VERIFIED

Regular visa supporting documents by visa category

Official supporting-document requirements differ by visa category. This rule must not be reduced to a universal invitation-required boolean.

Direct answer

This rule publishes the structured requirements shown below.

Published value

Tourist: Document: confirmation_of_acceptance_of_foreign_tourist; Issuer scope: organization_recorded_in_federal_tour_operator_register; Alternative: classified_accommodation_booking_confirmation_for_nationalities_covered_by_government_order_372-r
Business humanitarian: Document: invitation_or_mfa_decision; Accepted routes: mia_invitation_original_or_electronic_printout, mfa_invitation, mfa_decision; Agreement exception: direct_written_request_only_if_applicable_international_agreement_allows
Private: Document: mia_invitation_or_limited_close_relative_statement_route; Agreement exception: direct_written_request_only_if_applicable_international_agreement_allows
Study: Document: mia_invitation; Additional requirements: hiv_certificate, passport_validity_18_months
Work: Document: mia_invitation; Additional requirements: hiv_certificate, passport_validity_18_months
Transit: Invitation required: No; Supporting documents: onward_tickets, destination_or_transit_visa_or_passport_as_applicable

Conditions

Applies to: regular_visas_only
Visa category required: Yes
Mission specific instructions may add documents: Yes

Exceptions

Unified evisa: governed_by_EVISA_INVITATION_REQUIRED
Visa free travel: no_regular_visa_application_within_published_visa_free_conditions
Nationality specific agreements: apply_only_when_supported_by_an_exact_official_rule

Official evidence

Only official Russian MFA, KD MID or official Russian mission sources are accepted as factual evidence for published rules.

Russian MFA Consular Department

Visa categories and central document requirements

Open official source

Depending on the visa category, the foreign citizen submits a tourist acceptance confirmation, an invitation to enter, a decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the other documents expressly listed for that visa category. A transit visa instead uses onward tickets and the destination/transit visa or passport when applicable.

Authority: Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Last checked: 5 Sept 2026