Your passport must have at least two visa-designated blank pages left for the visa sticker and the stamps upon entry and departure. In addition, the passport must be valid for at least six months after your departure for Russia. For instance, if you are applying for a visa in April 2011 and you want to enter the country in July 2011, your passport must not expire until at least January 2012.
For tourist, business and private visas, you need an official invitation. If you visit Russia for leisure, you must ask for sponsorship by your travel agency or your hotel. Business travelers must ask for an official invitation by the business contacts, while those visiting friends or relatives in Russia need a private invitation. The Russian Foreign Ministry must approve all invitations before you can use them for your visa application.
Transit visa applicants must prove their intention to enter Russia only in order to reach a third destination. The period of validity varies; for instance, transit passengers can be issued a visa for one up to three days if traveling by plane, while for travelers using the train or a car, the transit visa validity can be extended to a maximum of 10 days overall. In addition, transit passengers must have a visa for their final destination, if necessary; otherwise, entry into Russia will be denied.
Applicants for a multiple entry business visa or for any visa over three months must present an HIV (AIDS) test certificate. According to the Decree of the Russian Federation # 1158, the certificate must contain the passport data and signature of the person examined, indication of intended stay in Russia and information about the results, method of the test and the stamp of the medical organization. The certificate must be filled in Russian and English and be no more than three months old on the day of visa application.
