Work visa

Work visa is required in case you wish to enter Russian Federation for employment. 

Work visa can be valid for up to 3 months and can be issued for single or double entry. Also work visa can be issued for multiple entries and can be valid for up to 3 years. Please note that in case of submitting the application for so called work entry visa the passport should be valid for no less than 18 months from the date of issue of the visa. Dates of validity of the visa will correspond with the dates mentioned on your letter of invitation issued by a Russian Federal Migration Service agency or a telex from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Please note that you are required to submit your HIV test Certificate when applying for work visa.

Please note, that starting from January 27, 2021 all non-Finish citizens residing in Finland need to provide a confirmation for continuous stay to apply for a visa to Russia in Finland (residence permit, notice from an employer or an educational institution, or an extract from The Finnish Population Information System). 

  1. Original passport, which must contain at least 2 blank pages, and which must be valid: for one entry work visa at least for a period of 18 months from the start date of visa; for multiple entry work visa the passport must be valid for a period of 6 months after the visa expires.
  2. Online application form completed on the website https://visa.kdmid.ru, printed and signed in person by the applicant. Please choose a visa application centre you are going to submit your application to. Your electronic application form will be directed to the intended visa centre. Russia visa centre provides additional service to fill in the application on your behalf.
  3. One recent photograph as per photo specifications. Please note, that at the Russia visa application centre in Helsinki you can opt for a photo service.
  4. A letter of invitation issued by a General Administration for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal affairs of the Russian Federation or a telex from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  5. Insurance policy for the whole period of the stay in Russia. The policy document should show the name of the policy holder, validity for the duration of the journey as well as indicate the geographical area coverage as worldwide/including Russia, and cover medical expenses and repatriation. The insurance policy should contain a logo and a stamp of the insurance company along with a position and a signature of the insurer. If the policy document does not contain any logo, stamp or signature, the insurance should show the name and the contact details of the insurer. The insurance needs to be presented only by the citizens of the Schengen states, Iran, Israel and Ireland on the basis of reciprocity.
  6. When applying for work visa you must additionally submit HIV Test (AIDS) Certificate taken within the last three months. HIV Test (AIDS) Certificate should still be valid for 15- 30 days on the day of your application.
  7. a. Confirmation for continuous stay in Finland (permanent residence permit, pysyvä oleskelulupa) is required from the nationals of the following countries only: Algeria, Angola, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Georgia, Vietnam, Iraq, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Libya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Syria, Somalia, Chad, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia. b. Confirmation of stay in Finland for more than 90 days from the following nationals (residence permit, notice from an employer or an educational institution, or an extract from The Finnish Population Information System): all countries  (including  Denmark, UK and Northern Ireland, Ireland)  except for citizens of EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, India, Iran, South Korea and USA.
  8. To the attention of citizens of Albania, Bahrain, Venezuela, South Africa, Lesotho, Mali, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Egypt, Libya — please contact Visa Application centre prior of document submitting.
  9. For Minors:

Children under 14 travelling alone or whose visa applications are unaccompanied with their parents’ are required to submit following additional documents:

    • Signed and dated permission letter  (letter of consent) from one of the parents giving permission to the child to apply for a visa or explaining that the parent would be travelling with the child
    • A copy parents’ passports (bio page and a page with the Russian visa).
    • If the child’s and parent’s surnames do not match, we would also require a copy of the birth certificate or an extract from the population register to confirm that the permission letter has been provided by the biological parent/guardian.

Please note, you can opt for a Post delivery service to get your passport back after the processing.

Please provide one recent photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself. The photographs should be:

  • 3,5 x 4,5 cm taken against a light background (white or off-white) so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background.
  • Clear share quality and with the face in focus.
  • Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print).
  • Full face, non-smiling (without sunglasses, a hat/cap or other head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of their religious belief or ethnic background).
  • Please stick the Photograph on the visa application form.

Note: Please follow these instructions carefully. If photographs presented do not meet these requirements your application will be considered incomplete.

Please note, that at the Russia visa application centre in Helsinki you can opt for a photo service.

Please note that while applying for a Russian visa you will be requested to leave your passport at the Consulate for the whole period of the application process.

Please note, you can opt for a Post delivery service to get your passport back after the processing.

Processing times may vary from application to application and are at the sole discretion of the Russian Consulate.

    • Normal applications submitted in Helsinki, Turku and Lappeenranta will take minimum 5 working days to get processed.
    • Single or Double Tourist visas for citizens of EU – 4 working days.
    • For EU citizens applying for single or double entry visa with invitation letter containing Individual Tax Number (ИНН) visa processing time is minimum of 5 working days.
    • For EU citizens applying for multiple entries business or humanitarian visa with invitation letter containing Individual Tax Number (ИНН) visa processing time is minimum of 10 working days. Applicants should also have a single or double Russian visa in the last 1 year, without which they cannot apply for multiple entries.
    • For citizens of USA visa processing time will take 15 calendar days not depending on the visa category and visa duration. Please note that citizens of USA can apply for urgent processing of visa application only at rare or emergency cases.
    • For citizens of UK processing time will take not less than 10 working days.
    • For the citizens of Australia, Turkmenistan and Israel the visa processing time will take 10 to 15 calendar days (under normal circumstances) unless they have residence permit or long term work/student visa for the Finland for a term exceeding 90 days.
    • Expedite processing (minimum 3 working days): only in case of aim-tourism purpose of travel or depending on the nature of urgency. Please clarify on urgent processing at the time of submission.

Please, note that processing time for citizens of Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, Egypt, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Lebanon is 20 working days with the obligatory interview at the Consular Section.

Please note that visa fees may vary depending on the nationality, visa duration and processing time. Please contact Russia Visa Application Centre for more information before applying for your visa.

Along with the visa fees, there is a service charge of 28 Euro (inclusive of VAT 24%) applicable per visa application. Visa and service fees can be paid by credit / debit card and cash. Please note that the processing of your application will start when the respective visa and service fees have been paid.

 

PROCESSING TIME

VISA FEE, EUR

Work visas and long-term study visas

For citizens of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia) and in accordance with the bilateral agreements for citizens of Norway, Denmark, Iceland State, Liechtenstein and Swiss

who are not covered by Russia-EU visa facilitation agreement and bilateral agreements. *

1-entry visa

4-20 working days

72

3 working days

144

2-entry visa

4-20 working days

116

3 working days

231

Multiple entry visa

(only for work visas)

4-20 working days

216

3 working days

432

*Visa fees and processing time for citizens of other countries and stateless persons are calculated according to the ”Tariff for consular fees, charged by Consular institutions of the Russian Federation”.

For US citizens *

PROCESSING TIME

VISA FEE, EUR

1-entry visa

15 calendar days

157

3 working days *

157

2-entry visa

15 calendar days

157

Multiple entry visa

15 calendar days

157

3 working days *

157

 

For Japan citizens*

PROCESSING TIME

VISA FEE, EUR

1-entry visa

>10 working days

0

4-5 working days

4000 ¥*

1-3 working days

10000 ¥*

2-entry visa

>10 working days

0

4-5 working days

4000 ¥*

1-3 working days

10000 ¥*

Multiple entry visa

>10 working days

0

4-5 working days

4000 ¥*

1-3 working days

10000 ¥*

 

*for the citizens of Japan the visa fee is calculated as per the currency exchange rate on the date of submission of the application. The processing time for tourist and transit visas could be from 6 to 10 working days.

For citizens of People’s Republic of China *

 

PROCESSING TIME

VISA FEE, EUR

1-entry visa

4-20 working days

49

3 working days

78

1 working day*

118

2-entry visa

4-20 working days

98

3 working days

127

1 working day*

167

Multiple entry visa

4-20 working days

147

3 working days

176

1 working day*

216

* Please note that applications for urgent processing for 1 working day could be submitted only to the Consulate.

For citizens of Angola and Vietnam

PROCESSING TIME

VISA FEE, EUR

1-entry visa

4-20 working days

29

3 working days

59

2-entry visa

4-20 working days

47

3 working days

94

Multiple entry visa

4-20 working days

88

3 working days

176

For citizens of other countries (including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey)  and Stateless persons

 

PROCESSING TIME

VISA FEE, EUR

1-entry visa

4-20 working days

72

3 working days

144

2-entry visa

4-20 working days

116

3 working days

231

Multiple entry visa

4-20 working days

216

3 working days

432