Visa to Russia for citizens of Switzerland

A citizen of Switzerland planning to visit Russia must obtain a visa in advance related to the purpose of his visit. This can be done by contacting the licensed VFS Global Visa Center of the Russian Federation in Switzerland. You may apply for a single, double, or multiple entry visa according to the purpose and dates of your journey.

Tourist Visa

If you are going to travel for no longer than 30 days, you may obtain a tourist visa with a single or double entry.

Get tourist visa
invitation for €19

Get tourist invitation

The cost of a travel visa in VFS Global: from 45 Swiss francs + 28 Swiss francs (service fee)

Visa processing time: from 3 to 20 working days

Main documents for a tourist visa

Your valid passport
Filled application form (from the website visa.kdmid.ru site)
Recent photograph of 3.5 x 4.5 – attach it into the application form
Tourist invitation (provided in copy).
Medical travel Insurance, with a coverage of not less than 30 000 €

Obtain a tourist invitation

We offer you a tourist invitation if you are going to Russia for no more than 30 days to travel, visit friends, and relatives. Your invitation will be issued by the official Russian tourist operator, indicating the place of accommodation during your journey to Russia, dates of travel and your passport data.

Business Visa

Russian business visa photo

In case if you are going to stay in Russia from 90 days to 1 year for a business purpose, you need to apply for a business visa with the possibility of single, double or multiple entry.

The cost of business visa at VFS global visa center: from 45 Swiss francs + 28 Swiss francs (service fee)

Visa processing time: from 3 to 20 working days

Main documents for business visa

Your valid passport
Filled application form (from the website visa.kdmid.ru site)
Recent Photo 3.5 x 4.5
Invitation on the FMS form.
Medical travel Insurance, with a coverage of not less than 30 000 €

Business letter of invitation from the Russian company

A Swiss citizen may obtain a business visa to Russia if he presents the official letter of invitation from the Russian company. This company should be licensed by the federal migration service to issue such invitation.

Work Visa

If your plans include employment in the Russian Federation and you need to stay in Russia for long periods of time you will need to apply for a Work visa. To obtain a work visa, you must first receive a work permit and a work invitation. You can have a work visa for a period from 3 months to 3 years.

The cost of a work visa in VFS Global: from 90 Swiss francs + 28 Swiss francs (service fee).

Processing time: from 3 to 20 working days

Main documents for work visa:

Your valid passport
Filled application form (from the website visa.kdmid.ru site)
Recent Photo 3.5 x 4.5
Official worrk invitation issued by the Russian Federal Migration Service
Medical Insurance, with a coverage of not less than 30 000 €
HIV/AIDS certificate valid for 3 months. Necessary if you apply for a visa of longer than 3 months.

Private Visa

If you want to visit your family in Russia, you can apply for a private visa. With a private visa, you can stay in Russia for up to 90 days, with the possibility of single or double entry. To provide you with the invitation for private visa, the inviting person must contact the local federal migration service office.

Main documents for private visa:

An invitation issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the relevant Russian Federal migration service. The invitation is granted on the basis of a petition: by a citizen of the RF, a foreign citizen with a residence permit in Russia, a legal body.
a valid passport;
Filled application form (from the website visa.kdmid.ru site)
Travel insurance policy for the entire duration of your trip

To obtain a private invitation, your host will need to provide:

Income Statement

Letter of Guarantee
Bank Statement
Pay the duty of 800 rubles

Because of the complicated and long process of application for a private visa, we recommend you to apply for a tourist or business visa instead. If you still have decided to obtain a private visa, you can do so by asking your host to apply at the local FMS office in the RF according to his/her address.