Russian Visas
- All travelers to Russia need visas, including people transiting
Russia from or to countries of the former Soviet Union.
- Travelers arriving without a Russian visa can expect to be turned
back at the point of entry.
- All Russian visas, except transit visas, are issued on the basis
of an invitation from a Russian organization or individual, known
as a sponsor. It is important to know who your sponsor is and
how to contact them.
- Russian law requires that sponsors -- not the foreign visa holder
-- apply to replace, extend or change visas. Without the support
of your sponsor, replacement of a lost or stolen visa can be difficult
and time consuming; extensions or changes to your visa may be
impossible. To resolve any visa difficulties, the traveler's sponsor
must contact the nearest Office of Visas and Registrations (OVIR)
for assistance. Resolving the visa problem usually requires the
payment of a fee and a wait of up to twenty calendar days.
- Visas are valid for specific purposes and dates. Travelers should
ensure that they apply for and receive the correct visa that reflects
their intended action in Russia (i.e., student visa, religious
worker visa, commercial visa). Foreigners can be expelled for
engaging in activities inconsistent with their visas.
- Please be aware that Russian law distinguishes "tourist"
and "guest" visas. Visas sponsored by Russian individuals
are "guest" visas, and visas sponsored by tour agencies
or hotels are "tourist" visas. Note that travelers who
enter Russia on "tourist" visas, but who then reside
with Russian individuals, may have difficulty registering their
visas and migration cards and may be required by Russian authorities
to depart Russia sooner than they had planned.
- The Russian government does not recognize the standing of
U.S. consular officers to intervene in visa cases. The U.S. Consulate
is not able to act as sponsor, submit visa applications, register
private travelers, or request that visas or migration cards be
corrected, replaced, or extended.
The Russian agency OVIR (Office of Visas and Registrations) of
Federal Migration Service deals with visa problems.
Central address in Vladivostok: 6 Poghranichnaya Street Tel: 43-25-76
Limitations on Length of Stay: In October 2007, the Russian
government made significant changes to its rules regarding the length
of stay permitted to most foreign visitors. For any visa issued
on or after October 18, 2007, unless that visa specifically authorizes
employment or study, a foreigner may stay in Russia only 90 days
in any 180-day period. This applies to business, tourist, humanitarian
and cultural visas, among other categories. Failure to comply with
this rule could result in arrest, deportation, and a five-year ban
from entering Russia.
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