Russian visa changes
23rd January 2009
Travellers planning a trip to Russia should take note of new visa application procedures that have come into effect from today (23 January).
The Russian Embassies in London and Edinburgh have outsourced the visa application process to VF Services, who also handle applications for China and India.
Travellers who need a tourist visa need to fill out an application form. You should then submit it with your passport (which has to be valid for a minimum of six months after you plan to leave Russia), a passport photo and a tour operator voucher or confirmation letter.
You can either submit your application in person at the Russian Visa Application Centre at 15-27 Gee Street in London or by post.
There is now a service charge of £25.30 for an application that is processed within five days. If you need it processed in a day, the charge is £32.20.
Those charges are in addition to the visa fees of £50 for a single-entry tourist visa (£100 if you need it the next day) or £65 for a double entry (£130 if you need it the next day).
If you’re applying by post, you should enclose one special delivery envelope per passport or a fee of £7.40 per passport.
If you’re visiting relatives or friends, you need to submit a private letter of invitation issued by a Russian Federal Migration Service agency.
You can find full details of the new application process and download the application forms at the Russian visa website at
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