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Tips and tricks
- Some Russian consulates have their own rules or are more strict in their obersvance of Russian visa laws. If you want to be safe just ask your local Russian embassy or consulate about the latest changes in visa laws. Click here for an address and telephone number list of all Russian embassies and consulates in the world.
- Make sure you know the working hours of the visa departments of the consulate before you go to apply for a visa. Russian consulates are closed during Russian holidays (and sometimes also the day after), and normally they also don't work on holidays of the host country.
- Note that it can be a time-consuming experience if you go to the Russian consulate by yourself. It can take you at least half a day and you are lucky if there are no queues… but this also depends on how prepared and organised you are. You can also ask a local travel agency which specialises in visas to do this for you.
- It is wise to make copies of all your visa support documents before delivering them to the consulate, just in case something goes wrong. The consulate will not return your documents, except of course your passport with the visa.
- After you pick up the visa, check the dates before you leave the consulate! If there are mistakes bring it to the attention of the consulate immediately. If the error is theirs, they should correct it without problems and with minimal delay.
- Make a copy of your passport and the visa before you travel to Russia, so you always have a back up if you lose the originals. In Russia it is also better to carry copies with you instead of your official documents.
- Read everything about the Migration card and registration in Russia.
There are certain loopholes that exist within the law and knowing your way around them can save you a lot of time and money, particularly when it comes to getting an invitation and being registered.
Invitations and registrations
If you buy your invitation from a hotel or hostel, officially, you can get a visa only for the days you actually stay at the hotel for.
But what if you would like to travel through Russia as in individual, for example around St. Petersburg, Novgorod and Pskov, or you would like to take a cheaper option and maybe rent an apartment? Don’t worry – there are hotels, hostels and Russian travel agencies (our sponsors for example) where you can buy a tourist invitation for a 30-day tourist visa, but where you actually stay only one night (and sometimes not at all).
This practice is not illegal, it is just a loophole in the law which has existed for years.