Business Visa: Your Business Trip To Russia

This case deals with the most common situation when the foreigners arrive to the Russian Federation on a standard business visa. 

According to Russian legislation foreigners that are travelling in Russian companies, Representative Offices and Branches of foreign companies in Russia should obtain business visas. 

So, a business visa should officially be obtained by those individuals who are traveling to Russia to conduct a business activity related to the business they are invloved in at their home country (such as exhibitions, conference meetings, negotiations, etc.).

However, a business visa is often the only way to be able to stay in Russia for longer than 1 month, as standard tourist visas are valid for up to 1 month only. So, it's became quite a common practice to issue business visa for tourists and that is what most of the Russian tourist agencies do.

If an individual has plans to have a long-term employment in Russia, then a standard business visa is not legally sufficient.

Several types of business visa are distinguished in Russia:

- 1 month single entry,

- 3 month single entry,

- 1 month double entry,

- 3 month double entry,

- 6 month multiple entry

- 1 year multiple entry. 

Total time needed for obtaining single entry and double entry business visas is 10 working days, for multiple entry business visas – 15 working days. This period may be longer or shorter, depending on what fee is paid to the authorities that process the visa support and visa request.

The procedure of obtaining business visas for foreign visitors you can see in my earlier posts.