Russian Business Visa Requirements

Step 1: Gather the items listed below

Valid, Signed Passport

Expired passports or passports with an expiration date less than six months from the date of entry for the visa you are applying for cannot be accepted. SPS can Renew your U.S. Passport if it is expired or expires in less than 6 months.   There must be at least one blank page for a visa stamp.

Russia Visa Application

The Russia Visa Application is an online application that is slightly difficult to navigate.  There are 2 ways to complete this, choose one of the two options below

• Option 1:  Complete the application by yourself by clicking on this link http://evisa.kdmid.ru/ (Estimated time burden 30-50 minutes).  If you do it yourself, we recommend printing the Russia Visa Application Guidelines to ensure the application is completed correctly.  We cannot accept your application unless you print the “Declaration and Password.”  When navigating through the application, you will be provided with this information at the very beginning of the online process.  By printing it directly from the website we will be able to edit/update your application if needed.   
• Option 2:  Complete this form, and fax it or email it to us (estimated time burden 10-15 minutes).  We will use the information to generate the online application for you, and email a scan back to you to print and sign.  Make sure not to ship us your documents until you have received our email.  Our fee to complete the form for you is $45.  In most cases, we can email it back to you within 24 hours. 
   

Letter of Invitation from the Russian Foreign Ministry

A letter of invitation from the Russian Foreign Ministry is required. It must contain:

• Official seal and legal address of the agency
• Document registration number
• Date of registration
• Signature and name of official authorized to invite foreigners
• Travel itinerary, dates of stay, and the names of persons invited.
• This letter should be obtained by your host company in Russia by contacting the Russian Foreign Ministry.  Swift Passport can obtain this for you.  Our fee ranges from $115-$305 per invite depending on the number entries, duration of visa, and urgency.  Please see attachment "Russian Business Visa Invite", to determine the process, turn-around time, and fee. It can take several days to obtain this. If you complete and email or fax this form to us we can apply for the invite before you send us your application materials.
• If you obtain this invite on your own using TELEX, we will need to know which Russian Consulate in the USA your Telex is being sent to. Please request that it goes to the San Francisco consulate if possible. The information on your invite and on your application must match: duration of stay and number of entries are determined by the information on your invite.

NON U.S. citizens: Proof of Medical Insurance

All Non-US citizens applying for a Russian visa will need to provide proof of medical insurance (travel insurance with medical coverage or regular health insurance). A paper copy of the policy or a copy of the insurance card will be accepted.

Two Passport Photos

Photo Requirements: Photos must have been taken in the last 6 months, be 2 inches by 2 inches in size, and have white background with no patterns or background objects visible. Photo must be in color and be free of glare. Ears should be visible, and you must be facing forward. Dark glasses, headbands, and spaghetti straps are not permitted. Feel free to smile!

Option 1: email a photo to Swift Passport Services photos@swiftpassport.com using the following guidelines. Swift Passport will size and print your passport photos for a nominal fee of $15.

• Photo file needs to be attached to the email as a .jpeg file.  Other file formats cannot be properly formatted
• Have someone else take the picture of you; please do not send pictures you take of yourself.
• Photos need to be taken with a digital camera, phone camera photos will be of insufficient quality
• Please do not attempt to resize or format the photo in any way

Option 2: Obtain 2 passport photos from a passport photo service (Walgreens, CVS, FedEx, etc.). Include these photos in your package to Swift Passport Services.

Letter of Authorization

1 signed Swift Passport Services Letter of Authorization

A Standard Tourist Confirmation/Voucher of Stay

Must come from a hosting authorized Russian travel agency or a hotel, registered with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a voucher from your hotel or travel agency in Russia.  If you are unable to get this, we can get one for you at cost for $30

Payment

There are 3 fees associated with this service that can be paid with all major credit cards or a money order

1. Swift Passport Service Fee: $99 Regular (10 Day) Processing, $125 for Rush (3-5 Day) Processing, $275 Emergency (1-2 Day) Processing          
2. Russian Consulate Single and Double entry visa fees.  As of April 11th, 2012, add $30 to the consular fee for each applicant, due to new Russia Visa Processing Center
   o    $150 for 7-10 business days processing (single or double)
   o    $250 for 3-5 business days processing (single or double)
   o    $250 for 1-2 business days processing (single or double)
   o    $450 for 3-5 business days processing (multiple)
   o    $450 for 1-2 business days processing (multiple)
   Payment payable to: Russian Embassy.  Payment must be made with Money Order or Cashier's Check. For $5, Swift Passport can obtain the money order for you and you may pay Swift Passport with Credit Card
3. Shipping: starting at $15. Swift Passport Services offers inbound and outbound shipping upon request

Submit your order to make payment for the above fees.

Step 2: Submit Your Order

• Option 1: Submit your order online
• Option 2: Call 877.917.9438 and place your order over the phone. Placing your order on the phone takes only a few minutes. Please be prepared to give us payment and shipping instructions.
• Option 3: Click here to print an order form. Complete the form and send it to Swift Passport with your visa application materials.

Step 3: Ship all Application Materials to Swift Passport Services

We highly recommend that you use FedEx to ship your application materials, as they are the most reliable shipping service and will provide you with accurate tracking information. Please ship your application materials to our Chicago location unless you have discussed an alternate location with our passport and visa specialists. Swift Passport Services can email you a pre-paid FedEx airbill to use for inbound shipping upon request. Please call or email us if you would like us to email you a pre-paid airbill. Applications will be submitted the day they are received if they are sent PRIORITY overnight.

We will need your application by 10:30 to begin processing your application the day we receive it (FedEx Priority overnight is recommended). Our office building does not accept Saturday deliveries.