Private visa

Documents for a visa should be submitted to the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in person.

We would like to inform you that visa applications will be accepted only after making an appointment. To book an appointment, please follow the link.

Visiting close relatives who are citizens of Russia 

Close relatives and family members of Russian Federation citizens can apply for either an annual multiple-entry private visa (up to one year), allowing unlimited stays within its validity, or a single/double-entry private visa for up to three months.

The following relatives are eligible: Spouse, parents (including adoptive), children (including adopted), spouses of children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.

Visa Application Basis: A visa is issued based on a Russian citizen's written request to the head of a Russian diplomatic mission or consular office. This application must be submitted in person (the application). 

The application signed by Russian citizens residing in Russia must be certified by the Russian notary public.

For Minor Citizens' Relatives: Relatives of minor Russian citizens may apply for this type of private visa, if their parent-citizen of Russia submits the application.

The list of required documents:

1. An Application Form: Completed by the Russian citizen for their foreign relative, submitted in person or sent to the foreigner if the Russian citizen is in Russia (The application needs notarization).
2. Passport: Either the foreign passport (if the inviting person is outside Russia) or a notarized copy of the internal passport (if the person resides in Russia).
3. The Proof of Kinship: Originals/notarized copies of documents like birth certificates or marriage certificates.
4. A Valid Foreigner's Passport: It must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the visa's expiry date and have two free pages for stamps and vise stickers.
5. Visa Form: Completed online at visa.kdmid.ru and printed.
6. Photo: One recent color photo on a white background (3.5x4.5 cm).
7. Health Insurance: Valid in Russia, covering the entire stay (when applying for a single or double-entry visa) or the first entry for multiple-entry visas (prebooked tickets may be required) or the period of the at least 90 days from the start of the visa validity.
8. An HIV Certificate: For visas over 3 months, except for those with Russian family members (spouse, children, including adopted, parents, adoptive parents).

Processing Time: 5 working days for single/double-entry visas, 10 working days for annual multiple-entry visas. In some cases, the procession time may be extended.

Visiting relatives or friends who are citizens of the Russian Federation or non-EU countries

To apply for a private visa an applicant should submit to the Consular section:

1. A completed visa application, a national passport, one passport size photo, paid travel insurance (see points 1-4 of the General Information);
2. An official private invitation issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. A person or organization inviting you to visit Russia (except citizens of Norway and EU member states, legally residing in Russia) applies for an invitation to the Local Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If the host applies for an electronic invitation an applicant should submit a printed copy of it to the Consular section.

Please note that a private visa can be issued only in accordance with the dates of entry/departure indicated in your invitation and cannot exceed 90 days of stay in Russia. The insurance policy should cover the whole period of the applicant’s stay in Russia.

These rules also apply to the relatives of the Russian citizens registered at the Consular section of the Embassy.

Visiting a relative who is a citizen of Norway or the European Union

A citizen of the European Union legally residing, working or studying in the Russian Federation can invite close relatives – spouse, children (including adopted), parents (including custodians), grandparents and grandchildren using a simplified procedure. The following documents should be submitted to the Consular section:

1. A completed visa application, a national passport, one passport size photo, paid travel insurance (see points 1-4 of the General Information);
2. Notarized request (in original only) from the host person containing the following information:
   
   
   •   for the host person – name, surname and address in the Russian Federation;
   •   for the guest person - name, surname, date of birth, gender, citizenship, passport number, aim and period of the trip, number of entries.
3. A copy of one of the following documents proving that the host person legally resides on the Russian territory: permanent or temporary residence permit, visa for work or study with the period of validity for more than 90 days.
4. Documents certifying kinship between host and guest persons. These can be certificates of birth, marriage or name change. The documents mentioned above can be accepted only in Russian, Norwegian or English.

Visiting military or civil burial grounds

A citizen of Norway or the European Union can once a year visit graves of his/her relatives using a simplified procedure. The following documents should be submitted to the Consular section:

1. A completed visa application, a national passport, one passport size photo, paid travel insurance (see points 1-4 of the General Information);
2. An official document confirming the existence and preservation of the grave;
3. Official documents confirming family or other relationship between the applicant and the buried. These can be certificates of birth, marriage or name change. The documents mentioned above can be accepted only in Russian, Norwegian or English.

A visa to visit a burial ground can be one-entry for the period of no more than 14 days.

Visiting the Russian Federation in case of a serious illness or death of a close relative.

A foreign citizen can visit the Russian Federation in case of a serious illness or death of a close relative. The following documents should be submitted to the Consular section in person by an applicant:

1. A completed visa application, a national passport, one passport size photo, paid travel insurance (see points 1-4 of the General Information);
2. An official document confirming the fact of illness or death of a close relative. It can be a telegram, confirmed by the doctor, or a certificate of death (fax copies are accepted);
3. Official documents confirming family relationship between the applicant and the ill or dead person. There can be certificates of birth, marriage or name change.
4. A personal statement of an applicant containing the request to issue a visa and the address in the Russian Federation where the applicant plans to stay.

A one-entry visa can be issued for the period of no more than 30 days. It can be processed as soon as possible.