General information

Travel to Russia requires a visa. The Consular Division of the Embassy issues different categories of visas to Russia based upon the purpose of the trip and the duration of stay in Russia. 

Citizens of the countries which have visa waiver agreements with the Russian Federation can travel to the Russian Federation without visas. You can check the list of countries whose passport holders do not require a visa to enter Russia (available only in Russian).

The following documents should be submitted in order to obtain a visa according to its category:

1. Completed visa application online, print it out in pdf, sign, and date.
2. Valid national passport.
3. One picture of an applicant.
4. Visa support letter.
5. Other required documents (depending on visa type and bilateral agreements).

Please note that:

• In accordance with Russian laws citizens of the Russian Federation regardless of any other citizenship must travel to Russia on valid Russian documents only.
• Visa processing starts only after the Consular Section has collected all necessary documents.
• The Visa processing fee is NOT REFUNDABLE.
• Type of visa or dates of entry/departure CANNOT BE CHANGED OR EXTENDED. If your travel plans have changed after the visa issuance you have to reapply for a new visa.
• After you receive your visa, please CHECK ALL THE DATA indicated in it and, if necessary, return it to the Consular Section for corrections. The Consular Section will NOT BE RESPONSIBLE for any mistakes in the visas, which were not brought to our attention prior to your departure from New Zealand.
• Any visa applicant can be interviewed by the consular officer, if necessary.
• Processing time, requirements, and fees are subject to change without notice.
• In certain cases, the Consular Section is entitled to consider visa applications as long as it is necessary. Visa CAN BE DENIED if the Consular Section has serious reasons to believe that an applicant’s entry into or stay in the territory of the Russian Federation will NOT BE DESIRABLE.
• Please be advised that a person CANNOT HAVE TWO VALID VISAS AT THE SAME TIME. In this case, the first visa is to be canceled.

Foreign national entering the Russian Federation is required to fill in an immigration card and present it to an immigration officer at a check-point for official stamping.  

Photo requirements for visa application 

After filling the Electronic Visa Application form online, you must print a copy of the application form, sign and date it, glue the required size photo to it. 

One photograph of 3.5 by 4.5 cm, in color taken against a light background (white or off – white). The photo needs to display a full frontal view of the face. The facial image must be sharp and clear. Sunglasses or tinted glasses are not permitted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and in this case, there shall be a similar photo with a head covering in the applicant’s passport. The photo should be glued (not stapled or attached using adhesive tape) to the specially marked place of the application form. Photo requirements for visa application (download).

Applicants who have all required documents: passport, visa support letter, and the completed form signed and with a glued photo should submit them to the Consular Section of the Embassy personally. The Passport with an issued visa can be returned by post. Along with all required documents a self-addressed pre-paid return envelope should be enclosed. To avoid your correspondence being lost, we recommend using Courier Post Services. Please note that we forward back prepaid Courier Post and NZ Couriers envelopes only. We do not send passports abroad.

Our postal address:

57 Messines Road, Karori, Wellington 6012

The Consulate will not be responsible for any loss or mishandling of the courier bag with your passport by the Postal Service or any other delivery agent. 

The validity and type of visa should be strictly connected to the purpose of the visit. In Russia, you cannot change your visa status (i.e. from tourist to business or from business to guest and vice versa). To do that, you have to leave the country and re-enter on a different visa.

Children travel on their own passports. A child's visa application can be submitted by one of the parents. 

A visa does not guarantee entry into the Russian Federation.  A person can be denied entry at a border crossing point should the circumstances referred to in Federal Law No. 114 FZ "On the Procedure of Exit from the Russian Federation and Entry into the Russian Federation" of August 15, 1996, arise. Therefore when at passport check-point the visa holder is to be ready for the possible presentation of the same evidence that was submitted to the consular officer in support of the visa application (Confirmation letter and Voucher of the Russian travel agency). 

Visa applications can be submitted on working days from 9:30 a.m. till 12.30 p.m.

The Visa fee must be paid by debit card eftpos only. We don't accept cash as a mode of payment.

Visa processing time starts only after the Consulate receives all necessary documents and payment. After you receive your visa, please check it for possible mistakes (passport number, date of birth, term of validity etc.) and, if necessary, return it to correct the error. The Consulate will not be responsible for the errors, which were not brought to its attention before your departure from New Zealand.

All documents must be submitted at once. Uncompleted sets will be returned to the applicants without processing.

There are additional requirements for non-New Zealand passport holders - permit to study, work in NZ for more than 90 days, residentship, etc. - valid NZ visa.

Proof of stay in NZ for Australian passport holders - a  letter from work/school/college, etc. covering the period of more than 3 months.

We are not always able to answer your individual requests by phone. Therefore, you can send your inquiries to the Consulate by e-mail: wellington@dks.ru

About the period of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation

From January 1, 2025 in accordance with the Federal Law №260-FZ of August 8, 2024 the changes come into force regarding the permitted period of temporary stay of foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation under a visa-free regime. The period of stay of this category of foreigners on the Russian territory has been reduced to 90 days in total during a calendar year (previously, the mentioned foreign citizens could stay in Russia for up to 90 days out of each 180 days).

The above does not apply in the cases provided for by the Federal Law №115-FZ of July 25, 2002 «On the legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation» or international treaties of the Russian Federation, as well as cases when the period of temporary stay of a foreign citizen in the Russian Federation is extended in accordance with the mentioned Federal Law. Meaning the citizens of the States that concluded relevant intergovernmental agreements on mutual visa-free travel determining a different period of stay on the Russian territory, as well as citizens entering the territory of the Russian Federation for the purpose of obtaining education, carrying out work, getting temporary residence or asylum.

The indicated procedure does not apply to foreign citizens arriving in the Russian Federation under a visa regime. The period of their stay on the territory of the Russian Federation is still determined by the validity period of their issued visa.