belarus and Russia.

Group VII: Visa-free stay for no more than 15 days

Only Chinese nationals are permitted entry into Russia for a maximum 15-day stay without a visa. The only requirement is that they must be going as part of a tour group (including five to fifty people) that is being led by a representative of a tour operator authorized to operate in both countries. 

Australia

Brunei

Chile

China

Hong Kong

Indonesia

Japan

South Korea

Malaysia

Mexico

New Zealand

Papua New Guinea

Peru

The Philippines

Singapore

Taiwan

Thailand

Vietnam

Types of fees

Description

Government fee (visa fee)

The government fee, which pays for the visa processing and issuance, is the main expense of the Russia visa. 

Depending on your nationality and the type of visa you intend to choose (a tourist visa, a business visa, a humanitarian visa, etc.), the precise cost may change. Therefore, you should visit the official website of the Russian Government for the latest information on fees. 

Service fee

The visa application procedure may entail a service charge in addition to the government fee. The portal that facilitates the application procedure frequently charges this fee. Thus, you should make sure to verify the fees related to your application to grasp the fees that you need to pay.

Additional fees

Although the government fee and service fee are the main expenses, other fees can be paid based on your specific situation. For instance, there can be additional costs if you need faster processing or more services. These costs can be specified throughout the application process.

Russia visa fee

Nationality

In 3 working days

From 4 to 20 working days

Visa transfer

Single entry

Double entries

Single entry

Double entries

Multiple entries

The United States

$185

$185

$185

$185

$185

$36

The United Kingdom

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Ireland

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Austria

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Belgium

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Bulgaria

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Croatia

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

The Czech Republic

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Denmark

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Estonia

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Finland

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

France

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Hungary

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Germany

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Greece

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Iceland

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Italy

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Latvia

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Lithuania

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Luxembourg

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Malta

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

The Netherlands

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Norway

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Poland

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Portugal

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Romania

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Slovakia

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Slovenia

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Spain

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Sweden

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Switzerland

$80

$80

$40

$40

$40

$36

Angola

$60

$96

$30

$48

$90

$36

Cambodia

$60

$96

$30

$48

$90

$36

India

$60

$96

$30

$48

$90

$36

Vietnam

$60

$96

$30

$48

$90

$36

China

$80

$130

$50

$100

$150

$36

Northern Macedonia

$100

$160

$50

$80

$150

$36

Some famous destinations in Russia

The Red Square

The Moscow Kremlin

The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed

The State Tretyakov Gallery

The Pushkin Museum

The Hermitage Museum

The Peter and Paul Fortress

The Catherine Palace

The UNESCO-listed Kazan Kremlin

The Kazan Kremlin

The Qol Sharif Mosque

The Kazan Cathedral

The Golden Ring

Lake Baikal

The Kamchatka Peninsula

The Church of the Blood

The Russky Bridge

The Vladivostok Fortress

The Trans-Siberian Railway

Mount Elbrus

The Valley of Geysers