How to apply for Russian business visa in Australia

Official information from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

To apply for Russian BUSINESS, WORKING, GUEST (VISITORS) VISA in Australia you should submit to the Russian Consulate:

1. A completed Russian visa application form (one per person).

2. National passport valid for at least 6 months after the intended date of departure from Russia.

3. One professional passport sized (3x4 cm) photo on a white background. Please write your name in capital letters on the back of the photos. Photo should be stapled to the specially marked place on the application form.

4. Effective from 1 November, 2002 all Invitations to Russia are now issued by the Ministry of Interior (Home Office) and its Passport and Visa offices upon the application of companies or organizations or private persons you are going to visit. The letter must contain official seal and legal address of the agency, signature and name of the authorized person, name of the applicant in Russian and in English, date and place of birth, gender, citizenship, country of residence, passport number and date of issue, purpose of visit, dates of travel into and out of Russia, places to be visited in Russia, name and address of the inviting organization in Russia or the name of the person who invites you with his or her the residential address, period of the validity of the invitation.

The Embassy reserves the right to request the original invitation but photocopies of Invitations for single-entry or double-entry visas for business purposes are acceptable. Invitations for multi-entry visas and for private (visitors) visas must be original and no photocopies will be accepted.

The Russian Foreign Ministry will be responsible only for issuing Invitations upon the requests of the foreign embassies and international organizations in Russia and the Federal bodies of the Russian Federation.

We reserve the right to ask the applicant the original or copy of a cover letter from the Russian host organization with information about the traveller, destinations, terms and purpose of visit and other additional information if required.

Please follow the above requirements. Otherwise the documents will be returned.

Should we wish to contact you, please put your contact telephone number in the application form.

Apart from business visa, you may be required to present at the border check point copy of invitation from a Russian host organization, as well as evidence of your ability to support yourself during the travel.

Effective from 6 April, 2009 for Australian citizens visa-processing fees are:

Visa processing time starts only after the all necessary documents received. Please note, that drop-off day is not counted as a business day. If you apply by mail, please enclose a return self-addressed (Registered Post) envelope and add one more day for processing.

Payments can be made in cash, by money order or bank cheque to the Embassy of the Russian Federation.Personal cheques are not accepted.

After you receive your visa, please check it for possible mistakes (passport number, date of birth, term of validity etc.) and, if necessary, return it to us for corrections. The Consular Section will not be responsible for the mistakes, which were not brought to its attention before your departure from Australia.

Fees are not refundable, and are subject to change without notice.

Consular Section is open for visitors Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. only. Visa documents are accepted until 12.30 p.m. only. The above information is also available at www.australia.mid.ru