Nuances of obtaining a Russian visa for Georgian citizens

What types of visas are there?

Depending on the purpose of the trip, one of the available types of travel documents is issued, which differ in the conditions and duration of stay in Russia.

There are visas:

• single entry - you are allowed to visit the country 1 time;
• double entry - you can enter and exit twice;
• multiple visas - you are allowed to cross the border an unlimited number of times.

Different types of visas.

Transit

To enter Russia in order to continue the route to another country, a transit visa is most often chosen. It allows you to travel through the territory of the state by car for up to 500 km or transfer by plane, rail or sea transport. The permit is valid for no more than 10 days for motorists and 72 hours for persons who choose another method of transportation.

Permits are issued for single and double entry. The document can be obtained if you present a valid visa to visit a third country, round-trip tickets with the departure date.

The transit tourist is required to comply with the rules of stay in the country:

• stick to the route;
• stay in hotels in the city where the transfer is made;
• Motorists can rest only in hotels and motels along the route.

If the passenger makes a transfer and does not leave the international zone, a visa is not required, but the period of stay is limited to one day.

Tourist

To obtain a tourist visa, in addition to other documents, they must show an invitation from a Russian or international tour operator licensed to operate in Russia. Such a document confirms that the purpose of the trip is to see the sights, attend a festival, exhibition, etc. Rest in a boarding house, treatment in a sanatorium is also included in the list of possible purposes of staying in Russia.

The duration of stay does not exceed 30 days, the applicant must confirm the place of residence: show documents on booking places. Engaging in other activities not related to tourism is prohibited. Negotiating, starting a business, studying or working can result in deportation.

An example of a tourist visa to the Russian Federation.

Due to the complication of interstate relations since June 2020 between Georgia and Russia, the issuance of such visas has been stopped for now.

Private

Georgians who want to meet relatives in Russia, visit burial sites, and consult about treatment apply for a private visa. The applicant must present an invitation from a citizen of the Russian Federation or a person with a residence permit. From 2021, there is no need to prove kinship between persons living in Russia and Georgia.

The document is sent by international mail to Georgia. It is submitted along with other visa documents. If you have such permission, you can cross the border 1, 2 or many times.

Working

If a Georgian has found an employer in the Russian Federation interested in employing him, he must receive an invitation. The company applies to the Central Internal Affairs Directorate to draw up an official document, after which it forwards it to Georgia. An applicant for work in the Russian Federation submits it along with other papers that may be needed to obtain a short-term visa (for 90 days).

Upon arrival, the foreigner is registered. The work visa can be extended for a maximum period of 3 years. If the Georgian does not change his place of work, the company deals with the issue of renewing documents. Her responsibilities also include ensuring that the employee does not violate the regime of stay in the country provided for foreigners.

A citizen of Georgia can stay in Russia without leaving the country for as long as the permit is valid. If he changes his place of work, he must leave the country to obtain a new visa.

Business

To resolve business issues, a business visa is issued. The application indicates the purpose of visiting the Russian Federation: signing an agreement with partners from Russia, expanding business, attending conferences, seminars or exhibitions. The permit is issued for 1-12 months, while you can stay in the country all the time without leaving the country, using a double or multiple entry visa.

Example of a business visa to Russia.

It is required to present an invitation from the Russian side, which makes an application to the Central Internal Affairs Directorate and attaches other documents. Employees check the identity of a Georgian citizen (whether he has unpaid fines or deportation). After a positive decision, the applicant is issued a permit on the form of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The document is sent to the Georgian businessman, who with its help receives a business visa.

Educational

Students can use a study visa. The permit is valid for a maximum of 6 years while the Georgian citizen studies in Russia.

The educational institution is responsible for renewing the permit. The student may not leave the Russian Federation for the entire duration of his studies.

Persons under 18 years of age require the permission of their father or mother to obtain a document.

What visas are issued to citizens of Georgia?

The deterioration of political relations between Russia and Georgia has led to the fact that tourist permits are temporarily not provided to Georgians. Available visa options:

• Business (duration from 1 month to 1 year). Open to foreign persons coming to the Russian Federation for commercial, business purposes, tourism;
• Working (valid from 12 months to 3 years). Required for Georgian citizens wishing to officially find employment in Russia;
• Guest, private (duration from 30 to 90 days). Issued for Georgians traveling to Russian cities to visit friends and relatives.

A Russian visa for Georgian citizens can be:

• Frequency of trips – multiple (unlimited number of visits to the Russian Federation), double (crossing the Russian border “back and forth” is allowed twice), single (for one trip “back and forth”);
• Validity period – for 1 year, 180, 90 and 30 calendar days.

Visitor (private) visa for citizens of Georgia

Citizens of Georgia can open a guest visa without confirming a close relationship with a Russian. The basis for issuance is an invitation from an individual. Receiving party requirement:

• Age of majority;
• Solvency (documentary evidence will be required);
• Availability of Russian citizenship;
• Permanent registration in the country, residence permit.

A private visa is valid for a maximum of 3 months. Multiplicity – single or double. Place of residence – house, apartment, apartments, other private sector facility.

Purpose of registration:

• Consultations, treatment in medical centers of the Russian Federation;
• Visiting burial sites;
• Family meetings;
• Visit to acquaintances, friends.

Receiving and sending an invitation to Georgia is the task of the receiving party. The invitation is issued through the territorial unit of the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at the place of residence. The package of papers includes:

• A copy of the foreigner's passport;
• A copy of the inviting applicant’s passport;
• A completed application addressed to the foreigner.

Review of the request will take approximately 30 days. In case of violation of the visa regime or problems with the law during previous trips, the issuance of documents will be refused.

Business visa for citizens of Georgia

Validity period – from 30 days to 12 months. Multiplicity – single, double, multiple. You can open it in a month, or speed up the process. Purpose of visit to Russia:

• Commercial (purchasing equipment, signing contracts, conducting business negotiations, searching for suppliers, customers);
• Business (organization, participation in conferences, exhibitions).

A business visa for Georgian citizens is provided on the basis of a business invitation received from a Russian company.

Important! A visa for 180 and 365 days provides the right to continuously stay in Russia for no more than 90 days in each half-year.

Invitation options:

• Electronic from the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia;

An electronic invitation is sent directly to the Russian consulate abroad.

Work visa for citizens of Georgia

The invitation must be issued by the employer. In the case of Georgia, workers without specialties are most often invited to the Russian Federation. The documentation can be prepared in a few months.

The validity period of a work visa is from 3 to 36 months. You can stay on the territory of the Russian Federation continuously for the entire time.

You cannot obtain visa documents of this type without an employer. An employer licensed to employ foreigners (Georgians) must send a Georgian citizen a work invitation to obtain a visa to Russia.

Important! A Georgian worker is required to undergo migration registration in a timely manner if he stays in Russia for more than 7 days (not counting the day of entry). Registration is carried out at the actual location.

Otherwise, the citizen commits a violation of the visa regime. The consequences are a fine for the employer, deportation from the country, problems with obtaining entry permits in the future.

The visa can be extended for the period of validity of the work permit (12-36 months), if the employer wishes to extend the employment contract.

If you want to change your employer, a citizen of Georgia is obliged to temporarily leave the Russian Federation. Receive visa documents.

Electronic visa for citizens of Georgia is not issued

The current political situation is such that Georgian citizens cannot open an electronic visa to Russia.

What documents will be required

To obtain a Russian visa, they collect a package of certificates and other papers. Since visas vary depending on the purpose of travel, there may be slight differences in the number of documents required.

Documents required for obtaining a visa.

The main package includes:

1. International passport and photocopy of the photo page. The passport must be valid for another 3 months after the period for which entry permission is requested.
2. An official document from the Russian side confirming the purpose of the trip: a private, work or business invitation, a call to study at a state university. To obtain a tourist visa, they must present a travel voucher and a certificate of reservation in a hotel, sanatorium, or boarding house. Citizens traveling in transit must have tickets with a departure date.
3. Special questionnaire. The form is posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and there are also instructions for filling it out. The data is entered in Russian, after which the completed form should be printed in 2 copies. The document is marked with the date and signature of the applicant, and a photograph is pasted in.
4. Certificate of income of the applicant. Confirmation that he has the means to stay in Russia is a bank account statement or a certificate from work.
5. International insurance policy. Serves to cover treatment costs in case of illness.
6. Color photographs.

In some cases, additional papers will be needed:

1. For work and study visa applicants - a medical certificate confirming the absence of HIV infection.
2. For children who have not yet received a passport due to their age, permission from their parents to travel and a birth certificate.
3. To obtain a transit visa - permission to enter a third country.

An example of permission for a child to travel abroad (additional document).

Sometimes other documents other than those listed above may be required.

The original certificates are translated into Russian and notarized. No translation of your passport is needed. The applicant personally delivers the documents or entrusts this to a legal representative and pays for the services. He is given a receipt for accepting the papers, which indicates the date when to appear for a visa.

On the specified day, present this receipt and receive the document.

It is important to ensure that it does not contain errors in:

• FULL NAME.;
• passport data;
• date of birth;
• validity period of the permit.

If inconsistencies are found, they are immediately asked to correct them.

Issuing an invitation for Georgian citizens to Russia

A private person with Russian citizenship or a residence permit can invite you. The inviting party must write an application to the police department at the place of registration.

Documents to be submitted:

• photocopies of your passport and guest;
• a letter of guarantee on the material support of the invitee for the duration of his stay;
• confirmation of personal income;
• receipt of paid state duty.

An example of an invitation to enter Russia.

After reviewing the package of papers, an invitation is issued, which should be sent to Georgia. It is drawn up on official letterhead and no changes are allowed. The route and places to be visited are indicated.

The invitation must include information about children under 16 years of age who are crossing the border. If immediate relatives are traveling with the invitee, a copy of their passport is sufficient.

Registration deadlines

A travel permit can be obtained within 4 to 30 days.

In some cases there are exceptions:

• tourist visa is issued within 24 hours;
• working – up to 4 months, but can be obtained in 30 days;
• urgent - according to the accelerated procedure - 1-3 days.

In the latter case, there must be important circumstances: death or serious illness of relatives. They pay double for the service. Certified documents confirming the need for immediate travel are required. On the visa application form, when filling out the column about the purpose of the trip, mark “special case”.

The invitation is reviewed and issued within 20 days from the date of application. In emergency cases, documents are processed within 5 days.

Registration of a pass

A Russian visa for Georgian citizens can be:

• Tourist.
• Working.
• Business.
• Private.
• Transit.
• Educational.

Based on the validity period, there are single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry visa stamps. With a tourist permit, Georgians can stay in the Russian Federation for one month, with a work permit – up to three years. The student visa is designed for the entire duration of study and will be valid for up to six years.

Where to contact

Address of the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi
There is no Russian embassy in Georgia. The function of receiving documents from citizens is assigned to the Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi . Before visiting the department, you must make an appointment. You also need to clarify information about the working hours and changes in the package of documents in order to come to the meeting prepared.

Another option for obtaining a stamp is to contact travel companies, which, in addition to selecting travel packages, handle the transfer of documents. The service fee is small, but it will save time spent on visiting the Interest Section on your own.

In some cases, such issues are dealt with by employees of the company that invites the Georgian. To speed up the procedure, they refer him to the necessary authorities and provide consulting assistance.

Timing and cost

Georgians will be able to obtain a visa to Russia within 4 to 30 days . The duration of preparation depends on its type. A stamp for a tourist is issued in one day, and there is an expedited issuance within an hour, but you will have to pay extra for this. A business visa is issued within a month. The working variety takes the longest to prepare – the period for such permission can be up to 4 months. A transit visa stamp is issued in 1-3 days, the stay of Georgian citizens under it is limited to 72 hours.

The cost of a single-entry visa is 60 dollars, for urgent registration - 120 dollars. Double will cost $96 and $192, respectively. For a multiple mark you will have to spend $180 and $360.

Set of documents

It depends on the purpose of travel, but there is a standard list. It includes:

1. Foreign passport with a six-month supply.
2. A completed application form.
3. A paper confirming the financial condition of the tourist - a certificate from the place of employment or a bank statement.
4. Medical insurance policy. For foreigners whose stay will exceed three months, an additional certificate of absence of HIV infections will be required.
5. One photo.
6. An invitation from relatives, future employers or an educational institution.

The last paper should be given special attention, since confirmation of the intended purpose of the trip is checked scrupulously.

How much does a Russian visa cost for Georgians?

Cost of visa for citizens of Georgia.

The cost depends on the type of visa; in 2021 they pay:

• for a single entry - $60;
• double - $96;
• multiple entry – $180.

If you need to obtain an urgent exit permit, the tariffs are doubled. The Consular Service accepts money in US currency.

Tourists should consider the cost of additional services:

1. Insurance will cost approximately 2200 rubles. for 30 days (80 rubles daily).
2. The amount of the consular fee is 5200 rubles.
3. It costs 500 rubles to take photographs.
4. If you have to reimburse the costs of the invitation, you will have to return 15,000 rubles. For postal services for sending a document, they pay 300 rubles.

In total, additional services will cost a little more than 23,000 rubles, or almost 1,000 lari.

Where is the visa issued?

There are no diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia, so for a visa you should apply to the Interests Section of the Russian Federation, opened at the Swiss Embassy.

It is located in Tbilisi at the address: I. Chavchavadze Ave., 53. Information about the services provided can be found on the Section’s website.

The building of the Interests Section of the Russian Federation is the place where you need to contact regarding visa issues.

Registration for an appointment after a personal visit. Working hours: 9.00-19.00, break from 13.30 to 15.00. Registration is possible on the website of the Consular Service of the Section. To register, be sure to indicate what issue requires an appointment.

Additional information can be found by calling: (+99532) 291-26-75, 291-27-82.

Another option for obtaining a Russian visa is to contact a company that organizes tourist trips. She will start processing the permit, but the services are not cheap.

Managers of companies who invite you to work or on business issues will help you cope with problems. They advise which authorities to contact in turn, but all issues are resolved personally by the applicant.

Where can I apply for a visa?

To obtain a visa from Georgia to Russia, you will need to contact the following organizations:

1. Embassy of Georgia . However, there is no Russian Embassy in Georgia, so you need to contact the Interests Section of the Russian Federation at the Swiss Embassy, ​​which is located in Tbilisi. When submitting documents to this Embassy, ​​you should first call and find out the details of the registration and the list of required documents.
2. A special organization that organizes tourist trips. By contacting a travel agency, you can significantly save time and nerves. However, you won’t be able to save money, since the cost of travel agency services is not the cheapest.
3. Company managers who send work or business invitations. The assistance of the managers of these companies consists in the fact that the applicant is consulted and referred to the necessary authorities.

What goods can be transported across the border?

Duty-free import of goods and products for personal consumption into Russia is allowed. These include clothing, toiletries, jewelry, photographic and film equipment, etc.

Certain goods may be transported upon presentation of a special permit:

• weapon;
• ammunition;
• spare parts;
• objects of antiquity and cultural value;
• some plants and animals;
• radio electronics and high-frequency devices.

Transportation of these objects is prohibited.

When transported by air, the cost of the goods should not exceed 10,000 €, weight - 50 kg. When crossing the border by rail, road, or water transport, it is allowed to import goods worth 1,500 €, the weight limit remains the same - 50 kg.

If the standards are exceeded, a customs duty of 30% of the value of the goods is paid, but not less than 4 € per 1 kg. The rules apply to goods weighing no more than 200 kg and worth up to RUB 650,000. Anything higher is subject to duties and fees according to the rules of foreign economic activity.

Each passenger, including children, can transport up to 5 kg of animal products across the border. Products must be packaged in a factory or shopping center. The same weight restrictions apply to plant products.

Sanctions apply only to importers of large quantities of goods, but not to private individuals. For example, cheese for personal consumption is allowed to be imported, but not more than 5 kg per person.

Rules for the import of cigarettes and alcohol

These goods are only allowed to be transported across the border by adults. A person can take with him a limited quantity of one type of product to choose from: 200 pcs. cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 g of tobacco. The maximum quantity of alcoholic beverages of any strength is 3 liters. In addition, with a fee of 10 € per 1 liter, you are allowed to import 2 more liters.

If the standards for tobacco and alcohol products are exceeded, the excess is confiscated and the traveler faces a fine. The Russian side applies sanctions; Georgia does not restrict the export of alcohol.