United States citizens traveling to Russia should register with the nearest embassy. While this is not a requirement, the State Department strongly recommends it. Being registered with the local embassy will make it easier for United States official to assistant with any problems the traveler experiences while in Russia. The United States embassy or consulate can also provide travelers with updated immigration-law information. You can complete registration online or at the nearest United States embassy.
U.S. Consulates General are located in:
St. Petersburg
15 Ulitsa Furshtadtskaya, St. Petersburg 191028
Tel: (7) 812-331-2600
Fax: (7) 812-331-2646
After-hours emergencies: (7) 812-331-2600
[email protected]
Vladivostok
32 Ulitsa Pushkinskaya, Vladivostok 690001
Tel: (7) (4232) 30-00-70
Fax: (7) (4232) 30-00-91
After-hours emergencies: (7) (4232) 71 00 67
[email protected]
Yekaterinburg
Ulitsa Gogolya 15a, 4th floor, Yekaterinburg 620151
Tel: (7) 343-379-3001
Fax: (7) 343-379-4515
After-hours emergencies: (7) 8 902 84 16653
[email protected]
All travelers are required to have a sponsor who is currently residing in Russia. The sponsor can be a Russian family member (spouse, grandparent), an employer, a school or even a hotel. If an individual is having a hard time locating a Russia-based sponsor, a United States travel agency that specializes in Russian travel can help provide a legal sponsor. The traveler must stay in contact with the sponsor because only the sponsor will be allowed to apply for a visa on the traveler's behalf if it is lost, needs to be extended or must be changed.
Russian law requires all individuals entering the country to obtain both entry and exit visas. To apply for a visa, an individual must have a valid passport. You can get the entry visa from the Russian embassy or consulate prior to arriving in Russia. Russian law does not allow individuals to apply for visas once they have entered the country. The entry visa will indicate the length of stay and will include an arrival date (determined by the sponsors' letter of invitation) and the exit date. To exit, a valid visa is required. If the visa has expired by even one day, exit may be denied until the sponsor is able to obtain a visa extension on behalf of the traveler.
Travelers are required to complete a two-part migration card upon entry to Russia. These cards should be completed at the point of entry and taken to the immigration officials. The traveler keeps one part of the card, which should be presented to immigration when leaving Russia. These cards are often located on racks at entry points and failing to complete them or give them to officials can result in problems if the traveler attempts to return to Russia in the future.
When staying in Russia for more than three days, travelers are required to register visas and migration cards with their sponsors. Individuals whose sponsors are hotels must register visas and migration cards in one day. Doing so will help prove compliance with Russian law if stopped by the police.
