| VISAS |
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All foreigners (except citizens
of some former Soviet republics) visiting Russia need a visa. In
order to get one, travelers need an invitation from a Russian citizen
or a company, which is then taken to a Russian embassy or consulate,
where the actual visa is issued. Within three working days of arrival in
Russia, the visa needs to be registered by the person/organization
that issued the invitation. If you don't make it through this bureaucratic
loop, you may have problems leaving the country.
Prices for processing Russian visas vary according
to the applicant's citizenship and the embassy/consulate applied
to. Perhaps in response to the trials the U.S. Embassy in Moscow
puts Russian visa applicants through (see articles), U.S. citizens
routinely pay more for Russian visas.
There are six types of Russian visas, but
most travelers get one of three kinds:
Tourist Visas
Tourist visas are best for short visits.
According to Russian law it is illegal for a hotel to provide you with an invitation if you are
not going to stay there but this law is broken more often than it is followed.
Many agencies can get you a visa
and have it registered without a night booked in a hotel, and many
hotels will give you give you an invitation and register it even
if you're only staying with them for part of your trip.
Business Visas
Business visas aren't just for foreigners
working in Russia. Far more flexible than tourist visas, they are
often the best choice for tourists who are visiting friends and
don't need a hotel, or who are looking to spend an extended period
of time in Russia, especially those who want to travel independently
or extensively. In order to get a business visa you need an invitation
from a Russian firm, which can usually be arranged through a visa
agency. You do not need to plan hotel reservations or an itinerary
to get a business visa.
Student Visas
Student visas are a great deal; they're flexible,
lengthy, and entitle you to Russian prices for trains, planes, the
theater, and a host of other goodies. The only catch is that you
have to prove enrollment at a Russian institution. If you are planning
to enroll in a Russian university, the school authorities can probably
help you arrange the visa.
Other Visas
Other types of visas include Transit Visas,
On-the-Spot Visas, and Diplomatic Visas. Transit visas can be a
cheap option for travelers headed for China or Central Asia, but
it's often hard to make it in and out of the country in your allotted
window of time. On-the-Spot Visas are dubious, not universally available,
and very expensive. Diplomatic visas have a narrow range of applicability.
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| A new style Russian visa.
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| An older style Russian visa. Though most Russian embassies have switched over to the new style visa, there are still some older visas in use.
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How to Get a Russian Visa
Although it is possible
to arrange your own Russian visa, most travelers choose to hire
a visa service to do the work. Invitations can cost anything up
to and beyond $200, depending on the type of visa and the speed
of service. For an extra $20-$30, agencies take your invitation
to an embassy or consulate and send you the visa. Some services
will even take care of registering the visa when you arrive in Russia.
Given that each Russian consulate and embassy has different tastes
and temperaments, it's usually best to have somebody who knows the
ropes do the dirty work.
The only problem with
hiring somebody to handle your visa is figuring out who to hire.
Amid many honest and efficient agencies are a handful of fly-by-night
firms that tend to disappear as soon as they get your credit card
number. That shouldn't stop you from using a firm; just choose wisely!
See below for a list of visa agencies with an Internet presence.
General Russian Visa Resources
Visa Advice from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow
http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rs1/wwwhca5.html
Russian Consulates and Embassies
One way to find reliable visa agencies is
through Russian embassies and consulates. Unfortunately, only a
handful of them are online.
Russian Embassy in the U.S.: www.russianembassy.org/
Russian Consulate in New York: www.ruscon.com/
Russian Embassy in Canada: www.magma.ca/~rusemb/
Consulate locator; this page has contact information
for Russian consulates and embassies all over the world: www.russianembassy.net/
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