Between you my fellow Pinoy backpacker and fulfilling that Trans-Siberian dream is a Russia tourist visa on a fierce stance with a heart attack-inducing price tag. You think of raising the white flag without even putting up a fight, but deep down you know those images of rustic Siberian houses hugging the Trans-Siberian railway will continue to haunt you if you don’t give it a try.
Victory ain’t far-fetched if you got the right ammunition. And in this case, you actually don’t need a lot.
Russia tourist visa application requirements:
1. Original passport (and a photocopy of the bio-data page on A4 paper), valid for at least six months. Must also have at least two blank pages.
2. Filled out visa application form (printed on A4 paper), two copies.
3. Two passport size photos (with white background).
4. Tourist visa invitation.
This may be the shortest list of visa requirements I’ve encountered to date, but it demanded a great deal of planning… Which by the way I now have a profound repugnance for.
The first three are clearly no sweat items. The last one, however, can test your patience. But hey, at least patience is easier to work on than say, a hundred-thousand peso average daily balance in your bank account (*cough*China visa*cough*).
View Larger Map. Embassy of Russian Federation
Visitors joining a group tour just hafta sit pretty since the visa processing is included in the package. For indie backpackers, the Russia tourist visa invitation can be obtained through an accredited travel agency in the Philippines. And this means you pay not only for the visa fee but also for the agency’s legwork.
Now if you got heaps of time in your hands and not a lot of dibs in your pocket, one way to get around this is to book a hotel in Russia (that provides a tourist visa invitation) yourself. Keep in mind that the travel period indicated on the visa invitation is the exact date range that will be marked on your visa. The hotel will charge you for the service, but it should be cheaper than a travel agency’s fee. Whether or not you push on with the booking or cancel it once your visa’s approved, that’s up to your fickle mind and anorexic wallet.
The Embassy of Russian Federation accepts applications Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Processing takes 4-10 days and the fee depends on how soon you need it. I paid more than $200 for mine to be granted in two days.
You see, because of a typhoon that turned Metro Manila into waterworld, we failed to apply at an earlier date. We went to the embassy Monday morning at around quarter to nine. Accommodated and assisted by the lone guard. We were number eight on the list. All of those that came before us are agency reps.
The Russian consul arrived at eleven. Our turn came past one in the afternoon, the hubby represented all of us. He explained our predicament. To our awe, the consul advised us to come back on Wednesday so he could endorse us to their other office in Dasmarinas Village where the visa processing actually takes place (they used to entertain applicants here too until the opening of the satellite office).
Once approved, standard protocol requires applicants to come back and claim their passports from 11:00 AM to 12 noon on the consul’s specified date. And payment should have been made via UCPB bank deposit. Present the deposit slip to the consul upon claiming.
The Embassy of Russian Federation
RCI Building, 4th floor
Room 402
105 Rada Street
Legazpi Village, Makati City
How to get there: Nearest bus stops along Ayala Ave. are in front Makati Stock Exchange Building and across Insular Life.
Had a similar experience around year ago, they’re only open monday-wednesday-friday and those are the only days they count as processing so it took us close to a month just to get the visa
wow, super galing nito. no need for financial documents etc. may ma-suggest ka na hotel/hostels?thanks for sharing! more power always. God bless! 😉
I love gulay too 🙂 Anyhoo, will check my notes back in Pinas. We’re currently overseas. Can’t remember cause we didn’t really stay there.
I remember nung kwinento mo ‘to nung despedida hehe 😀 Russia is not included in my dream destinations (yet), but I have a feeling I’ll go there rin soon hehe. Oh, Luna’s kulit photo made me click the link 😀 I miss you and Luna girl na 🙂
Go, Mica! It’s a taste of Europe without the bitterness of applying for a Schengen visa.
wow.mukhang hassle free.
sweeet
Russia (and it’s former comrades the Stans) are notorious for this letter of invitation – which takes time.
Aww, would love to see the Stans too.
Very informative Gay. I would lve to go to Harbin in China then to Vladivostok in Russia. Hopefully within 5yrs from now. 🙂
Oh I’d love to see Harbin too!
napansin ko talaga ang cute ng baby mo..
You can get tourist visa invitation as well in Visatorussia.com 🙂 Can’t wait for your Russia post! 😀
Interesting thanks for sharing this 🙂 btw nice blog!
thanks for this one. seems easy ha. sana nga. getting ready here for a trans-siberian experience 🙂
cant wait for your russia post:)
helpful and detailed. Russia post SOON @ pinaytravel junkie’s blog- aabangan ko yan 🙂
Hi sexy Gay!! Does Chinese visa really require P100k ADB? I thought it was just P50K per person? And please do share about your recommended hotels in Russia 😉 Thanks!!
It used to be just 50k, now it’s P100k ADB for the past 6 months. I’ll look for the name of the hostel we stayed in Moscow. Can’t remember, argh!
Owww. I went to China in 2011, in Beijing, but I did not have to present more than 50K. And it was only back cert not bank statement. The process must’ve change a lot. I am now eyeing Moscow, because I want to ride the Trans-Siberian Railway. Good to know about their visa process. Thanks for this post.
Thanks a lot for the tip! It haven’t crossed my mind to travel to Russia until I read your blog post. 🙂
Andami mo nang “How to Apply for Visa” posts gayE! aside from being handy, ayos na ayos para madaming unique visits! gawa ka na ng niche blog! Sana matuloy yung visa ko for next year. 🙂
Ed, haha! Visa application website?
Hi! Russia Tourist Visa is the only thing needed for the trans siberian railway? planning on doing this.. any suggestions or steps on what to do?
Which stations of the Trans Siberian or getting on/off?
End to end, beijing to moscow..
The main route (end to end) of Trans-Siberian is from Vladivostok to Moscow. Beijing-Ulaanbaatar is the Trans Mongolian. As far as I know.
And if you’re coming from China, of course that means a Chinese visa 🙂
Ugh, I hate invitation letters. So backpacker unfriendly. Planning a Harbin-Vladivostok adventure, but I think I’ll cut the Vladivostok leg. Vladi hell that visa. 🙁
Haha! Yeah! VLADI HELL!
What travel agency did you use? if none, what did you do?
Can the invitation letter come from Russian friends perse?
Hi. Is there a travel agency in the Philippines that could help me get a tourist visa in Russia? Because I can’t personally visit the Russian Consulate in the Philippines since I am here in Thailand working right now. Thank you.
Be sure to have all the paperwork. I applied thru Manila rather than become a circus dog jumping thru hoops in Japan. The consul was awesome. I’m so happy. Russia is 6 weeks away. The doorman was very helpful too. The Philippinos in general are wonderful people. So SO much easier to deal with than the pathetic Japanese.