United States citizens interested in visiting Moscow and the Russian Federation will require a tourist visa. There are no exceptions to this requirement. Travelers who plan to visit Russia may apply for a single entry, double entry or three-year multiple entry visa.
All three visa types bear a $213.00 consular fee payable at the time of application. Applications for a tourist visa must be submitted in person at a Russian Consulate or through a visa agency. All applications will require the following:
- A completed Russian Visa application form.
- A valid passport with at least six months validity beyond the expiration date of the visa applied for.
- Two blank passport visa pages.
- An invitation letter from a Russian citizen, business or agency. These can be provided by your hotel or arranged by a visa service agency.
- Documents showing a travel itinerary (i.e.: airfare receipt showing entry to/from Russia) and proof of a confirmed hotel reservation.
Applications for the three-year multiple entry visa additionally require a personal statement and letter of introduction to the Consulate, explaining the purpose of your trip, sights to be visited, etc.
Prior to my trip to Russia, I contacted Travel Visa Pro for assistance with my Russian visa application. They handled everything from start to finish, and the entire process was both easy and affordable. Using the visa agency also saved me a trip to the Russian Consulate in Washington, D.C.! For more information, check out www.travelvisapro.com.
Travel Safety & Advisories
For the most up to date and detailed information on the safety of travel to Russia, read the country report authored and released by the United States Department of State at www.travel.state.gov.
Resources In An Emergency
If you encounter a medical emergency or are a victim of a crime in Moscow, contact the local authorities immediately. Although 9-1-1 is the emergency number in the United States, that is not true in the majority of other countries. Read this FAQ article I wrote to locate the appropriate emergency contact numbers: What Are The Emergency Response Telephone Numbers In Other Countries?
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow can also be a resource to American Citizens. It is located at:
Bolshoy Deviatinsky Pereulok No. 8
Moscow, 121099 Russian Federation
Consular section located at:
Novinskiy Bulvar 21
Contact information is listed below:
Phone: +7 (495) 728-5000
Phone (24-hours/Emergency): +7 (495) 728-5000
E-mail: moscowwarden@state.gov
Website: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/
The U.S. Embassy is located 300 meters from a bus stop on Konyushkovskaya ul., which is served by bus numbers 4, 6, 39 and 116.
The Consular section is located nearby, but there is a closer bus stop on Kudrinskiy per. served by bus routes 6, 10, 39, 64 and 79.
