Contents
What is an invitation on company letterhead?
An invitation on company letterhead, also known as a "direct" invitation, is a written request from a Russian organization asking a consular office of the Russian Federation to issue a visa to a foreign citizen. It is issued on the official letterhead of the Russian legal entity acting as the inviting party.
This invitation format is used under visa facilitation agreements and may be suitable for citizens of the EU and Schengen Area, the United States, Japan and China. Business invitations on company letterhead can be issued only for a "commercial"/"business" purpose of visit to the Russian Federation.
An invitation letter from a Russian company is signed by an authorized person and stamped with the organization’s seal. Such an invitation is issued within one business day.
How to get a visa with an invitation from an organization
Business invitations on company letterhead can be issued only for a "commercial"/"business" purpose of visit to the Russian Federation. This purpose of visit may cover:
- meeting business partners or holding negotiations with them;
- extending or concluding contracts;
- conducting market research;
- participating in auctions, exhibitions, conferences and other business events.
If the purpose of travel for a citizen of the EU, the United States, China or Japan matches one of the purposes listed above, they may apply for a Russian business visa under a simplified procedure based on a direct letter from the inviting organization in Russia.
Procedure for issuing business visas based on a direct company invitation
For citizens of the EU and Japan: visas must be obtained consecutively and without long gaps (no more than two years): first, a short three-month visa is issued; then a one-year visa; then another one-year visa; then a two-year visa may be requested, followed by three-year and five-year visas respectively. One-year business visas may be issued to applicants who have obtained and properly used at least one Russian business visa within the past year. The maximum visa validity period is five years. Stay in the Russian Federation is limited to no more than 90 days out of 180.
For citizens of the United States: a business visa based on a direct letter is always issued for three years. Continuous stay for 180 days is permitted.
For citizens of China: the maximum visa validity period is usually one year. Stay in the Russian Federation is limited to no more than 90 days out of 180.
The issuance of visas based on this type of invitation is always at the personal discretion of the consul, regardless of the validity period and number of entries indicated in the invitation. The decision is based on the applicant’s documents, visa history, frequency of previous trips to the Russian Federation and other factors. Local consulates may have different requirements for the document package for different visa categories, including applications based on a direct company letter. Some diplomatic missions do not accept this type of invitation for business visas at all; in such cases, a visa may be issued only on the basis of official documents from the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Advantages of an invitation on company letterhead
If a foreign citizen has previously held Russian business visas, we recommend using a written invitation from a company:
- A company letter is cheaper than a telex or an electronic invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- It is issued online in five minutes – a copy of the invitation is sent by email immediately after payment.
- With this type of invitation, a visa may be obtained for a period from two to five years (provided that previously used multiple-entry visas to Russia are available), while an electronic invitation and a telex allow a visa to be requested for a maximum of one year.
Disadvantages of an invitation on company letterhead
Important:
- Business visa applications based on a company letter are processed by Russian consulates within 12 business days; expedited application review is not available.
- For some countries, this type of invitation (on company letterhead) must be submitted to the consulate in original form if a multiple-entry visa is requested.
What an invitation from an organization looks like
A direct letter from a Russian company must be issued on official letterhead and contain full information about the inviting organization, as well as the following details:
For the invited person: first name, last name, date of birth, gender, citizenship, identity document number, purpose and duration of visit, number of entries and travel itinerary.
For the legal entity (company or organization) issuing the invitation: full name of the legal entity, address, taxpayer identification number, registration number, signature of the general director and the organization’s seal.
The invitation is issued on the organization’s letterhead with all company details indicated and is addressed to a consular office of the Russian Federation.
How to obtain a business invitation from an organization
Our company recommends that citizens of the EU, the United States, Japan and China obtain an invitation letter from an organization.
How to quickly get an invitation on company letterhead:
- Fill out a short online application form.
- Pay for your order by bank card or PayPal on the website.
- Receive a copy of the invitation by email immediately after payment.
Processing times for the invitation and visa
Total processing time for the invitation and visa:
- A company invitation letter is issued within one business day;
- The Russian consulate (embassy or consulate general) reviews the application in an average of 10–12 business days; the period may be extended to 30 days.
If all documents are in order and the check reveals no violations, a Russian visa based on an invitation on company letterhead may be issued for up to five years for EU citizens and for up to three years for U.S. citizens.
The consulate has the right to request additional documents or schedule an interview.