Types of visa

TRANSIT VISA

A transit visa allows a single entry into Russia on a transit trip. Passengers traveling by aircraft are issued a visa for up to 72 hours only. Passengers traveling by land transport are issued a visa for a period sufficient to proceed through the territory of the Customs Union (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) by the shortest route possible, but not over 10 days.

No transit visa is required for international flight passengers making a stopover for no longer than 24 hours without leaving the transit zone of the airport in Russia.

Passengers of cruise vessels should apply for a tourist visa (if required).

Foreign nationals traveling along the Trans-Siberian Railway should apply for a tourist visa.

Requirements for transit visas:

1. Visa application form with 1 recent photo, size 3,5x4,5 cm.
2. Passport valid for at least 6 months from the visa expiry date with at least 2 empty pages and copies of the personal data page and the page with the current Zambian visa.
3. Paid tickets (not booking) to Russia and from Russia to the country of destination.
4. Hotel booking for the period of stopover (if available).
5. Copy of a valid visa to the country of destination (if required).
6. Copy of medical insurance policy covering the period of stopover (based on the principle of reciprocity).

TOURIST VISA

A tourist visa allows a single, double or multiple entry into Russia for tourism, short-term business negotiations, participating in exhibitions and auctions or medical consultations (not treatment). It is issued for up to 6 months.

Information for passengers of cruise vessels only:

Cruise vessel passengers get a visa waiver for 72 hours if they have a valid passport, are accommodated on board the vessel during the whole period of stay, come ashore with a group to travel along the specified tourist routes only (please ask your travel agent for more information), and if master of the vessel submits the passenger list 72 hours prior to the arrival of the vessel at the port. In all other cases you have to apply for a tourist visa.

Requirements for tourist visas:

1. Visa application form with 1 recent photo, size 3,5x4,5 cm.
2. Passport valid for at least 6 months from the visa expiry date with at least 2 empty pages and copies of the personal data page and the page with the current Zambian visa.
3. Tourist voucher from a licensed Russian travel agent (original or copy).
   A tourist voucher IS NOT hotel booking. It is issued only by certified Russian travel agents (for more information on obtaining a voucher please contact your hotel in Russia). 
4. Confirmation of reception from a licensed Russian travel agency (original or copy). This document is issued together with the tourist voucher by the travel agent.
5. Booked or purchased tickets confirming the dates of entry to and exit from Russia.

BUSINESS VISA

A business visa allows single, double or multiple entries into Russia for business purposes (including crew members and journalists). Single- and double-entry visas are issued for up to 3 months. Multiple-entry visas are issued for up to 1 year and allow staying in Russia up to 90 days within every 180-day period. Employment in Russia with a business visa is prohibited.

Requirements for business visas:

1. Visa application form with 1 recent photo, size 3,5x4,5 cm.
2. Passport valid for at least 6 months from the visa expiry date with at least 2 empty pages and copies of the personal data page and the page with the current Zambian visa.
3. Letter of invitation (LOI) issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (original only).
   LOI is issued by a regional division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the request of the hosting organization.

If you have a visa reference (telex) number provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia please inform the consular staff when applying for the visa (no LOI required).

4. Copy of medical insurance policy covering the period of the trip (based on the principle of reciprocity).
5. For Australian citizens only: detailed curriculum vitae in RUSSIAN LANGUAGE.

EMPLOYMENT VISA

A work (employment) visa allows a single or multiple entries into Russia for employment with a Russian entity. It is issued for up to 3 months (single-entry visas) and up to 3 years (multiple-entry visas).

Requirements for employment visas:

1. Visa application form with 1 recent photo, size 3,5x4,5 cm.
2. Passport valid for at least 18 months from the visa start date with at least 2 empty pages and copies of the personal data page and the page with the current Zambian visa.
3. Letter of invitation (LOI) issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (original only).
   LOI is issued by a regional division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the request of the hosting organization.
4. A valid HIV certificate issued by a hospital in Zambia if a visa lasts more than 3 months.
   An HIV certificate must be made out in English, contain the examinee’s passport data, birth date, country of residence, planned period of stay in Russia, date and description of the test method, and bear the signatures of the examinee and the doctor who conducted the test, with the official seal of the medical institution affixed. An HIV certificate is considered valid for 3 months from its date of issue.

 PRIVATE VISA

A private visa allows an entry into Russia for visiting family or friends (including cases of a severe disease or death of next of kin – proof required), as well as for receiving urgent medical treatment. 

Requirements for private visas:

1. Visa application form with 1 recent photo, size 3,5x4,5 cm.
2. Passport valid for at least 6 months (except cases of a severe disease or death of next of kin) from the visa expiry date with at least 2 empty pages and copies of the personal data page and the page with the current Zambian visa.
3. Letter of invitation (LOI) issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (original or electronic version).
   LOI is issued by a regional division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the request of a hosting organization or a Russian national. The request for issuing an invitation can also be submitted by a foreign national who lives in Russia under a Residence Permit.
4. For guests of foreign diplomats and embassy staff accredited in Russia:  Note Verbale with a request to grant a visa.

For guests of members of diplomatic missions and embassy staff accredited in Russia: if you have a visa reference number provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia please inform the consular staff when applying for the visa (no LOI required).

* Foreign nationals (regardless of the place of their residence) being close relatives (spouse, children, brothers/sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, son-in-law, daughter-in-law) of Russian citizens can obtain a private visa by submitting the following documents:

1. Visa application form with 1 recent photo, size 3,5x4,5 cm.
2. Passport valid for at least 6 months from the visa expiry date with at least 2 empty pages and copies of the personal data page and the page with the current Zambian visa.
3. A valid document certifying close relation between you and your Russian family member (original or a notarised copy).
4. Passport or its copy (only the first page) of your relative - Russian national.
5. A written visa request made out by your Russian family member at the Consular Section or its notarised copy (you can find the form here).
6. HIV-negative certificate (except for spouses, children, parents).
7. Medical insurance for at least 90 days (based on the principle of reciprocity). 

 HUMANITARIAN VISA

A humanitarian visa allows single, double or multiple entries into Russia for making contacts and developing ties in science, culture, education and sports, doing charity, engaging in religious activities, including pilgrimage, or delivering humanitarian aid. Single- and double-entry visas are issued for up to 3 months. Multiple-entry visas are issued for up to 1 year and allow staying in Russia up to 90 days within every 180-day period.

Requirements for humanitarian visas:

1. Visa application form with 1 recent photo, size 3,5x4,5 cm.
2. Passport valid for at least 6 months from the visa expiry date with at least 2 empty pages and copies of the personal data page and the page with the current Zambian visa.
3. Letter of invitation (LOI) issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (original or electronic version).
   LOI is issued by a regional division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the request of the hosting organization.
   If you have a visa reference (telex) number provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia please inform the consular staff when applying for the visa (no LOI required).
4. Copy of medical insurance policy covering the period of the trip (based on the principle of reciprocity). 

STUDY VISA

An education visa allows a single entry into Russia for studying at an educational institution (including short-term courses). It is issued for up to 3 months and can be extended to each subsequent year (but not beyond the tuition contract expiry date) by the division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia located in the foreign student’s registered place of stay.

Requirements for education visas:

1. Visa application form with 1 recent photo, size 3,5x4,5 cm.
2. Passport valid for at least 18 months from the visa issuing date with at least 2 empty pages and copies of the personal data page and the page with the current Zambian visa.
3. Letter of invitation (LOI) issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (original or electronic version).
   LOI is issued by a regional division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the request of the hosting organization.
   If you have a visa reference (telex) number provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia please inform the consular staff when applying for the visa (no LOI required).

DIPLOMATIC AND SERVICE (OFFICIAL) VISA

A diplomatic visa allows a single or double entry into Russia to holders of diplomatic passports. It is issued for up to 3 months and can be extended to each subsequent year by obtaining a multiple-entry visa (only for officers of foreign diplomatic and consular missions in Russia and their family members).

A diplomatic visa may also be issued to holders of ordinary passports who are recognized as having a diplomatic status by the Russian authorities.

A service (official) visa allows a single or double entry into Russia to holders of service (official) passports. It is issued for up to 3 months and can be extended to each subsequent year by obtaining a multiple-entry visa (only for personnel of foreign diplomatic and consular missions in Russia and their family members).

A service (official) Visa may also be issued to holders of ordinary passports who are recognized as having an official status by the Russian authorities.

Requirements for Diplomatic and Service visas:

• Visa application form with 1 recent photo, size 3,5x4,5 cm.
  Heads of state and government are not required to attach a photo to the application form.
• Passport valid for at least 6 months from the visa expiry date with at least 2 empty pages and copies of the personal data page and the page with the current Zambia visa.
• Verbal Note with a request to grant an appropriate type of visa.
  If you have a visa reference (telex) number provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia please inform the consular staff when applying for the visa.
• For Australian citizens only: detailed curriculum vitae in RUSSIAN LANGUAGE.