How to Get Your Russian Cultural/Exchange Visa

A humanitarian visa can be given to a foreigner who is going to Russia for religious, artistic, scientific or technical, public, sporting, charitable, or compassionate reasons.

One and two entries A humanitarian visa can be used for a maximum of 90 days.

More than one entry A humanitarian visa can last anywhere from one to three years.

(Please remember that the Multiple Entry Humanitarian visa is NOT a way to live in the country.) You can only use it to enter the Russian Federation multiple times; you cannot stay there for a long time.

According to Russian immigration law, a foreigner with a Multiple Entry Visa can only be in Russia for 90 days in each 180-day time.

Papers needed for every kind of humanitarian visa:

1. Invitation Note:

a) An official invite from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the Russian Federal Migration Service, or one of their regional offices, or the six-digit reference number for your visa support info (MFA telex number), which has to be sent straight to the Consulate. The official invitation needs to have the trip plans, dates of stay, and names of the people asked, as well as the agency's legal address and official seal, document registration number, registration date, and signature and name of a person with authority.

Invitations for these types of people in the Republic of Korea

for members of official groups who go to meetings, talks, or events in Russia after being invited or take part in international exchange programs:
— a letter from the right people in either Korea or the Russian Federation saying that the applicant is part of a delegation from there traveling to the other country's territory to take part in the events, along with a copy of the official invitation;

for people who do scientific, cultural, or artistic activities, like those at universities or other exchange programs; - a written request from the host organization;

For athletes at foreign sports events and the people who work with them professionally, they need to get a written request from the host organization, like a national sports group or the National Olympic Committee of the States of the Parties.

For people who take part in official exchange programs set up by sister cities or regions, they need to have a signed request from the mayor of the host city or region.

A straight written offer to someone in the Republic of Korea must have:

a) for the person who was invited:

- the invited person's first and last name, date of birth, sex, and country; the identity document's number and type; travel dates and reason; number of entries; and names and dates of birth of young children traveling with them.

b) for the person who is inviting:

- first and last name, date of birth, and fixed home (registration),

c) for the individual, business, or group that is doing the inviting:

— complete address and name, as well

— if the request comes from a group, the name, last name, and job title of the person who signs the request;

— if the person or company doing the calling or its office or branch is located in South Korea, it must have the state registration number that is needed by South Korean law.

— if the person or company doing the inviting, or its office or branch, is located in the Russian Federation, its tax identification number.

Do not turn in copies of humanitarian visa requests; only the real thing will do.

2. The actual passport. Passports that have pages labeled "visas" that are not filled will be accepted. If not, the passport and papers will be sent back. The passport has to be good for at least six months after the visa expires.

During the entire visa handling time, the applicant's passport will be with the Consulate.

3. A standard visa application form, with a black-and-white or color passport-sized picture glued or taped to the form in the space meant for it (Russian Visa Photo Specifications).

Every person who wants a visa needs to fill out the form online and print it out at home, at work, or at the Consulate General with the other needed papers.

There can't be any empty spots left. Type "N/A" if a question doesn't apply. Write "None" if none is the answer. Please make sure that the dates of your entry and exit on the application form match the dates in your letter. The form needs to have the person's real name on it and needs to be easy to read. Keep in mind that all of the numbers on your entry form need to be in European style (day, month, year). Please clearly state your phone number (home, office). Forms that are not fully filled out, that don't have a signature, that have changes, that are filled out in a way that makes the writing impossible to read, or that do NOT come from THIS SPECIAL OFFICIAL WEB SITE will be sent back to the people who filled them out.

4. Российские визы не выдаются россиянам, в том числе тем, у кого просроченные российские заграничные паспорта, согласно действующему российскому законодательству.

5. If you do not have a Korean passport: You can only apply for a Russian visa if you have an Alien Registration Card, Sojourn Status, or long-term non-immigration legal status in the ROK that is good for at least three months from when you apply for the visa. The Russian Federation has a mutual understanding visa policy with some countries around the world, and people of those countries should not need to register as aliens for more than three months. If you want to know whether your country is on this list, please ask the Consulate.