How to read a Russian Visa

Labelled Russian Visa

1. Entries

This specifies the entry type for the visa, as well as the classification in the following format:

[Entry type in words] [Entry type as single-character] [Classification as two-character abbreviation]

Common entry types include:

Classifications:

2. Date of issue

The date your visa was issued on.

3. Dates of validity

This field confirms dates that your visa is valid for. You may enter and leave Russia on, or between, these dates and are not restricted to entering or leaving on the exact dates shown, however please note you may not enter before the start date and must leave by the end date.

4. Validity days

The maximum number of days that you can stay in Russia during each visit within the validity of your visa.

5. Nationality

This specifies your nationality, which will be written in the Cyrillic alphabet. Your nationality will be the country your passport was issued in. E.g.

6. VISA ID

This number is generated by the consulate when they issue your visa.

7. Family name/given name (s)

Your first and last name will be written here, along with any second names you may have. They will be displayed in the following format, on top in Russian and below in English:

[Last Name] [First Name] [Second Names]

Please confirm the English spelling of your name is correct.

8. Passport number

This will match the passport number which the visa is attached to. Please make sure this is correct.

9. Date of Birth

This shows your date of birth in the following format:

[DD] [MM] [YYYY]

Please confirm this information is correct.

10. Gender

11. Invitation number

In case you have applied for a business visa, it will be the invitation number generated at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Otherwise it will be blank.

12. Purpose of entry

Depending on the purpose of your visit and the type of visa you have been granted, this will typically read:

13. Invited by

This is the name of the accredited organisation who is your official sponsor who has certain legal responsibilities for you while you are in Russia. In most cases the visas arranged through Real Russia will list the names of our Russian subsidiaries:

14. Additional information

This field is usually blank, though in case of multiple entry business visas it will typically contain:

Действует 90 дней из каждых 180

Which informs you that you can’t stay in Russia more than 90 days during any 180 day period.

15. MRZ

This string of characters is encrypted for use by electronic passport scanners and can sometimes include misspellings of customer names. This is caused by translating between different alphabets and should not be worried about.