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RUSSIA VISA ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:
The Russian government maintains a restrictive and complicated visa regime for
foreign travelers who visit, transit, or reside in the Russian Federation. The
Russian system includes requirements of sponsorship, visas for entry and exit,
migration cards, and registration. American citizens who also carry Russian
passports face additional complicated regulations. Dual citizen minors who
travel on their Russian passports also face special problems.
U.S. citizens must always possess a valid U.S.
passport and appropriate visas for travel to or transit through Russia,
whether by train, car, ship or airplane. It is impossible to obtain a Russian
entry visa upon arrival. Travelers must obtain visas in advance of travel from a
Russian Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. or in a third country. Travelers who
arrive without an entry visa are not permitted to enter Russia and face
immediate expulsion by route of entry, at the traveler’s expense.
A Russia entry/exit visa has two dates written in the European style (day,
month, year). The first date indicates the earliest day a traveler may enter
Russia; the second date indicates the date by which a traveler must leave
Russia. A Russian visa is only valid for those exact dates.
Click here for instruction learn
more about obtaining a Russia business visa.
Russian tourist visas are often granted only for the specific dates mentioned in
the invitation letter provided by the sponsor. United States citizens often
receive visas only valid for periods as short as four days. Even if the visa is
misdated through error of a Russian Embassy or Consulate, the traveler will
still not be allowed into Russia before the visa start date or be allowed to
leave after the visa expiration date. Any mistakes in visa dates must be
corrected before the traveler enters Russia. It is helpful to have someone who
reads Russian check the visa before departing the United States.
Click here for instruction learn
more about obtaining a Russia tourist visa.
Visas are valid for specific purposes and dates. Travelers should ensure that
they apply for and receive the correct visa that reflects their intended action
in Russia (i.e., student visa, religious worker visa, commercial visa).
Foreigners can be expelled for engaging in activities inconsistent with their
visas.
All travelers must continue to list on the visa application all areas to be
visited and subsequently register with authorities at each destination. There
are several closed cities throughout Russia. Travelers who attempt to enter
these cities without prior authorization are subject to fines, court hearings
and/or deportation. Travelers should check with their sponsor, hotel, or the
nearest Russian visa and passport office before traveling to unfamiliar cities
and towns.
Sponsorship: Under Russian law, every foreign traveler must have a Russian-based
sponsor (a hotel, tour company, relative, employer, etc). The official sponsor
is listed on the visa. Generally speaking, visas sponsored by Russian
individuals are guest visas, and visas sponsored by tour agencies or hotels
are tourist visas. Note that travelers who enter Russia on tourist visas,
but who then reside with Russian individuals, may have difficulty registering
their visas and migration cards and may be required by Russian authorities to
depart Russia sooner than they had planned.
Full country name: Russian Federation
Area: 17 million sq km (6,563,706 sq mi)
Population: 147 million (growth rate -0.3%)
Capital city: Moscow (pop 8.3 million)
People: 81% Russian, 4% Tatar, 3% Ukrainian and numerous ethnic minorities
Language: Russian
Religion: Russian Orthodox, Islam, Animist
Government: Federation
President: Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
GDP: US$600 billion
GDP per head: US$4000
Annual growth: -5%
Inflation: 84%
Major industries: Oil, coal, iron ore, timber, automotive, agricultural and construction equipment
Major trading partners: EU (esp. Germany), Belarus, Ukraine, USA, China
Member of EU: no |