Obtain a Visa for Russia

French, European, and Canadian tourists need a visa to travel to Russia.

Obtaining this document, which is in the form of a sticker on your passport, is a key step in the preparation of your trip.

The visa application file must be prepared very carefully, taking into account the expectations of the Russian consulate known for its requirements.

When you book your cruise or your stay with us, the Tsar Voyages offices in France can take care of obtaining your visa.

If you want to do this yourself, Tsar Voyages provides you with the necessary forms for your application.

FLASH

St. Petersburg with a free electronic visa since the st of October 2019

Learn more about the electronic visa


1 -THE PASSPORT *

- The original passport, which must be signed, undamaged, and valid for more than six months after your date of return.
- It must have 2 blank pages facing each other. This is imperative.
- If your passport is protected by a "passport cover", remember to remove it before giving it to us.
* The documents to be provided are the same for all European nationals. They differ significantly for the British, Americans, and Canadians. For other countries, please consult us.

2 - A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR PASSPORT:

- This is the page where the picture is.
- If your current address is not indicated on this page, also attach a copy of the page where your current address is found.

3 - THE VISA APPLICATION FORM

If you choose to have your visa processed by Tsar Voyages, our Visa Department will fill out the online form for you and will go in your place for the two appointments arranged by the Russian visa processing centers (for the deposit and pick-up of your documents). However, we will need the following information from you:

- in all cases: your address and your personal phone number.
- if you are an employee: the name of your company, its address and telephone number, and your position in the company.
- if you are a student: the name of your school, its address, and phone number.
- if you are retired: simply report it to us.

4 - TWO COLOR PHOTOS

- The photos must be recent photos, less than 6 months old. (Do not provide a photo identical to that of the passport except in the case where the passport is less than 6 months old).
- The photos must not be photocopied or scanned.
- The photos must be 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, centered on the front of the face, eyes open, and not smiling, on a plain and clear background

5 - THE ORIGINAL OF A TRAVEL INSURANCE CERTIFICATE "REPATRIATION ASSISTANCE"

- The Consulate requires an original with an authentic stamp and signature (neither a copy nor a scan).
- The insurer must be on the list of insurers approved by the Russian Consulate. (see details in the "Insurance" tab above).

6 - THE INVITATION

- It is provided directly by Tsar Voyages when the cruise or stay is booked by us.

- It is provided directly by Tsar Voyages when the cruise or stay is booked by us.

Before issuing a visa, the Russian Consulate will first ensure that you have repatriation insurance. They therefore will ask you to provide, among other documents *, the original of an insurance certificate covering this risk. To be sure that your certificate will be accepted, make sure to fulfill all of the following requirements;

1 - THIS DOCUMENT MUST BE THE ORIGINAL :

  • The consulate will not accept copies or scans
  • The certificate must therefore contain an authentic stamp and signature

2 - THIS DOCUMENT MUST EXPLICITLY CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:

  • The mention "Certificate of Insurance" (An attestation of "Assistance" will not be accepted)
  • The date of validity, which must include at least the entire stay
  • The mention that the insurance contract is valid for Russia (the word Russia must be present) 
  • The name and address of the subsidiary or representation of the insurer in Russia
  • The minimum amount of coverage, which must not be less than € 30,000 per person

3 - THIS DOCUMENT MUST BE ISSUED BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY APPROVED BY THE RUSSIAN CONSULATE:

Mutuaide Assistance (+ GROUPAMA + Europay France + GAN + TMS + Eurocard MasterCard Assistance), Europ Insurance, L'Européenne d'Assurances, ELVIA, GARANT, SOVAG, ACE Europe, Mondial Assistance (CIGNA France), AXA Insurance or Assistance (+ INTER PARTNER ASSISTANCE + AMERICAN EXPRESS ASSISTANCE (AIPS), AXA Colonia Versicherung AG, Europ Assistance (+ First Assistance + VISA PREMIER + VISA GOLD), InterMutualAssistance (MAIF, MACIF, MATMUT, MAE, MAAF, MAPA, FIUA, AGPM, AMF, AMM, AMCH, P & V, AIG + AVA + CONTACT ASSISTANCE + MONDASTOUR), SOS International (AEA), FIDELIA, CICP / CORIS International, France Assist, France Relief, Garantie Assistance, and other assurances explicitly mentioning their correspondent or representative in Russia.

1 - PRICES

Russian visas obtained by Tsar Voyages in Paris are priced as following:
- Tourist visa in the usual time: €105
- Tourist visa in urgent time: €180
- Business visa in the usual time: €110
For Chinese, Mongolian or Belorussian visas: consult our page dedicated to visas du Transsibérien.

2 - INCLUDED / NOT INCLUDED

These prices include:
- The invitations (tourist)
- Consular fees
- Intermediate Processing Fee by the VHS Visa Center
- The intervention costs of Tsar Voyages.

These prices do not include :

- The cost of returning documents (Chronopost International: €29 )
- The certificate of insurance required to obtain the visa (see previous tab).

3 - DEADLINES

More than a month before departure:
Ideally, send us the completed visa application at least a month before your departure. You should purchase the insurance to stay within the framework of your trip with an "ordinary" deadline of a minium of 15 days before departure, (although exceptions are possible in very high season: between May 15th and July 15th)

Fewer than 10 days before departure:
If you have fewer than ten days to obtain your visa, consult our agency to check the possibilities


4 - REMINDER

Tsar Voyages is not a visa agency but a tourist agency: it takes care of obtaining the visas of its customers as part of the organization of their trips (stays, tours, Trans-Siberian, or cruises). Please consult us.