If you have decided to travel to Russia for business or leisure, and are not a member of the former Soviet Union countries, then you will definitely need a Russian visa for your travels. There are two major visas that are sought by travelers going to Russia.
The Tourist Visa:
Even if you are travelling for other purposes other than tourism, you will still need to obtain a tourist visa. This is applicable for short term visits that are less than 30 days in length.
The tourist visa for Russia is obtained via an invitation, sponsorship or other support letter from a hotel or a travel agency. The hotel or agency has to register the letter with the Department of Consular Services at the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry. It is illegal to obtain an invitation from a hotel if you are not going to stay in that hotel at all. Russian travel agencies usually flaunt this law simply because they can use a sponsorship document and then later register your visa without having to book a stay in a hotel. Some hotels will even give you a letter for a stay of the full 30 days even if you have only booked a two night stay with them. Read the rest of this entry »