Complete the visa application, which is available online or at consulate offices. The applicant should staple a passport-size photo to the appropriate section of the application.
Provide a valid passport with at least two clear visa pages.
Provide a standard tourist confirmation from a hosting travel agency or hotel, or a voucher from that hotel or travel agency. Alternatively, for a business or student visa, applicants must present an official letter of invitation from the host organization or a Russian citizen.
Prepare a cover letter from yourself containing your name (or an alphabetical list of persons in your group), arrival dates, locations, means of transport, and your itinerary while in Russia.
Provide a money order or cashier's check payable to the Russian Embassy for the amount of the visa cost. As of 2010, single entry tourist visas cost $131 (4- to 20-business-day processing) or $250 (3-business-day processing). Pricing for business, student and transit visas are the same as tourist visas except multiple-entry business visas, which cost $150 (4- to 20-business-day processing) or $450 (3-business-day processing).
