

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES AND VISAS
How to obtain a visa for Russia.
Foreigners wishing to visit Russsia must first obtain a visa. In order to obtain a tourist visa for Russia, you must fulfil a number of administrative requirements. Visa applicants must: Hold a valid passport that will be valid for at least six months after the end of their stay. The passport must have two adjacent empty pages to which the Russian visa will be affixed. If your passport does not meet these criteria, you will have to apply for a new passport (in this case, don’t forget to allow for the time needed to receive your new passport).
Have repatriation insurance and provide a certificate stating the following information:
- That the insurance policy is provided by a Russian insurance company or by a company that has signed a reinsurance contract with a Russian insurance company, or an insurance company that provides the same services as the companies mentioned above.
- The date on which the insurance policy ends and the exact dates of your stay in Russia (dates of arrival and departure).
- The policy number.
- The address and telephone number of the insurance company.
- The medical services and medical transport services covered by the insurance policy
- Confirmation that the policy covers the repatriation of the holder for medical treatment or of the holder’s body should the holder die during his or her stay in Russia.
- Confirmation that the policy is valid worldwide and in the Russian Federation, or in Europe and the Russian Federation.
- The insurer’s signature and stamp.
- Confirmation that the policy includes at least €30,000 of cover for medical treatment.
- The full name of the visa applicant as shown on the applicant’s passport.
Most credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.) include repatriation insurance if the card is used to pay for an air ticket and/or holiday. However, it is essential to check your credit card contract to ensure this is the case.
Heliski Russia can provide repatriation insurance for the sum of 1.5% of the cost of your holiday.
VOUCHERS : In order to obtain a visa for Russia it is first necessary to obtain a tourist invitation (also called a voucher). We will provide this document once you have made the final payment for your trip (i.e., at least 90 days before the date of your trip).
PHOTOS : You must also provide a colour passport photograph (35 mm x 45 mm, with a white background, printed on high quality photographic paper), taken during the last three months. It must be taken face-on, with your face in the centre and with a neutral expression (not smiling).
NB : The photo must be different from the photo on the passport you supply and must not have been used for a previous visa request.
Once you have all the documents required, you are ready to file your visa request. This can be done by making an appointment to file the documents and visa application form at your chosen Visa Centre or by going through a visa agency.
Your visa should be delivered within around ten days if your application is complete and meets all the criteria imposed by the Russian visa service.
NB : As it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain a visa, we recommend that you file your application as early as possible, but not earlier than 30 days before you leave.
FURTHER VISA INFORMATION
The procedure described above applies only to standard cases. In other cases (e.g., if you are travelling with minors or if you are a non-European citizen living in France), you may be required to provide other documents.
In addition, the above-described procedure only applies to “single-entry tourist visas” for stays of up to 13 days. Consequently, you must take into account the exact dates of your arrival in and departure from Russia (as stated on your plane ticket).
Please contact us if you would like to obtain a visa for a period longer than 13 days.
A tourist visa costs €61 per person for delivery within ten working days, €96 per person for delivery within four working days. This fee covers the processing of your application by the Russian consulate.
VISA AGENCIES : You can simplify the visa application process by going through a visa agency. The same documents will be required (we will provide the tourist invitation), but the agency will submit your application to the Russian consulate.
This type of service usually costs around €66 per person for delivery within ten working days 10, €108 per person for delivery within four working days (in addition to the consular fee mentioned above).