Russia Visa Requirements

Obtaining a Russian Visa

All visitors to Russia will require a visa unless travelling on one of our Visa Free Tours (please see details below.)

A Russian tourist visa is only issued to travellers who have fully booked and confirmed travel arrangements.

In order to obtain a Russian visa you require a Russian 'invitation letter'. On The Go Tours can obtain the 'invitation letter' from the Russian authorities that is required for all Russia tourist application forms. Please contact your agent or your On The Go Tours consultant for the applicable costs.

Visa Free Tours to Russia

Helsinki to St Pete's and St Pete's & the Baltics are Visa Free Russia Tours, meaning that you do not need to procure a Russian visa. This is due to the fact that ferry passengers can visit St Petersburg visa-free, provided that their stay does not exceed 72 hours, and they have sightseeing arrangements. We will provide you with the necessary documentation required for entry. 

Visa requirements may differ depending on the type of passport you hold. Please check below for information about the visa requirements that you may need to fulfill.

Russia visa information for UK residents

If you book an On The Go tour directly with us or through your travel agent and are resident in the UK, we can obtain the invitation and visa on your behalf (there are fees involved) and provide the Embassy with the necessary paperwork.

The granted tourist visa is valid strictly for the specified dates of your itinerary including your chosen trip and any pre or post trip accommodation you may require.
The visa lists entry/exit dates (based on the entry/exit dates you inserted on your application) - so please exercise care when completing this section on your visa application form. as on the go cannot be held responsible for incorrect dates and your passport data.

Please note that once you have completed the visa application form online, you will need to print it out EXACTLY as stated on the Russian Embassy website and also ensure that your photo EXACTLY fits the photo box on the visa application page - otherwise the Russian Embassy can and will reject your visa application.

Visa applications are only accepted 3 months or less prior to the date of your exit from Russia.

Processing time can be anything from 10 working days from the time we lodge the visa. The Russian Embassy experiences unprecedented demand, so the sooner you get your application to us, the better.

Booking late, need your visa sooner or forgotten to do your visa application on time (less than 3 weeks prior to departure)? You will need to take the RUSH SERVICE. The Rush Service is NOT available for non UK residents.

Click here for instructions about how to fill the Russian visa application for British and UK residents travelling from UK.

To complete the Russian Visa application form, please visit http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk

* Please note that On The Go Tours charges a fee for lodgement of passports at the Russian Embassy, as well as the Russian embassy fee and the invitation letter fee. This service is provided in the UK only.

If you reside overseas or are departing the UK more than 3 months prior to arrival in Russia we can provide you with the necessary paperwork in order for you to procure the visa independently from a Russian Embassy in your region. Please note independent applications are your own responsibility.

Russia visa information for Australian and New Zealand residents

Please visit the embassy link below for visa form and instructions.

Australia

Embassy of Russia - Sydney

7-9 Fullerton Street, Woollahra NSW 2025

Tel : (02) 9326-1188 9326-1866

Fax : (02) 9327-5065

http://www.sydneyrussianconsulate.com

New Zealand

Embassy of Russia - Wellington

57 Messines Road, Karori, Wellington

Tel: (04) 476 6113

Fax: (04) 476 3843

www.rus.co.nz

Russia visa information for USA and Canadian Residents

Obtaining A Passport

If you do not have a passport you can download instructions and an application form using the following links:

US passport service

http://www.americanpassport.com/Passport_Services

Canadian passport service

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/form/index.aspx?lang=eng

Please ensure you allow plenty of time to obtain a passport and visas before your tour departure date.

Please visit the embassy link below for visa form and instructions.

USA

Embassy of Russia

2650 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington DC, 20007

Tel: (202)298-5700

Fax: (202)298-5735

www.russianembassy.org

Canada

Embassy of Russia

285, Charlotte Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K 1 N 8 L 5, Canada

Tel: +1 613 235-4341, 236-1413

Fax: +1 613 236-6342

http://ottawa.rusembassy.org/en/ottawa/index.html

Finland

A tourist visa is not required for a stay up to 90 days for residents of United Kingdom, USA, Australia and New Zealand. South African residents require a tourist visa prior to travel, please check with your embassy for the latest information.

Estonia

A tourist visa is not required for a stay of up to 90 days for residents of the United Kingdom, USA, Australia and New Zealand. South African residents require a tourist visa prior to travel, please check with your embassy for the latest information.

Ukraine

A tourist visa is not required for a stay up to 90 days for residents of the United Kingdom and USA. Australian, New Zealand and South African residents require a tourist visa prior to travel, please check with your embassy for the latest information.

Uzbekistan

Citizens of the United Kingdom, EU, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa need a tourist visa to visit Uzbekistan. Visa requirements are subject to change so please check with your embassy for the latest information. Visa procurement is the responsibility of the traveller and not On The Go. 

In order to obtain a visa, a Letter of Invite is required for all nationalities except for citizens of the Great Britain, USA, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Spain and Switzerland. We can arrange the Letter of Invite on your behalf. In order to do this, you will need to provide us with the following information:

1. Name as in passport

2. Nationality

3. Place of birth

4. Date of birth

5. Gender

6. Dates in Uzbekistan

7. Passport Number

8. Copy of passport

9. Home address

10. SGL/Multiply entry to Uzbekistan

11. A letter from the applicants place of work which must include the name of the company,a brief description of the company and its address. Occupation of the applicant.

12. Place where an Uzbek Visa is going to be received: If obtaining your visa upon arrival, this will be Bukhara.

Uzbekistan Visa Information for UK Citizens:

An Uzbekistan visa must be obtained prior to departure. Please visit the embassy link below for a visa form and instructions.

Embassy of Uzbekistan in London, United Kingdom

41 Holland Park

Kensington

London

W11 3RP

United Kingdom

Phone: +44-207-229-76-79

Fax: +44-207-229-70-29

Email: info@uzbekembassy.org

Website: http://www.uzbekembassy.org/e/visas_for_tourists/

Uzbekistan Visa Information for US Citizens:

An Uzbekistan visa must be obtained prior to departure. Please visit the embassy link below for a visa form and instructions.

Embassy of Uzbekistan in the United States

1746 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington DC

District of Columbia

20036-1903

USA

Phone: +1-202-8875300

Fax: +1-202-7547403 / +1-202-2936804

Email: embassy@uzbekistan.org / emb@uzbekistan.org

Website: http://www.uzbekistan.org/consular/visa/

Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and South Africa Citizens

As there is not an Uzbekistan Embassy in the countries listed above, a visa can only be obtained upon arrival at Tashkent airport or at the Uzbekistan Embassy in Moscow and travellers will require a Letter of Invite as noted above.