Register with the embassy when you arrive and let embassy staff know about your trip, as well as find out about any security or safety issues. The consular section of the Embassy is located in Moscow, but there are also Embassies in St Petersburg, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg.
Novinskiy Bulvar 21, Moscow
Embassy Switchboard: 011-7-495-728-5000
American Citizen Services Unit: 011-7-495-728-5577
Email: [email protected]
The Russian Federation states that Russia "maintains a restrictive and complicated visa regime for foreigners who visit, transit, or reside in the Russian Federation." Therefore you need to ensure that you do have all the correct paperwork in place. Every foreign visitor to Russia must have a sponsor, which could be a hotel, university, tour company or relative. The law in Russia states that if you need replacement, extension, or changes to a Russian visa then your sponsor must apply on your behalf. Your entry visa to Russia must be obtained before you arrive there; make sure you apply well in advance of your trip, as you will not be allowed to enter the country without one. Your visa will state the day you are allowed to enter the country and the day you must leave. Normally, a visa will only allow a maximum stay of 90 days out of 180 days for business, tourist, humanitarian and cultural visas. Workers and students require different visas. Your visa card should also be registered with your sponsor on the first day of your stay.
A valid visa is also required to leave Russia. If you overstay the dates stated on your visa for three day it may be possible at the discretion of the Russian consulate to acquire an exit visa upon leaving the country. If you overstay more than three days, your sponsor will have to intervene on your behalf and request an exit visa; this could take up to 20 days, during which time your accommodations are at your own expense -- and hotels and hostels may not let you stay with an expired visa.
United States citizens have to fill in a two-part migration card on arrival to Russia. One part stays with the immigration authorities in Russia, the other part you keep. You may need to show this at hotels or the accommodation you have chosen for your stay. It is up to you to sort out the migration cards: Border guards will not remind you to do this, but often they are distributed on flights and are available at ports of arrival. Losing your migration card may cause difficulties during subsequent travel to Russia as well. Your migration card should be registered with your sponsor.
If you are traveling through Russia, you will require a transit visa. Even if you are just changing planes in Russia, this is required -- and if the authorities check and you do not hold the correct documentation they will not let you continue your journey until you acquire one through the Russian Consulate.
