Contents
- What it is
- How to obtain
- What it looks like
- Documents
- Processing times
- Submitting documents to the consulate
- FAQ
What is an electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?
An electronic invitation is issued by the territorial migration departments of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs on the basis of an application from an accredited organization inviting the foreign citizen. Since 2016, these invitations have been issued electronically through the Ministry of Internal Affairs system. Each invitation has a unique registration number that confirms its authenticity and allows the document to be verified.
An electronic invitation with a barcode is sent digitally to the database of the Russian consulate specified when the document is issued. To apply for a visa, the applicant only needs a printed copy of the invitation received by email, as no paper original exists.
The document is issued only after a thorough check of the foreign citizen’s details. The Ministry of Internal Affairs checks the history of the applicant’s previous visits to Russia, including fines, deportations and criminal convictions. If such violations are found, the inviting company receives a refusal to issue the invitation.
Our company is accredited by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, which is a mandatory requirement for issuing this type of invitation.
How to obtain a visa with an electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs
The procedure for obtaining an electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs depends on who acts as the inviting party – an individual or a legal entity. Each case has its own processing rules and document validity periods.
Invitation issued through an individual
An individual must apply to the Ministry of Internal Affairs authority at their place of residence. When requested by an individual, an electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs is issued only for the «private» purpose of visit and for a period of up to 3 months.
Invitation issued through a legal entity
A legal entity must submit an application for the invitation at the place of its registration. Electronic invitations for business, humanitarian, work and student visas may be issued only by legal entities and accredited organizations. An electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs is issued by the migration department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs at the request of an accredited organization; the applicant receives a printout with a barcode, and the original is not required.
What an electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs looks like
An electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a foreign citizen contains the following information:
- passport details of the foreign citizen;
- purpose of travel to the Russian Federation and visa type;
- visa validity period and number of entries;
- travel itinerary (no more than 5 cities that the foreign citizen plans to visit);
- information about the inviting party;
- if the foreign citizen is traveling with children under 16, their details are listed in a special field;
- validity period of the invitation;
- name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs authority that issued the invitation;
- invitation registration number;
- barcode for authenticity verification;
- date of issue of the invitation;
- additional information, such as the national passport number and the place where the visa will be obtained, may be indicated when an invitation is issued for a citizen of a migration-risk country.
What documents are required to issue an electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs?
The following documents are required:
- a copy of the invited foreign citizen’s passport;
- copies of their previous Russian visas, if any;
- a completed application form;
- a copy of the residence permit, if the foreign citizen plans to apply for a Russian visa in a country where they are not a citizen.
Processing times for an electronic invitation and visa
Obtaining an electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs takes, on average, 25 to 30 business days, but these timeframes are not guaranteed. The actual processing time may vary depending on the workload of the migration authorities, the completeness of the submitted documents and the need for additional checks.
An electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs is issued for a period from 30 days to 1 year. An invitation for a period from 30 to 90 days is issued as single-entry or double-entry, and an invitation for a period from 180 to 365 days is issued as multiple-entry. The invitation validity period cannot be extended.
Submitting documents to the consulate
The electronic invitation with a barcode is sent digitally to the Russian consulate database. To submit visa documents, the foreign citizen only needs a printed copy of the invitation, as no paper original exists. Requirements for the form in which the document must be presented may vary depending on the specific consular office.
You can learn more about obtaining a business visa in the section Business visa to Russia for foreign citizens.
In addition to the invitation, when applying to a consulate or embassy for a visa, the applicant must complete a special application form, pay the consular fee and submit the required set of documents (the list should be checked in advance on the embassy website). Citizens of migration-risk countries should be prepared for the embassy to request a guarantee letter from the inviting party.