Business visa

Dear applicants!

Please note that while applying for a Russian visa you will be requested to leave your passport for the whole period of the application process.

In order to apply for a Russian visa, an applicant has to come to the Russian Visa Application Centre in person, except children under 18 years old. It is not possible to apply for a Russian visa for someone else, even if an authorization letter has been given.

Please note, that starting from November 9, 2021 all non-Dutch citizens residing in the Netherlands should provide a confirmation for continuous stay to apply for a visa to Russia in the Netherlands: residence permit, or an extract from the BPR (Municipal Personal Records Database) as proof of permanent residency.

In order to apply for a standard, single-entry, double-entry or multi-entry business visa, the following

documents must be submitted:

1. Please find below three different options:
   1. Original invitation to enter the Russian Federation issued by the General Administration for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal affairs of the Russian Federation (electronic or paper-based); or
   2. Invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia’s decision to issue a visa (known as telex); or
   3. A written invitation from the Russian organization hosting the visitor; sample.

This type of invitation can be submitted only by nationals of EU, Japan, China, India and USA.

Citizens of Japan, China and India: original invitation is required;

Citizens of EU and USA: copy of invitation is acceptable;

Citizens of other countries can submit only any of the other two above mentioned invitations.

2. Original passport containing at least 2 blank visa pages in a page opening, valid for a period of 6 months after the visa expires;

If you apply for multiple-entry visa, it is required to provide copy of any previous visa (except work and transit visa) which has been used during last 12 months. In all other cases, it is possible to apply only for single or double entry visa.

3. Online application form completed on the website kdmid.ru, printed and signed in person by the applicant;

When selecting the location where you are going to submit your documents, you must state the visa centre where you intend to submit your documents and not “The Embassy”.

All applicants are kindly asked to remember their password used while filling in the application form.

4. Colour photograph – please see Photo Specifications page. The photo must be glued (not stapled!) on the visa application form.
5. Personal medical insurance policy document, valid in the territory of the Russian Federation.

It is allowed to provide either health or travel insurance. Please note that plastic insurance card issued by the insurance company is not enough and, therefore, is not accepted.

The insurance document must contain the date when the agreement was signed, the policy number, full name and full details of insured person as well as the signature of the insurer. The policy must cover the entire period of stay in Russia for single-, double-entry visas, and the duration of the first entry for multiple-entry visas. It has to be clearly stated in the policy that the cover territory is worldwide or the Russian Federation, or Europe, including Russia. The insurance coverage amount must not be less than 30.000 Euros.

Citizens of the following countries have to provide insurance: EU, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Ireland, Israel, Monaco and Iran.

Insurance policies and confirmation letters which do not contain the information above and standard forms stamped by the insurer will not be accepted. Guarantee letters from the employer are not accepted as insurance as well.

6. Valid Dutch residence permit (not required if the applicant is a citizen of the EU or the USA). If the applicant is not a citizen of EU or the USA, please contact our call-centre for more detailed information.

Attention for citizens holding UK, Irish, Danish and Norwegian passports:

It is requested to provide an official document proving an official registered residence in the territory of The Netherlands (“Uittreksel uit de basisregistratie personen”) or an official residence permit in case it was applied for.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in The Netherlands may require additional documents before issuing a visa, invite you to an interview or extend the time required for consideration of your visa application.

Payment of the consular and service charges may be made at the Visa Centre.

Please provide one recent photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself. The photographs should be:

• 3,5 x 4,5 cm taken against a light background (white or off-white) so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
• Clear share 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.

Dear applicants!

Please note that while applying for a Russian visa you will be requested to leave your passport for the whole period of the application process.

In order to apply for a Russian visa, an applicant has to come to the Russian Visa Application Centre in person, except children under 18 years old. It is not possible to apply for a Russian visa for someone else, even if an authorization letter has been given.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Netherlands process visa applications and decide whether or not to issue a visa within the processing times service standards of up to 30 working days. This is subject to a complete set of documents being provided and consular fees paid.

The processing of your application is subject to the procedures and timescales of the Russian Federation, over which we have no control.

Please note that there is no next-day service in The Hague.

Processing times vary from application to application and are at the sole discretion of the Russian Consulate. Please note that for some nationals the visa processing time may take up to 30 days, and is solely at the Embassies discretion.

The processing times may vary according to the decision of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Netherlands.

For European citizens, USA, Japan, China and India for single-, double entry visa (MVD, telex and direct invitation):

Normal applications will take minimum 7 calendar days. In emergency cases an urgent visa application may be submitted. If you are applying for an urgent visa, an urgency letter issued by the inviting company with the explanation of an urgency reason must be submitted. In such cases the processing time can be shortened to just 3 working days. If an approval has been given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Federal Migration Service of Russian Federation or on behalf of the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Netherlands, the processing time can be shortened to less than 3 days based on the decision of the Consulate.

For European citizens, USA, Japan, China and India for multiple entry visa (direct invitation):

In accordance with the Russia-EU Visa Facilitation Agreement the length of procedures for processing applications for multiple-entry visas on basis of a direct invitation takes 10 calendar days.

For European citizens, USA, Japan, China and India for multiple entry visa (MVD, telex):

Normal applications will take minimum 7 calendar days. In emergency cases an urgent visa application may be submitted. If you are applying for an urgent visa, an urgency letter issued by the inviting company with the explanation of an urgency reason must be submitted. In such cases the processing time can be shortened to just 3 working days. If an approval has been given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Federal Migration Service of Russian Federation or on behalf of the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Netherlands, the processing time can be shortened to less than 3 days based on the decision of the Consulate.

For holders of Australian passports (MVD):

The visa processing time will take minimum 14 calendar days.

For holders of Australian passports (telex):

The visa processing time will take minimum 7 days. In case if the citizen Australia has a telex invitation, an urgent visa application may be submitted, if an approval has been given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation or on behalf of the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Netherlands.

For the citizens of United Kingdom and New Zealand (MVD, telex):

The visa processing time will take minimum 7 calendar days. In emergency cases an urgent visa application may be submitted. In such cases the processing time can be shortened to just 3 working days.

For the citizens of USA (MVD, telex, direct invitation):

The visa processing time will take approximately 7 calendar days in case of applying for single or double entry visas. In case of applying for multiple entry visas, the visa processing time for citizens holding USA passport is 10 calendar days. In case if the USA citizen has an MVD invitation, an urgent visa application may be submitted.

For travellers to Dagestan, Chechen Republic, North Ossetia, Alany, Ingushetia:

The visa processing time will take minimum 10 calendar days, in case if they have MVD invitation.

According to the Russia-EU visa facilitation agreement for citizens of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia) and in accordance with the bilateral agreements for citizens of Norway, Denmark, Iceland State, Liechtenstein and Swiss

For citizens of other countries and stateless persons

For citizens of Angola, Vietnam:

For citizens of China:

For citizens of Japan:

For US citizens: