Updated 18.10.2026. In short: a regular Russian visa needs a passport, a visa photo, a completed application form, a tourist confirmation or invitation, and travel insurance. The requirements are those published by the consular section of the Russian Embassy in Helsinki. When you order the visa from Rustravel, we complete the form and obtain the confirmation for you.
Checklist
| Document | Requirement | Through Rustravel |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months after the visa expires, at least 2 blank pages | Bring it to the office or send it by post |
| Visa photo | Recent colour photo, 35 × 45 mm | We take it at the office |
| Application form | Completed, printed and signed application form | We complete it for you |
| Tourist confirmation or invitation | Tourist visa: tourist confirmation. Business visa: invitation | We obtain it, included in the price |
| Travel insurance | Valid for the whole stay, covers Russia, at least 30 000 € and repatriation | Available in the same order |
What must the passport be like?
The passport must be valid for at least six months after the visa's expiry date and have at least two blank pages. Check the validity before you book the trip: if the passport expires too soon, renew it first.
What is a tourist confirmation?
A tourist confirmation is a travel confirmation the consulate requires for a tourist visa. A business visa needs an invitation. We obtain either one for you, and it is included in the price. If you have your own invitation, for a business or humanitarian visa for example, tell us when ordering.
What must the insurance certificate say?
- the insured person's name
- validity for the whole stay in Russia
- an area of cover that includes Russia
- cover of at least 30 000 €
- repatriation included
The consulate accepts certificates from If, Pohjola, Fennia, LähiTapiola, Turva and Pohjantähti, among others.
Ask your insurer for a certificate or add travel insurance for the visa to the same order.
Culture, sport and visiting relatives
For a trip related to culture, science, sport or religion you apply for a humanitarian visa, which needs an invitation. A private visa applied for as a relative of a Russian citizen needs the original documents proving kinship and copies of them, and according to the consulate the applicant and the inviter must be present when the documents are lodged. Ask us before ordering and we will go through your situation.
Why does processing get delayed?
- The consulate starts processing only when all documents are presented and the payment is confirmed. A missing attachment delays the start.
- The passport's validity or blank pages are not enough.
When you get your passport back, check the visa straight away: the dates, the number of entries and the purpose of travel. According to the consulate, checking is the applicant's responsibility.
A child's visa
A child needs a visa of their own. For a child under 14 the application also needs the parents' consent to the visa application and a copy of a parent's passport. If the child's surname differs from the parents', a copy of the birth certificate is needed as well.
A passport other than Finnish
A citizen of another country who lives in Finland can apply for the visa in Helsinki. The consulate asks citizens of the EU and Norway for no extra documents. Citizens of other countries, please contact our office and we will find out which documents the visa needs. If you hold Russian citizenship, the consulate does not issue a visa: you travel on the Russian passport.