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Humanitarian Visa

Humanitarian Visa

Overview

Apply by post Apply in person

Humanitarian visas are issued to US citizens, foreign nationals, and stateless visas traveling to the Russian Federation with the intent of cultural or political exchange, sports events, scientific or technical purposes, religious purposes or missionary programs, charity events and organizations, or humanitarian relief.

A Humanitarian visa is issued on the basis of the applicant having received an Original Official invitation issued by the Federal Migration Service (FMS) of the Russian Federation that has been applied for by the inviting organization.

These visas may be issued for a Single or Double-entry period up to 90 days, or a Multi-Entry for up to 3 years.

In accordance with the Simplification of Visa Formalities for nationals of the Russian Federation and the United States, US citizens may apply for a 1 or 3-year multi-entry Humanitarian visa.

It is recommended that the US citizens apply for a 3-year, multiple-entry Humanitarian visa regardless of the dates of entry and exit, number of entries or period of stay indicated in the invitation issued by the Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation (FMS) or the host organization.

In order to apply for a 3-year multiple-entry Humanitarian Visa, please indicate the full three year period as the length of stay in the Russian Federation when filling out the visa application. (ex. Date of Entry 25/10/2016 until Date of Departure 24/10/2019-minus one day)

Multiple-entry 1 Year Humanitarian visas generally allow you to stay in the country for up to 90 days out of every 180-day period.

Multiple-entry 3 Year Humanitarian visas for US citizens allow you to stay in Russia for up to 6 months per visit , the number of visits is unlimited.

Visa Fees

Please note that the certain visa fee amount is payable for each particular visa type. Visa fees vary depending on the nationality of the applicant, visa type, number of entries, and processing time.

$550 for each application (For US citizens)

We also process express visas at an additional cost.

Payment method

For in person submission: We only accept cash, Money Order & Cashier’s check for in person submission issued on name Russian Visa Services .

For postal submission: we accept only money order or cashier’s check payable to Russian Visa Services .

Please note!

Consular fees and processing times for foreign nationals and stateless persons are determined by the Consulates of the Russian Federation.

The Consular Fee and the Processing Fees are non-refundable.

Documents required

List of Documents Required for a Single, Double, or Multiple-Entry Humanitarian Visa:

1.Invitation

To apply for a humanitarian visa it is required that you present an invitation issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs or its offices, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a direct invitation letter from the host organization (only if specified by an international agreement of the Russian Federation).

Invitations issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs come in print or electronic forms. Print invitations must be presented in original. Electronic invitations may be presented as copies. The Ministry issues such invitations at the request of the host organization.

Direct invitation letters from the host organization must include: organization letter head, full name of the host organization, its official address and contact information, full name and position of the person who signed the statement, the organization’s taxpayer identification number (TIN), and information about the applicant: full name, date of birth, citizenship, sex, passport number, multiplicity of the requested visa, purpose of travel, requested period of entry, location of stay of the applicant in Russia, and cities to be visited, must be signed by the head of organization (for example, invitation letter from university must be signed by dean or head of the faculty).

You can find the template of Direct Invitation for Humanitarian Visa here.

Please note that the information in all kinds of invitation must fully correspond to the information in the applicant’s passport. Invitations containing errors will not be accepted.

Validity period

Single and double-entry humanitarian visas are issued for up to 90 days. Multiple entry visas are issued for the period of up to 1 year.

Information for U.S. citizens It is recommended that US citizens apply for 3-year multiple-entry humanitarian visas. Such visas allow you to stay in Russia for up to 6 months per visit , the number of visits is unlimited. In order to apply for a 3-year multiple-entry Humanitarian visa, applicant has to indicate the full three year period – dates of entry and exit has to match with dates in the invitation. For example: Date of entry: 25/12/2020, Date of exit 24/12/2023 (exit day – one day less).

2. Signed passport with at least two clear visa pages valid for at least 6 more months after the expiration date of the requested visa. If the validity condition is not fully met, your visa validity period will be shortened to allow 6 months of passport validity after the visa expiration date.

3. A printed visa application filled out at visa.kdmid.ru , signed by the applicant; Electronic/scanned signatures will not be accepted.

When filling out the application online, please indicate a full three year period of stay (e.g. 15.07.2020-14.07.2023) starting from the date of entry in your invitation.

4. One standard, passport-style photograph 3.5cm x 4.5cm, (colloquially known as 2″ by 2″ in the US), with a light background, a clear view of the face, no shadows, without dark glasses, or head coverings (except for persons whose religious or national traditions require it, in which case the photograph must match the passport photo);

5. Payments can be made at the by cash, by major Credit or Debit Cards or by money order to Russian Visa Services . Personal checks will not be accepted.

6. Medical insurance

Citizens of China, Iran, Ireland, Israel, as well as citizens of the countries of the European Union and the Schengen zone (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania , Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland) are required to provide a photocopy of medical insurance’s cover letter that proves it’s international (for example: “worldwide”, or “for traveling outside of US”, or “for traveling to Russian Federation”) and covers the whole visa duration. Insurance letter is accepted only in Russian or English.

Please click here for more information.

US CITIZENS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR A VISA.

Information for citizens of the EU and Schengen area countries

According to the Russia-EU Visa Facilitation Agreement as well as bilateral visa agreements citizens of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

are eligible for the following visa application fees:

– $40 – 4-10 business days;

– $80 – 3 business days.

Please note these provisions do not affect citizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

8. Non-US citizens must provide proof of legality of their stay in the United States (US resident alien/permanent residency status (green card), long term not-tourist type of U.S. visa, form I-94 etc.).

9. Australian citizens must provide a detailed autobiography in Russian and in English.

Take Note! The Russian Consulate has the right to ask for additional documentation in order to process your visa application, ask you to come in for an interview, or extend the visa processing time of your application.

Additional information:

• If applying for a minor, please provide a copy of their Birth Certificate and both parents’ copies of passports;
• If applying for a spouse, please provide a copy of Marriage Certificate;
• If applying on behalf of another person, please provide a notarized authorization letter;
• if a company/organization representative is submitting documents on behalf of their employees please provide a letter from company/organization.

Please be advised that a person cannot hold two or more valid Russian visas at the same time. In this case, the older valid (unexpired) visa must be canceled before a new visa is issued.

In accordance with the Russian law, citizens of the Russian Federation regardless of any other citizenships they may have, must travel to Russia on valid Russian documents only.

We remind you that in accordance to Article 12 of Russian Law “On citizenship of the Russian Federation”, children born to two parents who are Russian citizens, automatically gain Russian citizenship, regardless of the place of birth. In this case visas are not issued, and they must apply for Russian citizenship, or have their information written into the passport of one of their parents, or obtain a Russian passport.

Photo specifications

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:

• 3.5cm x 4.5cm, (colloquially known as 2″by 2″ in the US), 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.

Processing time

Normal applications: 10 business days minimum.

Urgent applications: 3-5 business days minimum.

Important notice: Processing time is a minimum and may vary from case to case. Your visa application processing will start from the day your application was dispatched to the Consulate. Therefore please add few more days to the indicated timings, depending on whether you will apply in person or by post.

We are not involved in the process of assessment of visa applications, or their grant or refusal, and shall not be liable or responsible for any delay by the Consulates or the Embassy of the Russian Federation in USA, in assessing, granting or refusing any visa application.

Download forms

Important notice:

All questions in the visa application form must be answered in full, including the contact details of the applicant (full address with postal code, telephone and e-mail) and other questions that are not marked with a “*”, otherwise you will be asked to fill in these questions after arrival in the visa center.

Please note : If in your online visa application you answered “NO” to questions about previous places of work and educational institutions, you must attach a signed cover letter confirming that you did not really have previous jobs or studied in educational institutions.

Please note that if your application form requires any corrections or if you did not have a possibility to complete an online application form before visiting the Visa Application Centre, our team members will be happy to help. The cost of this service is $ 30 USD (Taxes included).

Please make sure that at the end of the electronic visa application you have chosen the visa application center that you are planning to visit. If you do not, the visa center staff may have to ask you to fill out a new visa application form.

To avoid confusion when choosing a passport category in the application, note that a diplomatic passport is issued to a civil servant who travels internationally for official state affairs. An official passport (service passport, as well as a special passport) is issued to the civil servant for travel related to work, and accompanying dependents. A tourist or ordinary passport is a document issued by the national government for the purpose of international travel, which certifies the identity and citizenship of its owner.

After completing your application form, please print it, sign it and submit it along with all supporting documents, payment and passport. Make sure that the signature on your application form is identical to the signature in your passport. We would like to assure you that we pay special attention to the processing of your personal data. By sending us your visa application, you confirm that you have accepted our Terms and Conditions .

To fill out the electronic visa application form click here .

Apply by post

Visa is an authorisation issued by the representative of the Government of a country permitting a person, not resident in that country, to enter its boundaries.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in USA issues visas for Russia only.

Depending on your purpose of travel, you should log on to the website of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in USA to check whether you are eligible or require a visa.

The Russia Visa Centre USA branch is the preferred outsourced partner to the Embassy of Russian Federation in USA. The Russia Visa Centre USA branch function as collection and processing centres to guarantee a better service in response to the growing demand for Russian visas from applicants residing in USA.

Apply by Person

Useful links

Consulate General of the Russian Federation in New York

Embassy of the Russian Federation in the USA

Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Houston

General Directorate for Migration for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia

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