Okay, folks, let’s dive into how I actually got my tourist visa for Russia. It wasn’t as scary as I thought, but it definitely took some doing.
Gathering the Documents
First things first, I grabbed all the necessary paperwork. This was probably the most time-consuming part, just making sure I had everything in order.
- Passport: Obvious, right? I made sure mine had at least six months of validity left after my planned trip.
- Visa Support Letter (Invitation): This one was new to me. Apparently, you need an official invitation from a Russian travel agency or hotel authorized by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I found a service online that provided these for a fee, super convenient.
- Application Form: I filled this out online, The form was pretty straightforward, asking for basic personal info, travel dates, places I planned to visit, etc.
- Photo: Just a standard passport-sized photo. I made sure it was recent and met all their requirements.
- Travel Insurance: It needs to be valid in Russia for your entire trip.
- Proof of Accommodation: I booked refundable hotel reservations and printed out the confirmations.
- Itinerary: I printed all flight booking confirmations.
Submitting the Application
Once I had all my ducks in a row, I have all the documents prepared above ready, next step to submittion, I chose to submit it in person.
So, I packed everything up neatly and went to the center, Filled a form and waiting for submit.
Waiting and Receiving
Then came the waiting game. I think I checked the status of my application like a hundred times a day, The website said it could take up to 20 business days.
Finally, the email I’d been waiting for! My visa was approved!.
Getting a Russian tourist visa definitely requires some preparation, but it’s totally doable. Just follow the steps, be patient, and you’ll be exploring Russia in no time!
