There are 2 types of Private Visas to Russia:
- Single or Double Entry Private Visa upon your friend’s invitation (agency can submit application for you);
- Multiple Entry Visa for family members of Russian citizens: it will be issued for 1 year without the need to leave the country during this period (must be submitted to the embassy only in person).
Validation period for Russian Private Visas
| Types of Private Visas for visiting Russia | Maximum stay | Visa validity period |
| Single or Double Entry Private Visa upon your friend’s invitation | 90 days | 90 days |
| Multiple Entry Visa for Family members of Russian citizens | 1 year | 1 year |
* Dates of validity of the visa will correspond with the dates mentioned on your private invitation.
Invitation for Private Visa to Russia
| Visas to Russia | Type of invitation | How fast to get invitation? | Price |
| Private Visa upon friend’s invitation | from private person via MVD | 15 days | self request |
| Private Visa for family members | from private person (only from close relative) | – | self request |
How to get a Private Invitation to Russia for a foreigner through a friend?
Guest or Private invitation. Based on this invitation, a Private Visa is issued. It is also called a Guest Visa. The visa can be either Single or Double Entry for a period of up to 3 months. This invitation for a foreigner can only be issued by friends – citizens of the Russian Federation. There is a Fast Process for obtaining a Private Visa (with an invitation from a friend), the same as for Tourist and Business visas, in 5 working days.
How to get Private Visa for Family Members?
A Private Visa to Russia requires sponsorship from a spouse or close relative. An application for a private visa must be submitted to the Russian Embassy only in person.
The spouse must personally visit the embassy in Jakarta and provide a legalized marriage certificate. You can legalize a document only at the Russian Embassy in the country of marriage. The consul will sign permission to obtain a Private Visa for family members of Russian citizens. There is no Fast Service, the visa will be ready only after 20 working days.
It is also possible if the spouse makes an invitation on the territory of Russia through a notary. The original invitation must be sent along with the visa application to the Consular Department.
Important note: All applicants over the age of 12 must come in person to apply for a Russian visa, as well as a family member who has Russian citizenship.
Another way is a Private visa, if a close relative requests an invitation for a foreigner from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. You need to wait about 30 days, after which the invitation will be ready. Not so easy and fast to do it.
The list of close relatives who can be invited by a Russian citizen’s handwritten invitation includes: spouse, parents (adoptive parents), children (adopted), spouses of children, full and half brothers and sisters, grandparents, and grandchildren.
Mandatory registration of a Private Visa upon arrival in Russia
The migration registration procedure involves informing the local branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the arrival of a foreign citizen at the place of residence. The inviting person is responsible for the fact that this must be done within 7 working days after the arrival of a foreign citizen in the Russian Federation.
A private individual who has invited a foreigner can make “Notifications of the arrival and departure of foreigners” through the government service website.