Most foreigners need to obtain a visa before entering Russia – please contact the Russian Consulate in your home country to check if you need a visa. Only a few CIS countries can enter Russia without a visa. Passport holders from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine do not need a Russian visa
If you do not belong to any of the above-mentioned nationalities, Unable to go to Russia without a visa. Cruise passengers are the only category of tourists visiting Russia who can stay on the territory of the Russian Federation without a visa for up to 3 days. However, this rule applies only to cruise passengers who have booked their tours through agencies licensed by the Russian government. Such an agency will provide you with a tour ticket called a blanket visa or booking confirmation.
There are several types of Russian visas, they depend on the purpose of your visit. . If you are going to Russia for sightseeing, you will need a Tourist visa, if your purpose is business meetings, you will need to apply for a Business Visa, etc.
You will need an invitation (aka visa support ) To apply for your Russian visa. The invitation is a document issued by the person or organization that invites you to Russia. Every type of visa requires a different type of invitation. The prices of invitations and visas vary. The price of a visa depends on your type, the required processing time and your nationality.
To apply for any type of visa for Russia you will need to fill out an electronic application form on line,
Please bear in mind that you must answer all required questions as incomplete application forms are not recognized by the Consulate . If your details do not fit in the form of the Russian visa application, you can either abbreviate or provide your information as an attachment typed on A4 paper. The advantage of the electronic visa form is that it is stored on line for 30 days and you can amend it if you like but will be able to do so will need to note your web reference when you finish filling out the form.