Which Russian Visa Do You Need?

For tourism and sightseeing in Russia, you need a Tourist Visa (up to 30 days) or an E-Visa (up to 16 days, 55 eligible countries). Tourist visa requires an invitation letter ($19), while E-Visa is applied online without invitation. Compare options in our detailed table above.

E-Visa is free of invitation requirement, costs $40, processed in 4 days online, but limited to 16 days and 55 countries. Tourist visa requires an invitation ($19), takes 4-20 days at a consulate, but allows up to 30 days and double entry. See our full comparison at /russian-evisa-vs-tourist-visa.

Yes, a business visa requires a Letter of Invitation (LOI) from a registered Russian company. Our service provides business visa invitations from $149 with processing in 3-10 business days. Business visas allow stays up to 1 year with multiple entries.

No, Russian tourist visas cannot be extended. If you need a longer stay, consider applying for a business visa (up to 1 year) or a work visa (up to 3 years). You must leave Russia before your visa expires and apply for a new one if needed.

Business visas and work visas offer multiple-entry options. Tourist visas allow single or double entry only. E-Visas and transit visas are single-entry only. For frequent travel to Russia, a multi-entry business visa (valid up to 1 year) is the best option.

Total cost depends on visa type: Tourist visa = $19 (invitation) + $40-$160 (consular fee). Business visa = $149+ (invitation) + $40-$160 (consular fee). E-Visa = $40 (no invitation needed). Work visa = $249+ (invitation/permit) + consular fee. Express processing adds $39-$99.