There is no need to apply for a child’s visa as long as they are included in one of their parent’s passport. In this case, they will only have to obtain a visa support document.
If a child has a separate passport, then they will need to obtain a separate visa as well.
Please note: Children applying for Russian visa may need to provide additional documents with their application depending on who they are submitting their application with or/and who they will be travelling to Russia with.
- No additional documents are required when a child is applying together with parent(s) of the same surname.
- When a child is applying together with parent(s) of a different surname, a copy of child’s birth certificate needs to be presented. In the event where, for example, a child is travelling with their mother whose surname in her current passport is her actual married name and the child bears a surname of her ex-partner, then a copy of mother’s marriage and divorce certificate has to be provided. Generally speaking, a connection between child’s and parent’s surname, if different, will always need to be proved.
- When a child is travelling to Russia either alone or with somebody else who is not their parent; the additional documents will need to include a copy of one of their parent’s passports and a signed copy of a parental consent letter.
Please note: If the child travels with their parent or somebody else but is applying for their visa separately, then a copy of parent’s/that person’s passport along with a copy of their valid Russian visa has to be supplied too.
Birth, marriage or divorce certificate and a parental consent letter do not need to be notarised, apostilled or witnessed by a solicitor and you should not send the originals unless you are specifically asked to do so.
If the child cannot sign the application form themselves, then the parent should sign it on their behalf and note this under the signature, e.g. Mother/Father.
Obtaining an accompanying three, six or twelve month child visa for adults travelling with a Russian business visa
If you wish to obtain a three, six or twelve month visa for a child to accompany an adult travelling on a business visa, then you need to be aware of the following:
- To allow us to raise the "accompanying family member" visa support documents, at least one parent must be travelling with the child and have their business visa support issued at the same time as their child. A copy of the child's birth certificate is also required.
- The “accompanying family member” visa support documents provider has to be the same as that of the related parent's visa; so if the parent(s) arranged their own visa support (i.e. not through Real Russia), they will need to do the same for their child.
- When submitting a child’s application once the parent’s visa has already been issued, then a copy of their parent’s passport along with a copy of their valid Russian visa has to be supplied too.
- A child's accompanying family member visa dates must be the same as or within the parent's.
Finally, all of the above explicitly applies to the UK only. Consulates’ rules in other countries may be different. Please check before you apply.
Updates to the private visa application process for children
A new law simplifying the private visa application process for children was introduced in March 2010.
Governed by this rule and under the following conditions, the children can apply for a Russian visa without a visa support document if:
- A child is under 18 years of age
- The parent they will be travelling to Russia with is a Russian passport holder
The parent holding a Russian passport has to submit their child’s application in person at the Russian Visa Application Centre.
The documents to be supplied are as follows:
- Child’s passport
- Child’s passport-sized picture. Generally speaking, the Consulate’s requirement is to provide a photograph which is not older than 6 months. However, as children change very fast, their picture has to be taken within a few weeks of the application and cannot be same as in the passport.
- Child’s visa application form signed either by child or their parent
- Parent’s original Russian passport
- Parent’s original UK visa (either stamped in the Russian passport or a separate residence permit) or original UK passport
- Child’s original birth certificate
- Parent’s original marriage/divorce certificate if the child’s and parent’s surname differs
- Any extra paperwork for non-UK nationals where applicable (please check our website for more details)
Please contact us for more information.