russia tourist visa vfs

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How to apply for a Russian visa in the USA

How do i apply for a russian visa in the usa.

• You can apply through the Russian Consulate, an official visa center or through a travel agency
• You can apply in person or by mail to the VFS Global Visa Center
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the proposed visa expiration date and it must have at least 2 blank pages facing one another

First step - selecting your visa type and reviewing the list of requested documents

Your first step in applying for a Russian visa in the USA is to select the category of visa that you will apply for and review the list of documents requested by the Consulate. For example, to apply for a tourist visa, the following documents are required:

1. Visa invitation. Visa invitations can be obtained from your hotel, a travel agency or you can order one on our website using the following link .

2. Passport with no less than 2 empty pages for visas facing one another, valid for 6 months from the proposed visa expiration date.

3. Electronic Visa Application Form  filled out  on the official website of the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry . You can find a more detailed instruction on filling in this application form in  our instruction .

4. One passport size (3.5 x 4.5 cm) photo

5. Copy of the data page of the passport

Second step - deciding where to apply for visa

Applying for visa at the consulate.

The next step is to decide where you would like to apply for the visa. Travelers from the USA can apply for a Russian visa directly through a Consulate or through a visa center. There are 3 Russian Consulates in the USA:

• Consulate in Washington
• Consulate in New York
• Consulate in Houston

You should decide in advance where to apply for your visa and choose the correct option while filling in the Electronic Visa Application Form  on the official website of the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry :

If you prefer to apply through the Russian Consulate directly, you can schedule an appointment online using the links below:

• Schedule an appointment in Washington
• Schedule an appointment in New York
• Schedule an appointment in Houston

Please note that if you a traveling with family or friends, each person should schedule an appointment individually. The Consulate does not accept cash, credit or debit cards, personal or company checks, visa services can only be paid though a money-order or cashier’s checks payable to Consulate General of Russia.

Applying for Visa through VFS Global

Unlike the Consulate, VFS Global  does not require scheduling an appointment and accepts debit and credit cards, cash and money orders to VFS Services (USA) Inc. You can check the consular fees and service fees charged by VFS Global service here . 

Using Full Visa Service

Alternatively, you can use our company’s Full Visa Service  and we will take care of all contact with the Consulate. In this case, you send your passport and documentation to our processing centre and we take care of the rest.

Our travel brands include

Express to Russia

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Sri Lanka Rolls Out Free 30-Day Tourist Visas for 35 Nations: Did Your Country Make the List?

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

August 26th, 2024 at 5:59 AM EDT

Thailand, Malaysia, China – and now Sri Lanka – are catching on: relaxing travel rules boosts tourism. With Sri Lanka eyeing a jump from 1.49 million visitors last year to 2.5 million this year, easing entry is their big play.

Peden Doma Bhutia

Sri Lanka is set to launch a six-month pilot program on October 1, offering free 30-day tourist visas on arrival to citizens from 35 countries, including the U.S., UK, Russia, India and China. The initiative, which temporarily waives the typical $50 visa fee, aligns with the island nation’s peak travel season, lasting from December to mid-April. This move is part of a broader strategy to revitalize tourism, a sector crucial to Sri Lanka’s economy.

Sri Lanka aims to welcome 2.5 million tourists and attract revenue worth $4 billion by the end of this year. Tourism arrivals peaked in 2018 in Sri Lanka, when 2.5 million tourists spent $4.4 billion in the country.

Last year in December the country finally announced its plans to roll out its global tourism marketing campaign urging tourists “You’ll Come Back For More,” marking the first such campaign since 2007.  

The free visa announcement comes amid ongoing concerns over a visa scam that has sparked significant controversy. In April, the Immigration Department, replaced the state-run telecommunications company Mobitel, which managed the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, with a consortium of foreign companies. The companies included Singapore-registered GBS Technology Services, the UAE-registered IVS Global-FZCO, and the Dubai-headquartered VFS VF Worldwide Holdings.

Following a public outcry and multiple legal challenges, Sri Lanka’s highest court ordered a return to the local provider.

Tourism Resurgence

Tourism, a vital revenue stream for Sri Lanka, has seen a resurgence in 2024. Between January 1 and August 19, the country welcomed over 1.3 million tourists, with India, the UK and Russia being the top source markets.

Earnings from tourism in the first half of 2024 soared to over $1.5 billion, a 78% increase year-on-year, highlighting the sector’s rapid recovery. This is particularly significant given the political and economic turmoil that had previously deterred visitors.

Europe continues to be a major influence, accounting for nearly half of all arrivals, while Asia and the Pacific regions have also emerged as key contributors. The increase in visitors from these regions underscores shifting dynamics in Sri Lanka’s tourism landscape.

In 2023, Sri Lanka saw a significant rebound in tourism, welcoming 1.49 million visitors – more than double the 2022 figures, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

Industry Reaction

The travel industry welcomed the visa-free initiative. Sam Clark, CEO of Experience Travel Group, described it as a “game-changing blueprint” for the country’s tourism future. “It’s a huge opportunity for British ministers to negotiate a permanent visa-free arrangement,” Clark said.

From 2018, the British government had warned tourists from visiting the Asian country saying “food, medicine and medical services” may be limited by political unrest. This has had an impact on tourism to Sri Lanka, with bookings still well below 2018 figures.

Krishna Rathi, senior country director at Agoda, noted that easing travel restrictions typically leads to increased interest in a destination, as seen in other countries that have introduced similar measures.

“We saw an increase in Agoda’s search data when Thailand and Malaysia introduced visa waivers for Indian tourists, and the same effect occurred more recently when India removed tourist visa fees for Thai travellers. We’ll be sure to keep a close watch on how this impacts visitors to Sri Lanka,” Rathi said.

Sri Lanka Monthly Tourism Arrivals

Source: Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority

The Russia Angle

The visa-free program, while temporary, could serve as a catalyst for further growth, particularly from markets like Russia, where arrivals have been bolstered by direct flights.

However, the momentum has shown signs of slowing since May 2024, prompting calls for targeted measures to sustain and grow this important market. Industry experts suggest that reducing the financial burden on travelers could be key to attracting more Russian tourists. Proposed measures include exempting embarkation fees and landing and parking costs for flights, particularly at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, which has been effective in the past.

Additionally, allowing transactions in native currencies could further ease the travel process and enhance Sri Lanka’s appeal to Russian visitors.

The List of Countries

Travelers from the following countries will be approved for free 30-day tourist visas to Sri Lanka starting on October 1, 2024, until April 2025:

• United Kingdom
• United States
• Saudi Arabia
• South Korea
• Netherlands
• United Arab Emirates
• Switzerland
• New Zealand
• Czech Republic

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Tags: asia monthly , india outbound , sri lanka , uk , visa , visa waiver , visas

Photo credit: Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka. Anton Lecock / Unsplash

Documents Required

Photo specifications, processing time, download forms.

Standard tourist visas issued to citizens of Turkey, other countries or stateless persons entering the Russian Federation for short-term stays in the country for the purpose of tourism (going to cultural events, excursions, sight-seeing) on the basis of a confirmation that the foreign tourist is going to be hosted by a Russian tour operator.

The maximum validity period of a tourist visa is no more than 30 days.

A Tourist visa entitles visitors to enter the country to conduct brief business negotiations, attend exhibitions, auctions and medical consultations or examinations. In such cases, in order to confirm that the foreign tourist is expected, 'tourism with a special purpose' should be put in the field 'purpose of visit', and the visa will be issued for the number of days required in order to attend the event, as shown in the accommodation confirmation (provided this is no longer than 30 days).

Tourist visas to the Russian Federation are either single-entry or double-entry.

Double-entry tourist visas are issued to foreign nationals only in cases when, according to the documents, the tourist plans to visit other states neighboring Russia during their visit to the country (the “near abroad” (CIS, Baltic states)) or states from which they will return through Russian territory (e.g. China or Mongolia). The route must be stated on the tourist's ticket (or the foreign tourist’s accommodation confirmation, issued by the Russian organization hosting the tourist).

For citizens of Turkey

Note - If you are a stateless person or not a citizen of Turkey, please find out about your visa fees by contacting our Call-Centre operators at the Russian Visa Application Centre.

Visa fees and processing time for citizens of other countries and stateless persons are calculated according to the ”Tariff for consular fees, charged by Consular institutions of the Russian Federation”.

Important: For applicants who will apply from Trabzon Visa Application Center, kindly note below:

• For applicants who will travel touristic, the original Voucher and the Guarantee letter from the hotel must be presented. The Guarantee letter does not need to be original.

In order to apply for standard single-entry or double-entry tourist visas, you must provide the following:

Confirmation (Vaucher) that you are going to be hosted as a tourist by a Russian tour operator, which is registered in the Unified register of tour operators;

• Hotel and flıght reservation for visa application
• Original passport, which must contain at least 2 blank pages visa pages, and which must be valid for a period of 6 months after the visa expires;

Online application form completed on the website visa.kdmid.ru , printed and signed in person by the applicant;

(When selecting the location where you are going to submit your documents, you must state the Visa Centre where you intend to submit your documents)

• A colour photograph - Please see Photo Specifications page above.
• İnsurance for Turkish citizens is not mandatory but recommended.

Please note - if you are not a citizen of Turkey, you have to submit additional documents:

A residence permit for continuous stay in Turkey, which is valid for more than 90 days for citizens of the following countries: Albania, Bahrain, Venezuela, Haiti, , Ireland, Lesotho, Macedonia, Mali, Mexico, New Zealand, The United Arab Emirates, Oman, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, South Africa, Japan.

Depending on the national legislation, a document, which provides evidence for continuous residence in Turkey for more than 90 days, can be a study visa, a work visa, work permit, a temporary residence permit, etc.

Permanent residence permit in Turkey or a similar document for citizens of the following countries: Algeria, Angola, Vietnam, , India, , Iran, China, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nepal, Nigeria, , Rwanda, , Somalia, Chad, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia.

The consulate may require additional documents before issuing a visa, may invite you to an interview or extend the time required for consideration of your visa application.

Payment of the consular and service charges may be made at the Visa Centre.

Note: The photographs submitted must meet with these specifications.

Please provide one recent photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself. The photographs should be:

• 3,5 x 4,5 cm taken against a light background (white or off-white) so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear quality and with the face in focus.
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print).
• Full face, non-smiling (without sunglasses, a hat/cap or other head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of their religious belief or ethnic background).
• Please stick the Photograph on the Visa Application Form.

Note: Please follow these instructions carefully. If photographs presented do not meet these requirements your application will be considered incomplete.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Turkey processes visa applications and decide whether or not to issue a visa within the processing times service standards (usually between 4 and 10 working days). This is subject to a complete set of documents being provided and consular fees paid.

The processing times may vary according to the decision of the Consular establishment.

In emergency cases an urgent visa application may be submitted. In such cases the processing time can be shortened to just 3 working days or less, if an order to that effect has been given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Federal Migration Service of Russia or the Ambassador or Consul General of the Russian Federation.

In addition, some applications may take 30 days if deemed necessary by the Consulate.

To complete the online visa application form, please go Here .