The procedure for obtaining visas to enter the territory of Russia

(excerpts from the RF government resolution of June 9, 2003 N 335)

“On approval of the Regulations on the establishment of the visa form, the order and conditions of its registration and issuance, extension of its validity, its restoration in case of loss, as well as the order of visa cancellation” with amendments to November 20, 2017)

A visa is a permit for entry into the Russian Federation, stay in the Russian Federation and transit through the territory of the Russian Federation of a foreign citizen during the period of validity of the visa in the manner prescribed by the legislation of the Russian Federation, except in cases where a foreign citizen in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation entry into the Russian Federation may not be allowed or in respect of a foreign citizen a decision on the undesirability of his stay (residence) in the Russian Federation.

The visa is issued on the form or with the use of a mastic stamp on the forms and in the order according to applications n 1-4.

A visa issued in violation of the requirements established by this Provision is considered invalid.

17. The authorized state body shall issue single, double and multiple entry visas.

A single-entry visa gives a foreign citizen the right to enter the Russian Federation 1 time, a double — entry visa — the right to double-entry into the Russian Federation and a multiple-entry visa-the right to multiple (more than 2 times) entry into the Russian Federation.

The total period of stay of a foreign citizen in the Russian Federation on a multiple-entry visa is established when the visa is issued by the authorized state body, but not more than 90 days for each period of 180 days, except for the cases provided for in this Regulation.

Categories and types of visas

Depending on the purpose of entry of foreign citizens into the Russian Federation and the purpose of their stay in the Russian Federation, foreign citizens are issued visas of the following categories:

(a) diplomatic (DP ));

b) service (SL);

c) ordinary (O);

d) transit (TR1 or TR2);

e) visa of a temporary resident (IP).

Depending on the purpose of entry of a foreign citizen into the Russian Federation and the purpose of his stay in the Russian Federation, an ordinary visa has the following types:

a) private (H);

b) business (D);

c) tourist (T), including group (TG);

d) educational (Y);

e) working (R);

(e) humanitarian (D));

g) to enter the Russian Federation for asylum purposes (A);

h) to enter the Russian Federation for the purpose of citizenship of the Russian Federation (GR);

i) to enter the Russian Federation in order to obtain a temporary residence permit in the Russian Federation (PR).

28. An ordinary private visa is issued for up to 3 months to foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation on a guest visit on the basis of an invitation to enter the Russian Federation, issued at the request of a citizen of the Russian Federation, a foreign citizen who has received a residence permit in the Russian Federation, or a legal entity, or on the basis of a decision of the head of a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Russian Federation on the issuance of a visa to a foreign citizen, the family members (spouse), minor children, disabled adult children who are foreign citizens accepted according to the application in writing of the citizen of the Russian Federation on joint entry into the Russian Federation of his family members (spouse). An ordinary private visa is also issued to a foreign citizen due to the need to enter the Russian Federation for emergency treatment or due to a serious illness or death of a close relative. Ordinary private visa can be single or double entry (paragraph in the wording of the Government decree

An ordinary business visa is issued to a foreign citizen entering the Russian Federation for business purposes. Ordinary business visa can be single or double entry for up to 3 months or multiple entry for up to 1 year. The total period of stay of a foreign citizen on the territory of the Russian Federation on a multiple-entry business visa is established in accordance with paragraph 3 of paragraph 17 of this Regulation. An ordinary business visa is issued on the basis of an invitation to enter the Russian Federation issued in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as an invitation), a decision of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation on the issuance of a visa to a foreign citizen sent to a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Russian Federation, or a decision of the head of a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Russian Federation.

An ordinary tourist visa for up to 1 month is issued to a foreign citizen entering the Russian Federation as a tourist. An ordinary tourist visa can be single or double entry.

An ordinary tourist group visa for up to 1 month is issued to foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation as tourists in an organized tourist group (not less than 5 people, but not more than 50). The essential conditions for the issuance of such a visa are: the following of all members of the group on one vehicle, the simultaneous arrival of all members of the group at the border crossing point at the entry and exit to/from the Russian Federation, stay at any point and movement within the territory of the Russian Federation only as part of the group. An ordinary tourist group visa can be single or double entry.

Ordinary tourist group visa is issued by diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Russian Federation at the organized entry of foreign tourists into the Russian Federation in exceptional cases due to difficulties in obtaining individual visas, and only with the permission of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Ordinary tourist visas, including group, issued on the basis of duly executed contract on rendering of services on tourist service and acknowledgement on reception of the foreign tourist by an organization conducting tour operator activity (hereinafter referred to as tourist organization), issued in the procedure according to the Appendix N 5 (paragraph in the wording entered into force since 18 October 2007 the government of the Russian Federation dated 4 October 2007 No. 635. The paragraph became invalid on October 18, 2007-resolution