In the previous article we explained how a private visa works when your host in Russia asks the MVD for an invitation. But if your host is a Russian citizen and a close relative of yours, there is another way: you can do without an MVD invitation.
1. Who counts as a close relative
- spouse
- parents (adoptive parents)
- children (adopted children)
- spouses of children
- full and half brothers and sisters
- grandfathers and grandmothers
- grandchildren
Cousins, uncles and aunts are not on the list.
2. What serves as the ground for the visa
In this case the ground may be not an MVD or MFA invitation but a written statement of the Russian citizen, your relative. The decision on it is taken only by the head of the mission (the ambassador or the consul general). No resolution from the head, no visa (para. 2.4 of the Methodological Manual of the MFA Consular Department on visas).
3. How the statement is submitted
- The Russian citizen is abroad, in the country where the consulate is located: he or she applies in person (fills in the statement at the consular section, or at home using a sample from the website, but signs it in front of the consul) at the consular section or through a visa centre (if there is one), with the full set of documents. A statement submitted through a representative will not be accepted.
- The Russian citizen is in Russia: the signature on the statement is certified by a Russian notary, and the foreigner must bring the ORIGINAL to the consulate. A copy will not do. Dura lex, sed lex: the law is harsh, but it is the law.
A spoonful of honey in this barrel of tar: in practice it is now almost impossible to send an original (mail to Russia largely does not work). Consular staff understand this, and many consular sections meet people halfway and accept colour copies. But remember: they are NOT OBLIGED to, so do not take offence if they refuse.
The form of the statement is free, but it must state: the surname, first name, patronymic, date of birth, citizenship, passport number, registration address and address of actual residence of the Russian citizen (if he or she lives in Russia), as well as the surname, first name, date of birth, citizenship, sex and passport number of the person applying for the visa, the number of entries of the visa, the purpose of the trip, the requested period of entry to Russia, the intended place of residence of the applicant and the cities to be visited. The Russian citizen may have no registration at a place of residence in Russia; this is not a ground for refusal (para. 6.1.2).
4. Documents proving kinship
You need to prove that you really are a relative: a marriage certificate, a birth certificate, a certificate of change of name and so on. Originals or notarized copies are needed when the documents are submitted at the consular section; the consulate makes a copy and returns them. If a document was issued outside Russia, prepare an apostille and a translation into Russian.
5. Visa validity and the “90 out of 180 days” rule
According to the Regulation on visas (Government Decree No. 335, para. 28), single and double entry visas are issued for up to 3 months, and multiple entry visas for up to 1 year, with the possibility of an extension by the MVD at the place of registration of the inviting relative for another 1 year.
IMPORTANT: the foreigner may stay in Russia for the whole validity of the visa. The “90 days out of every 180” rule does not apply here. Other multiple entry visas are subject to it.
6. Processing time
Up to 20 working days from the day ALL documents have been submitted. In practice, single and double entry visas take at least 5 working days, multiple entry visas at least 10. A multiple entry visa is never issued on the day of application. A single or double entry visa may be issued that fast only in exceptional cases, on payment of the corresponding fee.
An important nuance: applying outside your own country
If your relative applies not in the country of his or her nationality, a document confirming lawful stay there for more than 180 days is NOT needed. For example, a citizen of Algeria applies in Egypt: with an MVD invitation he needs a residence permit valid for 180 days, but with the statement of a Russian citizen he does not. On the other hand, the documents proving kinship are always required.
Why the difference? Those invited through the MVD and the MFA have been checked by the competent authorities, while a statement has not been checked by anyone, so the MFA takes time to verify it, and such a visa cannot be issued urgently.
Our advice
Start with the documents proving kinship. The apostille and the translation take the most time, and the processing period runs only from the day all documents were accepted.
In our experience, this type of visa raises the most questions. If something is still unclear, write to us, and we will advise.