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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Russian Visa to enter the country?- A Russian visa is required for citizens of most countries. However, recently Russia settled a visa free regime with several European, Asian and South American countries. To check whether the visa free regime is applicable in your case, please contact the Russian consulate in your country.

How to get a Russian Visa? - To get a Russian visa, you first need to get an invitation (visa support) issued by an authorized organization. Then you take this invitation to the Russian consulate in your country in order to receive the visa itself. Bronevik is authorized to issue both tourist and business invitations. An application can be submitted online. Full information on visa duration, invitation processing time and fees can be found in Visa section of Bronevik.com.

I have booked a hotel in Russia. Do I still need an invitation? - Hotel booking confirmation and visa support documents (invitation) are not the same thing. Confirmation from a hotel is only sufficient if a hotel is authorized to provide visa support for foreign citizens. Only first class hotels (such as Sheraton, Marriott, etc.) are entitled to do this. If you book another hotel, you should also present a letter of invitation from an authorized tour company in order to get a visa.

How visa invitation will be sent to me? - Normally the tourist invitations are sent via e-mail. A multiple entry business invitation must be presented to the consulate in original. The originals are sent via UPS. The shipping takes two to five business days and the fees vary from $60 ( EUR 45) to $80 (EUR 65) depending on the destination. Full information will be sent you before your credit card is charged and your application, taken to processing.

Can I have a refund for visa invitation if I cancel a hotel reservation? - Once the tourist or business invitation is issued it will not be refunded, because the service has been provided in full.

I have arrived in Russia. How do I register my visa? - If you do stay at a hotel, the registration is fully taken care of by the hotel reception. If you stay at a private apartment, your visa is to be registered by your landlord. Please have the landlord apply at the local police precinct (in Moscow) or FMS office (commonly known as OVIR) in other cities within 7 business days upon your arrival.

Can you help my Russian friend visit my country? - Yes, we do provide foreign visa support services for Russian nationals. The detailed infrometion can be found in Visa section of the Russian language version of Broenvik. Please, advise your Russian friend to contact Bronevik directly.

Who needs visa to come to Russia? - Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, UK, US and most of the EU citizens need visa to come to Russia. The list of countries whose citizens are exempt from obtaining Russian visa can be found here. Still we recommend all applicants to contact local Russian Consulate to double-check visa requirements before coming to Russia.

Do I need visa if I travel to Russia on a cruise ship? - All cruise passengers visiting Russia on a sea cruise ships may enter and stay there without visa up to 72 hours providing that:
- they have accommodation on board
- they are included into the list of all passengers going on shore (should be submitted to the local authorities 72 hours prior to arriving to the port of destination)
- each passenger has a valid identity document
- they go sightseeing on a pre-arranged program with a tour group organized by the cruise company.

All cruise passengers visiting Russia who want to go on shore individually must apply for a tourist visa, except for those nationalities that are exempt from obtaining Russian visa.

Which type of Russian visa do I need? - The choice between Tourist visa and Business visa depends entirely on the number of entries you need and duration of your stay. It means that it is not necessary for you to go to Russia exactly for business purposes to get a business visa. At the same time if you travel to Russia on business purpose but you plan to stay less than 30 days, you may apply for tourist visa. The only important thing is to be consistent and to write the same category in the visa application form “Purpose of visit” field: if you have business invitation to Russia, write BUSINESS, if you have tourist invitation to Russia, write TOURIST.

However, neither Business nor Tourist visa is eligible if:
- you visit Russia to adopt a child (adoption visa is required)
- you send a child with another citizenship to Russia with a Russian mother (homestay visa is required)
- you plan to stay in Russia over 90 days or over 180 days for US citizens (student or work visa is required).

What documents are required to get a Tourist or a Business visa? - First of all, to get a Russian Tourist or Business visa you need to obtain a letter of invitation (visa support) issued by an authorized organization. If you apply for a tourist visa you need a standard tourist confirmation ("Podtverzdeniye") and a tour voucher issued by an authorized Russian tour operator. If you apply for a business visa you need a letter of invitation issued by Federal Migration Service Office (FMS) or by Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a Russian inviting party applies for this letter in your name.
Bronevik.com provides both tourist and business invitations and is officially authorized by the Russian government to invite foreign citizens to Russia.
After you received your invitation you may proceed to applying for visa itself at a Russian Consulate in your country.

Here is the general list of documents required for visa application (please double-check it with your local Russian Consulate):

1. Double sided completed application form (http://visa.kdmid.ru), one per person. Application form must be signed and dated.
2. One professional passport sized photo (3,5 x 4.5 cm) The photo should be glued (not stapled or attached using adhesive tape) to the specially marked place of the application form.
3. National passport (original) valid for at least 6 months after the intended date of departure from Russia. At least 2 pages of the passport should be blank and free from any notes.
4. Copy of high quality or original standard visa invitation voucher.
5. Copy of itinerary (flight details).
6. EU Citizens are also required to provide a copy of health insurance certificate valid in Russian Federation for the entire period of visa duration. All non-EU citizens please double-check at your local Russian Consulate whether you need health insurance before applying for visa.

How many days will I be able to stay in Russia? - The duration of your stay depends on the type of visa. Most Tourist visas to Russia are issued for 30 days, so you may stay in the country between the visa validity dates for 30 days or less. If you applied for multi-entry business visa and have 180 or 365 days multi-entry business visa, then it means that you may stay in Russia no more than 90 days within each 180 days period. The only exception to this rule is US citizens who allowed to stay 180 days within each 180 days period.

How can Bronevik.com help me to get Russian visa? - Bronevik.com is officially authorized to issue tourist invitations and apply to the Russian Federal Migration office (FMS) for business invitations. Moreover our 24/7 clients support service will handle all your questions and may advise you on how to fill in visa application form. If you do not plan to stay in a hotel in Russia and thus will need registration upon arrival Bronevik.com is ready to help you with registration as well.

I received my invitation, but my plans changed and I canceled my trip to Russia. Will I get a refund? - If the service has been provided in full and you have already received your invitation we cannot make any refund.

Bronevik System

Payment Methods

Is it safe to pay online with a credit card? - Yes, absolutely. Bronevik is using a 100% safe secure connection (https). The card is charged by TranscreditBank online secure terminal.

How and why should I pre-pay my booking? - You can pre-pay your reservation by credit card, wire transfer or in cash. When pre-paying you often get better prices then when you choose the "Payment at the Hotel" option, because of Bronevik special offers.

If I pre-pay can I receive my money back if I cancel the reservation? - If you cancel your reservation before the cancellation dead line stated in your confirmation vaucher, you will get back all the money paid. If you cancel your booking after the cancellation dead line you will most probably be charged a cancellation fee equal to one night stay. Th exact cancellation terms are always explained prior to your booking is done and then in the confirmation vaucher.

When can I cancel a reservation without paying a penalty? If you cancel your reservation before the cancellation dead line stated in your confirmation vaucher, you will not be charged any penalty at all. If cancelled later than the dead line you will most probably be charged a penalty equal to one nightstay.

When will I receive my refund after cancelling a reservation? - Bronevik will send you a refund within 10 working days after the cancellation is made.

Can I pay directly at the Hotel upon arrival - Yes, you can choose the option of payment at the hotel. In this case you do not have to pre-pay anything. However, some of the bronevik special discount offers will not be available for this form of payment.

Is it safe to send my card information to Bronevik? - Yes, absolutely. Bronevik is using a safe and secure connection (https). Your data are 100% protected.

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