Dear visitors! Thank you for your interest in visiting the Russian Federation and welcome to the Information of the Visa Section of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Sydney! We strongly recommend you to read the following information on the application procedure in order to enable you to apply for your visa as efficiently as possible.

As you might expect, we do receive a large daily volume of telephone calls, emails and visits to the Consulate. And we will appreciate it if you contact the Consulate only if you are missing any visa information on this web-page and our "Frequently asked questions" section. This will enable us to deliver a more efficient service to you.

Please click on the appropiate section of visa information below:

Important information

Visa requirement details

Fees and processing time schedules

Information for non-Australian applicants

Visa fees for non-Australian citizens

Important information.

To enter the Russian Federation a foreign citizen must submit a valid identity document, accepted as such by the Russian Federation, and a visa. It is not possible to obtain a visa at the airport, when entering Russia. A visa entitles the holder to travel to the Russian Federation and apply for admission; it does not guarantee entry. An immigration inspector at the port of entry determines the visa holder's eligibility for admission into the Russian Federation. Therefore you should be able to present at the port of entry the copy of your invitation or visa support papers along with your passport and visa.

When applying, please be advised that the permission to enter Russia is a courtesy of the State and the Consulate can deny a visa if it has reasons to believe that the applicant's visit to the Russian Federation is not desirable, and the disclosure of the reason for the denial can be withheld. The Consulate is authorized to request any supplementary documents and information in regard to the application and reserves the right to invite the applicant to be interviewed in person.

In accordance with the International Law, the Consulate in certain cases reserves the right to consider your visa applications for as long as it deems necessary. Therefore it is strongly recommended to apply beforehand! Please allow at least 5 working days between the date when your visa application is submitted to the Consulate and the actual date of entry to Russia. You can apply for a visa at the Russian consulate in Sydney if you are residing in the following states: New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania which constitute the Consulate General's consular district.

You can apply in person at our office located at 7-9 Fullerton Street, Woollahra, NSW (please consult our office hours in the left menu), or by post (postal address: 7-9 Fullerton Street, Woollahra, NSW 2025). Dear applicants and travel agents, the Consulate General reserves the right to leave your requests for acknowledge of the receipt of your applications sent by post unanswered. We strongly recommend that you choose a delivery service that enables you to track the arrival of your package, such as Express Post or Registered Post. This will allow you to confirm the delivery of your application to our office.

There two options available for the return of your passport with visa: pick-up from the Consulate's Reception (please consult our office hours in the right menu) or you may enclose a self-addressed courier airbill (prepaid or with a company or your personal account number) or a self-addressed Express/Registered Post envelope. Please ensure that you note the tracking number so that you may monitor the return of your documents. Provided you obtained from the Courier company or Australia Post the date of delivery of your application to our office you can easily calculate the date of collection or dispatch of the documents (please consult "Fees and processing time schedules" section). The Consulate General reserves the right to leave your requests for acknowledge of the dispatch of your passport with visa unanswered. Applicants are advised to verify dates and check whether names are spelt correctly on issued visas immediately after collecting/recieving their passports. The Consulate will not be responsible for the mistakes, which were not brought to its attention before your departure from Australia.

Before begining the application process, you are required to determine which type of visa is appropriate for travel. Your purpose of visit stated in the question 7 of the application form should correspond with the type of visa you are applying for. All paperwork once submitted is not subject to any change of the announced visa processing period or the period of stay in Russia indicated in the invitation available at the moment of submission. If applicant needs to make changes in submitted paperwork, all documentation will be returned to applicant for resubmission. Visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.

Applicants who used to be citizens of the USSR or the Russian Federation must submit one of the documents which confirms that they are no longer citizens of the Russian Federation (stamp in their passport saying that they left for "permanent residence abroad" before the 6th of February, 1992 or official document certifying that their Russian citizenship was abrogated), otherwise the applications will not be accepted. Citizens of the Russian Federation regardless of any other citizenship they have must travel to Russia on valid Russian documents only.

Visa requirement details.

Before begining the application process, you are required to determine which type of visa is appropriate for travel. Your purpose of visit stated in the question 7 of the application form should correspond with the type of visa you are applying for. There are 7 types of visas that can be issued by the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Sydney:

• private/guest (covers visits of the relatives or friends in Russia, or visits for urgent medical reasons, for urgent treatment, etc);
• business (covers business puposes: talks, participating in conferences, signing contracts, equipment installation and maintenance, or visits for treatment, adoption, etc.);
• humanitarian (covers sport, cultural, scientific, public, religion, charity purposes, etc.);
• study (covers long-term and short term studies and training in Russia);
• working (covers the working purposes);
• tourist;
• transit.

Depending on the number of authorized entries-departures, visas can be single, double or multiple-entry.

Requests for diplomatic and service visas should be addressed to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Australia (please consult our "Russian Representaion in Australia").


Visa Requirements (please click on the appropiate type of visa below):

Private visa

Business visa

Humanitarian visa

Study visa

Working visa

Tourist visa

Transit visa

Private visa.

Dear applicants! Please note that there is a simplified visa application procedure for the family members of Russian citizens’ accompanying them to Russia (all the requirements are given in the Russian part of the website).

Private/guest Visa is issued for a period no longer than 90 days and is valid valid for single and double-entry only. Documents required:

1. Visa application form (one per person). No blank spaces must be left. If a question does not apply, please type "N/A". If the answer is none, write "None". Kindly ensure that the dates of your entry and exit, as entered in the application form, match with or fall within the period specified in the supporting documents. The form should bear the original signature of applicant and must be well readable. Please state clearly your contact telephone number (office and after hours). Incomplete forms, forms with no signature, forms with corrections, forms filled out illegibly or with different pens will be returned to the applicants unprocessed.
2. One photograph of 1.18 by 1.57 inches (3 by 4 cm), in color taken against a light background (white or off - white). The photo needs to display a full frontal view of the face. The facial image must be sharp and clear. Sunglasses or tinted glasses are not permitted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and in this case there shall be a similar photo with a head covering in the applicant's passport. The photo must be glued on the form strictly at reserved place. If photograph presented does not meet the requirements an application will be considered incomplete.
3. Valid international passport or another ID recognized as such in the Russian Federation with at least 2 blank pages for visas. The passport should be submitted in original only and should be valid for at least six months after visa's expiration date stated in the invitation.
4. Children under -18, traveling alone or whose visa applications are unaccompanied with their parents’ are required to submit following additional documents: signed and dated permission letter from one of the parents, giving permission to the child to travel alone or explaining that the parent would be traveling with the child along with the dates of travel; a copy of the parent’s passport (first page and page with Russian visa); if the child’s and parent’s surname do not match, we would also require a copy of the birth certificate to confirm that the permission letter has been provided by the biological parent.
5. Document proving the purpose of the visit: letter of invitation (copy of high quality or original) issued by an appropriate Russian Federal Migration Service branch or regional office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation only.
6. In case of a visit to the Russian Federation for urgent medical reasons, for urgent treatment, or to visit a seriously ill or a deceased relative, an applicant should present a certificate issued by a medical institution or a death certificate and a document proving the kindred between the applicant and the ill or deceased relative. Passport's validity of the applicant should exceed the visa expiry date. Documents proving the family relations are copies of the certificates issued by registrar offices. In case the applicant is a grandparent or a grandchild he should submit a copy of the certificates issued by registrar offices proving their next of kin. In this case a visa can be issued for 10 days only.
7. Consular fee. Visa processing fees and time you can find in the "Fees and processing time schedules" section of the website. We accept cash, money orders, credit/savings cards and bank cheques payable to the Consulate General of Russia. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a money order or bank cheque. Please be advised that payments made with personal/company cheques or payable not to the Consulate General of Russia will not be accepted. Accepted visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.
8. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a self-addressed courier airbill (prepaid or with a company or your personal account number) or a self-addressed envelope. Please ensure that you note the tracking number so that you may monitor the return of your documents. We strongly recommend that you choose a delivery service that enables you to track the arrival of your package, such as Express Post or Registered Post. Please be advised that if an applicant haven't enclosed an envelope or airbill the passport with visa won't be sent back and will be left for collection at our Office. If an applicant haven't filled out his address on an envelope or airbill the address will be filled out by the consular officer in accordance with the information in the question 17 (permanent address) of the application form. In both cases the Consulate General does not bear any responsibility for the delay in your passport's dispatch or loss.

Dear Applicants and travel agents, please follow the above requirements when submitting your papers. Otherwise, the documents will be returned unprocessed.

Business visa.

Single-entry and double-entry Business Visas are issued for a period no longer than 90 days. Multiple-entry Business Visa is issued for up to 1 year. Please note, that according to the Russian Law multiple-entry visa permits the holder to stay at the territory of Russia no more then 90 days in every 180 days. Documents required:

1. Visa application form (one per person). No blank spaces must be left. If a question does not apply, please type "N/A". If the answer is none, write "None". Kindly ensure that the dates of your entry and exit, as entered in the application form, match with or fall within the period specified in the supporting documents. The form should bear the original signature of applicant and must be well readable. Please state clearly your contact telephone number (office and after hours). Incomplete forms, forms with no signature, forms with corrections, forms filled out illegibly or with different pens will be returned to the applicants unprocessed.
2. One photograph of 1.18 by 1.57 inches (3 by 4 cm), in color taken against a light background (white or off - white). The photo needs to display a full frontal view of the face. The facial image must be sharp and clear. Sunglasses or tinted glasses are not permitted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and in this case there shall be a similar photo with a head covering in the applicant's passport. The photo must be glued on the form strictly at reserved place. If photograph presented does not meet the requirements an application will be considered incomplete.
3. Valid international passport or another ID recognized as such in the Russian Federation with at least 2 blank pages for visas. The passport should be submitted in original only and should be valid for at least six months after visa's expiration date stated in the invitation.
4. Children under -18, traveling alone or whose visa applications are unaccompanied with their parents’ are required to submit following additional documents: signed and dated permission letter from one of the parents, giving permission to the child to travel alone or explaining that the parent would be traveling with the child along with the dates of travel; a copy of the parent’s passport (first page and page with Russian visa); if the child’s and parent’s surname do not match, we would also require a copy of the birth certificate to confirm that the permission letter has been provided by the biological parent.
5. Document proving the purpose of the visit: letter of invitation issued by an appropriate Russian Federal Migration Service branch or Regional Offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation only. For a single or double-entry business visa applicant should submit a copy of high quality or original letter of invitation. For a multiple-entry visa you are required to submit the original invitation only. If applying for a multiple-entry or double-entry visa, it should be specifically mentioned in the invitation. Business visa can be also granted if the company or person inviting you will arrange with the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation an electronic invitation - telex, which has to be sent directly to the Consulate General in Sydney. In this case, please, check with us that your electronic invitation from the Russian Foreign Ministry has arrived prior to sending your documents.
6. Based on reciprocal approach Australian applicants traveling to Russia with business, commercial and government purposes might be asked to provide a short biography (full name; date and place of birth, education and qualifications, history of employment) in Russian language.
7. Consular fee. Visa processing fees and time you can find in the "Fees and processing time schedules" section of the website. We accept cash, money orders, credit/savings cards and bank cheques payable to the Consulate General of Russia. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a money order or bank cheque. Please be advised that payments made with personal/company cheques or payable not to the Consulate General of Russia will not be accepted. Accepted visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.
8. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a self-addressed courier airbill (prepaid or with a company or your personal account number) or a self-addressed envelope. Please ensure that you note the tracking number so that you may monitor the return of your documents. We strongly recommend that you choose a delivery service that enables you to track the arrival of your package, such as Express Post or Registered Post. Please be advised that if an applicant haven't enclosed an envelope or airbill the passport with visa won't be sent back and will be left for collection at our Office. If an applicant haven't filled out his address on an envelope or airbill the address will be filled out by the consular officer in accordance with the information in the question 17 (permanent address) of the application form. In both cases the Consulate General does not bear any responsibility for the delay in your passport's dispatch or loss.

Dear Applicants and travel agents, please follow the above requirements when submitting your papers. Otherwise, the documents will be returned unprocessed.

Humanitarian visa.

Single-entry and double-entry Humanitarian Visas are issued for a period no longer than 90 days. Multiple-entry Humanitarian Visa is issued for up to 1 year. Please note, that according to the Russian Law multiple-entry visa permits the holder to stay at the territory of Russia no more then 90 days in every 180 days. Documents required:

1. Visa application form (one per person). No blank spaces must be left. If a question does not apply, please type "N/A". If the answer is none, write "None". Kindly ensure that the dates of your entry and exit, as entered in the application form, match with or fall within the period specified in the supporting documents. The form should bear the original signature of applicant and must be well readable. Please state clearly your contact telephone number (office and after hours). Incomplete forms, forms with no signature, forms with corrections, forms filled out illegibly or with different pens will be returned to the applicants unprocessed.
2. One photograph of 1.18 by 1.57 inches (3 by 4 cm), in color taken against a light background (white or off - white). The photo needs to display a full frontal view of the face. The facial image must be sharp and clear. Sunglasses or tinted glasses are not permitted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and in this case there shall be a similar photo with a head covering in the applicant's passport. The photo must be glued on the form strictly at reserved place. If photograph presented does not meet the requirements an application will be considered incomplete.
3. Valid international passport or another ID recognized as such in the Russian Federation with at least 2 blank pages for visas. The passport should be submitted in original only and should be valid for at least six months after visa's expiration date stated in the invitation.
4. Children — under 18, traveling alone or whose visa applications are unaccompanied with their parents’ are required to submit following additional documents: signed and dated permission letter from one of the parents, giving permission to the child to travel alone or explaining that the parent would be traveling with the child along with the dates of travel; a copy of the parent’s passport (first page and page with Russian visa); if the child’s and parent’s surname do not match, we would also require a copy of the birth certificate to confirm that the permission letter has been provided by the biological parent.
5. Document proving the purpose of the visit  —  letter of invitation issued by an appropriate Russian Federal Migration Service branch or Regional Offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation only. For a single or double-entry humanitarian visa applicant should submit a copy of high quality or original letter of invitation. For a multiple-entry visa you are required to submit the original invitation only. If applying for a multiple-entry or double-entry visa, it should be specifically mentioned in the invitation. Humanitarian visa can be also granted if the organisation or person inviting you will arrange with the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation an electronic invitation - telex, which has to be sent directly to the Consulate General in Sydney. In this case, please, check with us that your electronic invitation from the Russian Foreign Ministry has arrived prior to sending your documents.
6. Consular fee. Visa processing fees and time you can find in the "Fees and processing time schedules" section of the website. We accept cash, money orders, credit/savings cards and bank cheques payable to the Consulate General of Russia. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a money order or bank cheque. Please be advised that payments made with personal/company cheques or payable not to the Consulate General of Russia will not be accepted. Accepted visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.
7. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a self-addressed courier airbill (prepaid or with a company or your personal account number) or a self-addressed envelope. Please ensure that you note the tracking number so that you may monitor the return of your documents. We strongly recommend that you choose a delivery service that enables you to track the arrival of your package, such as Express Post or Registered Post. Please be advised that if an applicant haven't enclosed an envelope or airbill the passport with visa won't be sent back and will be left for collection at our Office. If an applicant haven't filled out his address on an envelope or airbill the address will be filled out by the consular officer in accordance with the information in the question 17 (permanent address) of the application form. In both cases the Consulate General does not bear any responsibility for the delay in your passport's dispatch or loss.

Dear Applicants and travel agents, please follow the above requirements when submitting your papers. Otherwise, the documents will be returned unprocessed.

Study visa.

Study Visa is issued for a period no longer than 90 days and is valid for single entry only. Documents required:

1. Visa application form (one per person). No blank spaces must be left. If a question does not apply, please type "N/A". If the answer is none, write "None". Kindly ensure that the dates of your entry and exit, as entered in the application form, match with or fall within the period specified in the supporting documents. The form should bear the original signature of applicant and must be well readable. Please state clearly your contact telephone number (office and after hours). Incomplete forms, forms with no signature, forms with corrections, forms filled out illegibly or with different pens will be returned to the applicants unprocessed.
2. One photograph of 1.18 by 1.57 inches (3 by 4 cm), in color taken against a light background (white or off - white). The photo needs to display a full frontal view of the face. The facial image must be sharp and clear. Sunglasses or tinted glasses are not permitted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and in this case there shall be a similar photo with a head covering in the applicant's passport. The photo must be glued on the form strictly at reserved place. If photograph presented does not meet the requirements an application will be considered incomplete.
3. Valid international passport or another ID recognized as such in the Russian Federation with at least 2 blank pages for visas. The passport should be submitted in original only and should be valid for at least six months after visa's expiration date stated in the invitation.
4. Document proving the purpose of the visit: original letter of invitation issued by an appropriate Russian Federal Migration Service branch or regional office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation only. The copies of the invitations are not accepted.
5. Your current diploma or educational certificate, certified by the State or Federal authorities.
6. A confirmation of the payment arrangement directly from the University, Institute or College, you are going to study at.
7. Official hospital HIV (AIDS) Test Certificate taken in last three months.
8. Consular fee. Visa processing fees and time you can find in the "Fees and processing time schedules" section of the website. We accept cash, money orders, credit/savings cards and bank cheques payable to the Consulate General of Russia. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a money order or bank cheque. Please be advised that payments made with personal/company cheques or payable not to the Consulate General of Russia will not be accepted. Accepted visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.
9. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a self-addressed courier airbill (prepaid or with a company or your personal account number) or a self-addressed envelope. Please ensure that you note the tracking number so that you may monitor the return of your documents. We strongly recommend that you choose a delivery service that enables you to track the arrival of your package, such as Express Post or Registered Post. Please be advised that if an applicant haven't enclosed an envelope or airbill the passport with visa won't be sent back and will be left for collection at our Office. If an applicant haven't filled out his address on an envelope or airbill the address will be filled out by the consular officer in accordance with the information in the question 17 (permanent address) of the application form. In both cases the Consulate General does not bear any responsibility for the delay in your passport's dispatch or loss.

Dear Applicants and travel agents, please follow the above requirements when submitting your papers. Otherwise, the documents will be returned unprocessed.

Working visa.

Working Visa is issued for a period no longer than 90 days and is valid for single entry only. Documents required:

1. Visa application form (one per person). No blank spaces must be left. If a question does not apply, please type "N/A". If the answer is none, write "None". Kindly ensure that the dates of your entry and exit, as entered in the application form, match with or fall within the period specified in the supporting documents. The form should bear the original signature of applicant and must be well readable. Please state clearly your contact telephone number (office and after hours). Incomplete forms, forms with no signature, forms with corrections, forms filled out illegibly or with different pens will be returned to the applicants unprocessed.
2. One photograph of 1.18 by 1.57 inches (3 by 4 cm), in color taken against a light background (white or off - white). The photo needs to display a full frontal view of the face. The facial image must be sharp and clear. Sunglasses or tinted glasses are not permitted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and in this case there shall be a similar photo with a head covering in the applicant's passport. The photo must be glued on the form strictly at reserved place. If photograph presented does not meet the requirements an application will be considered incomplete.
3. Valid international passport or another ID recognized as such in the Russian Federation with at least 2 blank pages for visas. The passport should be submitted in original only and should be valid for at least 18 months after visa's expiration date stated in the invitation.
4. Document proving the purpose of the visit: original letter of invitation issued by an appropriate Russian Federal Migration Service branch or regional office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation only. The copies of the invitations are not accepted.
5. Official hospital HIV (AIDS) Test Certificate taken in last three months.
6. Consular fee. Visa processing fees and time you can find in the "Fees and processing time schedules" section of the website. We accept cash, money orders, credit/savings cards and bank cheques payable to the Consulate General of Russia. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a money order or bank cheque. Please be advised that payments made with personal/company cheques or payable not to the Consulate General of Russia will not be accepted. Accepted visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.
7. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a self-addressed courier airbill (prepaid or with a company or your personal account number) or a self-addressed envelope. Please ensure that you note the tracking number so that you may monitor the return of your documents. We strongly recommend that you choose a delivery service that enables you to track the arrival of your package, such as Express Post or Registered Post. Please be advised that if an applicant haven't enclosed an envelope or airbill the passport with visa won't be sent back and will be left for collection at our Office. If an applicant haven't filled out his address on an envelope or airbill the address will be filled out by the consular officer in accordance with the information in the question 17 (permanent address) of the application form. In both cases the Consulate General does not bear any responsibility for the delay in your passport's dispatch or loss.

Dear Applicants and travel agents, please follow the above requirements when submitting your papers. Otherwise, the documents will be returned unprocessed.

Tourist visa.

Tourist Visa is issued for a period no longer than 30 days and is valid for single and double-entry only.

Dear travellers, please be advised that foreign citizens are not permitted to enter Russia independently without being hosted by the authorized Russian travel agency or hotel during the whole period of their stay (please consult our "FAQ" section for more details).

An exception to this rule are tourists traveling on board large cruise ships, who do not require a visa if the following conditions are met:

1. The overall period of their stay on the Russian territory for no more than 3 days (72 hours)
2. They stay overnight onboard of the cruise ship
3. They go ashore only as a part of a group of passengers on the excursions organized by the cruise company

In all the other cases Australian citizens are to apply for a tourist visa.

To obtain a single-entry tourist visa the following documents should be submitted to the Consulate:

1. Visa application form (one per person). No blank spaces must be left. If a question does not apply, please type "N/A". If the answer is none, write "None". Kindly ensure that the dates of your entry and exit, as entered in the application form, match with or fall within the period specified in the supporting documents. The form should bear the original signature of applicant and must be well readable. Please state clearly your contact telephone number (office and after hours). Incomplete forms, forms with no signature, forms with corrections, forms filled out illegibly or with different pens will be returned to the applicants unprocessed.
2. One photograph of 1.18 by 1.57 inches (3 by 4 cm), in color taken against a light background (white or off - white). The photo needs to display a full frontal view of the face. The facial image must be sharp and clear. Sunglasses or tinted glasses are not permitted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and in this case there shall be a similar photo with a head covering in the applicant's passport. The photo must be glued on the form strictly at reserved place. If photograph presented does not meet the requirements an application will be considered incomplete.
3. Valid international passport or another ID recognized as such in the Russian Federation with at least 2 blank pages for visas. The passport should be submitted in original only and should be valid for at least 6 months after visa's expiration date stated in the invitation.
4. A copy of high quality or original tourist confirmation letter ("Podtverzdeniye") or letters (if your stay in Russia is arranged by 2 travel companies/hotels) issued by an authorized hosting Russian travel agency or Hotel, authorized to invite foreign citizens in the Russian Federation and registered in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The confirmation letter(s) must contain the agency's/hotel's special reference number and should cover the whole period of the applicants stay in Russia. The number of confirmation letters from different travel agents/hotels per person is limited by two.
5. A copy of high quality or original tourist voucher ("Voucher") or vouchers (if your stay in Russia is arranged by 2 travel companies/hotels) issued by an authorized hosting Russian travel agency or Hotel, authorized to invite foreign citizens in the Russian Federation and registered in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
6. Consular fee. Visa processing fees and time you can find in the "Fees and processing time schedules" section of the website. We accept cash, money orders, credit/savings cards and bank cheques payable to the Consulate General of Russia. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a money order or bank cheque. Please be advised that payments made with personal/company cheques or payable not to the Consulate General of Russia will not be accepted. Accepted visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.
7. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a self-addressed courier airbill (prepaid or with a company or your personal account number) or a self-addressed envelope. Please ensure that you note the tracking number so that you may monitor the return of your documents. We strongly recommend that you choose a delivery service that enables you to track the arrival of your package, such as Express Post or Registered Post. Please be advised that if an applicant haven't enclosed an envelope or airbill the passport with visa won't be sent back and will be left for collection at our Office. If an applicant haven't filled out his address on an envelope or airbill the address will be filled out by the consular officer in accordance with the information in the question 17 (permanent address) of the application form. In both cases the Consulate General does not bear any responsibility for the delay in your passport's dispatch or loss.

Dear Applicants and travel agents, please follow the above requirements when submitting your papers. Otherwise, the documents will be returned unprocessed.

Double-entry tourist visas are granted only if the following conditions are met:

• In between of entries into Russia a foreigner is visiting only a neighboring country (countries, including the EU Shengen countries);
• The purpose of travel to this country is tourism.

To obtain a Double-entry Tourist visa the following documents should be submitted to the Consulate:

1. Visa application form (one per person). No blank spaces must be left. If a question does not apply, please type "N/A". If the answer is none, write "None". Kindly ensure that the dates of your entry and exit, as entered in the application form, match with or fall within the period specified in the supporting documents. The form should bear the original signature of applicant and must be well readable. Please state clearly your contact telephone number (office and after hours). Incomplete forms, forms with no signature, forms with corrections, forms filled out illegibly or with different pens will be returned to the applicants unprocessed.
2. One photograph of 1.18 by 1.57 inches (3 by 4 cm), in color taken against a light background (white or off - white). The photo needs to display a full frontal view of the face. The facial image must be sharp and clear. Sunglasses or tinted glasses are not permitted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and in this case there shall be a similar photo with a head covering in the applicant's passport. The photo must be glued on the form strictly at reserved place. If photograph presented does not meet the requirements an application will be considered incomplete.
3. Valid international passport or another ID recognized as such in the Russian Federation with at least 2 blank pages for visas. The passport should be submitted in original only and should be valid for at least 6 months after visa's expiration date stated in the invitation.
4. A copy of high quality or original tourist confirmation letter ("Podtverzdeniye") or letters (if your stay in Russia is arranged by 2 travel companies/hotels) issued by an authorized hosting Russian travel agency or Hotel, authorized to invite foreign citizens in the Russian Federation and registered in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The confirmation letter(s) must contain the agency's/hotel's special reference number and should cover the whole period of the applicants stay in Russia. The number of confirmation letters from different travel agents/hotels per person is limited by two.
5. A copy of high quality or original tourist voucher ("Voucher") or vouchers (if your stay in Russia is arranged by 2 travel companies/hotels) issued by an authorized hosting Russian travel agency or Hotel, authorized to invite foreign citizens in the Russian Federation and registered in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
   
6. A visa to the third country or an official document proving that visa is not required to enter it. Thus you are to apply for a visa to the third country prior to your application for a Russian visa. No assurance that a visa will be obtained after the Russian visa is received or in the territory of Russia will be taken into consideration and the documents will be returned.
7. Full itinerary of your journey and tickets with a "confirmed" status for every entry and departure to/from Russia.
8. Consular fee. Visa processing fees and time you can find in the "Fees and processing time schedules" section of the website. We accept cash, money orders, credit/savings cards and bank cheques payable to the Consulate General of Russia. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a money order or bank cheque. Please be advised that payments made with personal/company cheques or payable not to the Consulate General of Russia will not be accepted. Accepted visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.
9. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a self-addressed courier airbill (prepaid or with a company or your personal account number) or a self-addressed envelope. Please ensure that you note the tracking number so that you may monitor the return of your documents. We strongly recommend that you choose a delivery service that enables you to track the arrival of your package, such as Express Post or Registered Post. Please be advised that if an applicant haven't enclosed an envelope or airbill the passport with visa won't be sent back and will be left for collection at our Office. If an applicant haven't filled out his address on an envelope or airbill the address will be filled out by the consular officer in accordance with the information in the question 17 (permanent address) of the application form. In both cases the Consulate General does not bear any responsibility for the delay in your passport's dispatch or loss.

Dear Applicants and travel agents, please follow the above requirements when submitting your papers. Otherwise, the documents will be returned unprocessed.

Transit visa.

Transit visa permits to travel through the Russian territory without stay depending on your tickets, it is issued for up to 72 hours, if you travel by air, or for up to 10 days, if using other means of transportation. Foreign citizens have the right to pass through the territory of Russian Federation without a transit visa in the following cases:

- if they make a non-stop air flight over the territory of the Russian Federation;
- if they make an international air flight and a transfer in a Russian airport provided they have due documents to enter the country of destination and a air flight ticket with an indicated date of flight from the Russian transfer airport within 24 hours upon arrival (but for emergency landing).
- if they reside in a country, that has signed a non-visa agreement with the Russian Federation.

Documents required:

1. Visa application form (one per person). No blank spaces must be left. If a question does not apply, please type "N/A". If the answer is none, write "None". Kindly ensure that the dates of your entry and exit, as entered in the application form, match with or fall within the period specified in the supporting documents. The form should bear the original signature of applicant and must be well readable. Please state clearly your contact telephone number (office and after hours). Incomplete forms, forms with no signature, forms with corrections, forms filled out illegibly or with different pens will be returned to the applicants unprocessed.
2. One photograph of 1.18 by 1.57 inches (3 by 4 cm), in color taken against a light background (white or off - white). The photo needs to display a full frontal view of the face. The facial image must be sharp and clear. Sunglasses or tinted glasses are not permitted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and in this case there shall be a similar photo with a head covering in the applicant's passport. The photo must be glued on the form strictly at reserved place. If photograph presented does not meet the requirements an application will be considered incomplete.
3. Valid international passport or another ID recognized as such in the Russian Federation with at least 2 blank pages for visas. The passport should be submitted in original only and should be valid for at least 18 months after visa's expiration date stated in the invitation.
4. The original or a photocopy of your confirmed air, railway or other tickets to and from Russia.
5. A valid visa to enter Russian neighboring country or a visa of the country of destination or a passport of the country of destination. The aplicant's assurances of obtaining the visas of the country of destination in Russia won't be taken into consideration.
6. Consular fee. Visa processing fees and time you can find in the "Fees and processing time schedules" section of the website. We accept cash, money orders, credit/savings cards and bank cheques payable to the Consulate General of Russia. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a money order or bank cheque. Please be advised that payments made with personal/company cheques or payable not to the Consulate General of Russia will not be accepted. Accepted visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.
7. If the documents are submitted by post, an applicant must enclose a self-addressed courier airbill (prepaid or with a company or your personal account number) or a self-addressed envelope. Please ensure that you note the tracking number so that you may monitor the return of your documents. We strongly recommend that you choose a delivery service that enables you to track the arrival of your package, such as Express Post or Registered Post. Please be advised that if an applicant haven't enclosed an envelope or airbill the passport with visa won't be sent back and will be left for collection at our Office. If an applicant haven't filled out his address on an envelope or airbill the address will be filled out by the consular officer in accordance with the information in the question 17 (permanent address) of the application form. In both cases the Consulate General does not bear any responsibility for the delay in your passport's dispatch or loss.

Dear Applicants and travel agents, please follow the above requirements when submitting your papers. Otherwise, the documents will be returned unprocessed.

Fees and processing time schedules.

Consular service fees are given in Australian dollars per person. Time of processing is as follows. No same day or next day service available. Payment must be exact and made by money order or bank cheque payable to the Consulate General of Russia. If paying in our Office cash and credit/debit cards are also acceptable. Please be advised that payments made with personal/company cheques or payable not to the Consulate General of Russia will not be accepted. Accepted visa processing fees received from the applicant are not subject for reimbursement in any circumstances.

Visa processing starts only after the Consulate has received all necessary documents. Please be advised, that drop-off day (if applying in person) and delivery day (if applying by post) are not counted as a business day. If you apply by post one more day of processing should be added to the standard time of processing. For example, if you submitted the documents in person in our Office on Monday and paid for 2 days processing, your passport with visa will be ready for collection from our Reception on Wednesday from 9 a.m.; if we received your documents by post on Monday with payment for 2 days processing and self-addressed envelope, your passport with visa will be dispatched on Thursday at about 13 p.m. The Consulate General won't take into consideration your prepaid air tickets, bookings, etc. and doesn't bear any responsibility for your possible expenses and losses if you don't read the above information carefully and counted the date of collection/dispatch incorrectly.

Visa fees (AUD) for Australian citizens and processing time applicable from 24 January, 2011:

Transit single entry visa:

$ 110.00 – seven business days processing
$ 220.00 – two business days processing

Transit double entry visa:

$ 190.00 – seven business days processing
$ 330.00 – two business days processing


Tourist single entry visa:

$ 110.00 – seven business days processing
$ 220.00 – two business days processing

Tourist double entry visa:

$ 190.00 – seven business days processing
$ 330.00 – two business days processing


Private, Business, Humanitarian, Study and Working single entry visas:

$ 110.00 – ten business days processing
$ 220.00 – two business days processing

Private, Business and Humanitarian double entry visas:

$ 190.00 – ten business days processing
$ 330.00 – two business days processing

Business and Humanitarian multiple entry visas:

$ 330.00 – ten business days processing
$ 660.00 – two business days processing

Information for non-Australian applicants.

Dear non-Australian visitors! Please be advised that all non-Australian applicants may apply for visa to the Consulate General of Russia in Sydney only upon presentation of proof of residence in Australia or work/study permit issued by Australian authorities valid for at least 90 days. One of the following documents should be submitted to confirm the same: a valid applicant’s Australian visa in passport, Australian Certificate of citizenship, Australian passport, official document from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, letter from employer specifying the start date of their employment or in case of students, letter from University/College specifying the date of enrolment and course details. Certifyed copies of the documents or copies with originals should be enclosed to your set of documents, otherwise the application won't be accepted.

Visa processing fees for all non-Australian citizens differ from those stated in the "Fees and processing time schedules". To obtain appropriate fees schedule for your country please contact the Consulate advising the type of visa you applying for (please consult our "Contact us" section for contact details).

Information for the citizens of Schengen Area.

Citizens of Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden should submit national medical insurance certificate valid for Russia or guarantee of medical coverage from a Russian hosting organization for all period of stay.

Information for the citizens of EU countries.

The visa processing fees for citizens of EU countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Norway, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland) according to the agreement between Russia and EU are (in AUD):

Tourist and transit single/double entry visas:

$ 70.00 – seven business days processing
$ 140.00 – two business days processing

Private, Business and Humanitarian single/double/multiple entry visas:

$ 70.00 – ten business days processing
$ 140.00 – two business days processing

If applying for working or study visa please refer to the "Fees and processing time schedules".

Visa fees for non-Australian citizens.

Please find below single-entry tourist/business/guest Russian visa fees for non-Australian citizens who often apply for visas in Sydney.

Please note that these fees apply only to single entry visa applications. For double or multiple visa fees as well as fees for nationalis of other countries please contact the Consulate on