Most travel agents and companies include Russian tourist visas in the package price. Taking a package deal is probably the easiest way of travelling to Russia for the first time. Russian visa applications need to be made no sooner than three months before your intended trip.

In order to process Russian tourist visas your travel company will need full UK passports for you and your partner; these must have at least two pages free and should still be valid six months after your trip to Russia. You will need to enclose a signed and completed application for each of you, together with a passport sized photo, attached to the form’s bottom left hand corner.

Depending on the individual travel company, you will either need to enclose a cheque for the full amount of the visa costs, or you may have the option to make the payment online, and you can leave the rest up to them.

Russia is a vast country that is stretched between the Pacific Ocean and the Eastern European borders. If you are only in the country for a few days, then the historic, capital city of Moscow is a must, here in the centre you will find the famous Red Square and the Kremlin and not too far away is the world famous Bolshoi Ballet.

The population of the city of Moscow is growing all the time and is counted the biggest metropolises in the world. During the communist regime, Russia’s shops were empty, but that has changed, particularly in this vital city where you can find top designer boutiques, although things might be more expensive than at home.

If you are looking for something different then perhaps a Baltic cruise would suit you better, providing the cruise takes less than thirty days you can still travel to Russia on one of the tourist visas.

Some Baltic cruises are bound for the beautiful Russian city of St. Petersburg with its palaces, cathedrals and fantastic sense of history.  Whether you are looking for a business trip, a pleasure trip or a bit of both, if you are male then you can go on one of the group tours and enjoy lots of fun and games, and even meet some ladies.

The pleasure come business tours are suitable for single males or for young men intent on enjoying European football trips. Some travel companies even run tours for sports teams and gymnastics troupes who would like to see more of Russia’s historic cities once their games and displays are finished.

Group tours like those just mentioned are ideal if you want to combine sightseeing with some business or even to find yourself a date. Gymnastic and sports groups who plan on being in the country for more than thirty days may have to apply for their Russian visas through the embassy, if a group has been invited to perform in Russia then the visa process should go smoothly.

For more information an Russia visa prices check out our specialist Russia visa page.

Our Russia visa service offers you a variety of options for Russian tourist or business visas. Applying for a Russian visa can be daunting but by letting us take care of the process you can be assured that you will have the correct visa in your hands quickly and without fuss.

Russian visa options and prices

ALL INCLUSIVE SERVICE: Our fees are fully inclusive of the Russian travel visa and the courier service.

The Russian visa is valid for 1 month. Russian business visas are also available in 1-3 months and 6-12 months versions.

1. Download the Russian Visa application form

Russian visa application form Download and print it and complete it for each person that wishes to apply.

2. Obtain your passport sized photographs

You will need 2 passport photos per person applying. Please attach these to the completed Russian vis application form.

3. Russia travel visa delivery details (what you have to do to get your visa)

You need to collect 2 Royal Mail special delivery guaranteed next day 9am service envelopes from your post office.

Address the first envelope to yourself where you want the new passport and visa to be delivered. Address the second envelope to Passport and Visa Service.

Don’t trust the Royal Mail any more? Alternatively if you would prefer to use a courier we can recommend Mailboxes Etc who will arrange delivery of your documents to us in a specified time frame.

Include your completed application form, photographs, passport, payment if paying by cheque, any additional documents (as required in the criteria for applying) and the first self addressed envelope.

4. Three easy payment options for your convenience

ii. Or call us on 0844 357 9667 to make a payment over the phone.

iii. Or use our Paypal link below, selecting the service you require (you do not need a Paypal account to use this service and it costs you no more).

Russian Visa Services Paypal Options

Single entry standard 10 day £230.00 Single entry express 72 hour £330.00 Double entry standard 10 day £270.00 Double entry express 72 hour £375.00 Business Single entry standard 10 day £310.00 Business Single entry express 72 hour £420.00 Business Double entry standard 10 day £355.00 Business Double entry express 72 hour £485.00 Business Multi entry standard 10 day £465.00 Business Multi entry express 72 hour £595.00

Please read our terms and conditions before proceeding with payment as by sending us payment you are agreeing to them.

5. Paying by Cheque? Why not speed things up!

Just drop us an email via our contact form and we will be waiting to process your application promptly.

Before applying please ensure that you meet the following criteria

1. The Russia visa has to be issued before you leave the UK. Failure to do so will result in you not being able to depart.

2. You should apply for the Russian visa no more than 3 months in advance of your journey.

3. The Russian visa is valid for 1 month. Russian business visas are also available in 1-3 months and 6-12 months versions.

4. You must have at least 6 months remaining on your passport from the date you intend to depart for Russia and return to the UK. Otherwise you will need to renew your passport.

5. You must have at least one page empty in your passport so the Russian visa can be stuck inside. Otherwise you will need to renew your passport.

6. If you are a UK resident but do not hold a UK passport, you will also need a utility bill that dates back at least 6 months, this is to prove that you have been a resident in the UK for this period of time or more.

7. Tourist visas require ‘Travel Confirmation and Itinerary’ and a ‘Russian Tourist Voucher’ to be supplied. These can be obtained from the travel agent you have used to book your holiday.

8. Russian business visas require an invitation letter from the UK and the Russian employer to be supplied.