Do Irish citizens need a visa for Russia?
Yes. Since August 1, 2023, Irish citizens have been eligible for an electronic visa (e-visa) for short trips to Russia, allowing them to stay for up to 30 days without an invitation. For longer stays or different travel purposes, a standard visa issued through a Russian consulate is required
How can Irish citizens apply for a Russian visa?
Step 1. Get an invitation
To apply for a Russian visa, Irish citizens need to prepare a set of documents, including an official invitation. The type of invitation depends on the visa category requested: tourist, business, private, work, or another visa type, depending on the purpose of the trip.
Step 2. Submit the documents
In Ireland, Russian visa applications are submitted only through the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Dublin.
- Documents are accepted by prior appointment only.
- The number of daily applications is limited, so queues and longer waiting times are possible.
⚠️ Start the visa application process in advance – this will help you avoid unexpected delays related to appointment availability. You may submit an application to the consulate no earlier than 90 days before your planned date of entry.
Apply for an invitation
Price from €14
Main visa types for Russia for Irish citizens
- Tourist visa – tourism, excursions, and sightseeing;
- Business visa – conferences and business meetings;
- Electronic visa – short-term trips;
- Work visa – employment with a Russian company;
- Private visa – visiting relatives or friends in Russia (although a tourist or electronic visa is usually more practical and cheaper).
Validity periods of Russian visas for Irish citizens
| Visa | Validity period | Purpose of entry |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist | 1–180 days | Tourism, leisure, excursions, cultural events, and visits to friends or relatives in Russia |
| Business | 1 month up to 5 years | Business meetings and negotiations, searching for business partners, attending conferences, and long-term visits to relatives in Russia |
| Electronic | 1–30 days | Short-term trips |
| Private | 30 days – 1 year | Officially arranged visits to relatives or friends in Russia |
| Work | up to 90 days, with the possibility of extension for up to three years | Employment in Russia |
Documents for a Russian visa for Irish citizens
- Invitation.
– Depending on the visa category (tourist, business, private, etc.) and consular requirements. - International passport (original)
– At least two blank pages.
– Valid for at least 6 months after the visa expires. - Visa application form.
– Completed online at visa.kdmid.ru (in Russian or English).
– Printed and signed in person. - Passport photo.
– Color photo, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, against a light background.
– Taken no more than 6 months ago. - Medical insurance.
– A valid policy covering the entire duration of stay in Russia, with minimum coverage of €30,000. - Proof of financial means.
– A bank statement or income certificate. - Document confirming the right of residence in Ireland (not required for Irish citizens).
– For EU citizens: proof of registration or address confirmation.
– For third-country nationals: the original and a copy of an Irish residence permit. - Documents for minor children.
– Birth certificate (original + copy).
– For children traveling with third parties: parental authorization, a copy of the parent’s passport, and the birth certificate.
Processing times for a Russian visa for Irish citizens
Visa applications are processed by the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ireland (Dublin). Standard processing times range from 4 to 20 business days and depend on whether the submitted documents are complete. In practice, single- and double-entry visas are issued within 6–10 business days, while multiple-entry visas take 12–14 business days. Expedited processing is available when necessary: a visa may be issued within 1–2 business days.
How much does a Russian visa cost for Irish citizens?
The visa cost consists of the consular fee and the cost of document delivery if the passport is returned by post.
The amount of the consular fee depends on:
- The number of entries: single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry.
- The processing time: standard or urgent.
Consular fee rates in euros:
- Single-entry visa:
- 4–20 days – €77.
- 1–3 days – €152 (urgent processing).
- Double-entry visa:
- 4–20 days – €122.
- 1–3 days – €243 (urgent processing).
- Multiple-entry visa:
- 4–20 days – €229.
- 1–3 days – €456 (urgent processing).
The fees shown are for information only; the final amount may vary depending on additional services and the current euro exchange rate.
Tourist visa for Russia for Irish citizens
Irish citizens planning to visit Russia for tourism and sightseeing should apply for a tourist visa in advance. A tourist invitation can be issued by a travel company. The company must be listed in the Unified Federal Register of Tour Operators and have a reference number. An invitation can also be issued by a hotel.
Step-by-step guide to applying for a visa for Russia
Advantages of applying with an invitation from a travel company:
- Instant invitation processing – arrange it online on our website in just 5 minutes;
- Flexible visa validity – it may be up to 90 days with single or double entry, or up to 6 months with multiple entry. Please note that with a multiple-entry visa, an Irish citizen may stay in the Russian Federation for no more than 90 days in each 180-day period;
- No advance hotel booking or payment is required – when arranging an invitation on our website, we automatically list hotels as the place of accommodation in the Russian Federation, depending on the cities to be visited. Hotel information is required for issuing a tourist visa, but no actual booking will be made at these hotels;
- After receiving the visa, an Irish citizen may stay in the Russian Federation at any hotel or private accommodation.
Disadvantages of applying with an invitation from a hotel:
- Only accommodation facilities included in the Unified Register of Classified Hotels can issue a tourist visa invitation. This means that not every hotel can issue one; for visa processing, an invitation is required, and a booking alone is not sufficient;
- The validity period will be limited to the accommodation booking dates. In any case, it cannot exceed 30 calendar days, and the foreign citizen will be able to enter the Russian Federation only once. Double-entry and multiple-entry visas are not issued on the basis of such an invitation;
- After the visa is obtained, migration registration must be completed by the hotel that issued the invitation; otherwise, this may cause problems for the Irish citizen;
- Some Russian consulates abroad do not issue visas based on hotel invitations.
Apply for a tourist invitation
Price from €14
Business visa for Russia for Irish citizens
Irish citizens who plan to come to Russia to sign a contract or find new business partners should apply for a business visa in advance.
Important: A business visa for Irish citizens may be issued for 30 to 90 days with single or double entry, or for 6 to 12 months with multiple entry. A foreign citizen may stay in the Russian Federation on a multiple-entry business visa for a maximum of 90 days in every 180-day period.
A business invitation to Russia, which is required to apply for a business visa, can be issued in one of two ways:
A business invitation on an electronic form is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation based on an application from the inviting legal entity. By law, this application is reviewed within 8–21 business days. A printed invitation is required to apply for the visa.
When an invitation is issued as a telex invitation, the invited foreign citizen is informed only of the telex number. A telex invitation is an instruction transmitted from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation via a special communication channel to the relevant Russian consulate.
Apply for a business invitation online
Price from €391
Electronic visa for Russia for Irish citizens
Irish citizens who want to make a short trip to Russia can enter the country with an electronic visa.
An electronic visa is intended for tourist, business, humanitarian, and guest trips, as well as for participation in socio-political, economic, and sporting events. The electronic visa is valid for 120 days from the date of issue. The permitted stay in Russia is no more than 30 days from the date of entry. An e-visa is single-entry only.
To apply for an electronic visa, an Irish citizen only needs a digital photo, a copy of the passport, and an application form completed on our website.
Price from €84
Private visa for Russia for Irish citizens
Irish citizens planning to visit friends, relatives, or acquaintances in Russia need to apply for a private visa. Such visas can be single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry and are issued for up to 365 days.
Important: With multiple-entry private visas, an Irish citizen may stay in the Russian Federation for the entire validity period of the visa without leaving the country. In practice, however, this option is less straightforward: here is why using a private visa is not recommended.
A private visa may be issued based on:
- an invitation from a legal entity or individual in Russia;
- an application from a close relative;
- special circumstances.
To obtain a private visa by invitation, the foreign citizen needs an invitation arranged by the inviting party in Russia. To arrange it, the individual or legal entity must submit the relevant application to the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (an individual applies at their place of residence, and a legal entity at its place of registration), specifying the required visa validity period and number of entries. In addition to the application, full information about the invited person and the inviting party must be provided, and the state fee must be paid. After the application is reviewed, if the citizen has not violated Russian law during previous visits, a guest invitation will be issued on a form of the Main Directorate for Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and must be sent to the Irish citizen. If the invitation is refused, the refusal will be issued in writing with the reason stated.
Only an individual who is a citizen of the Russian Federation may submit an application for the issuance of a private visa to a close relative.
Important: Only close relatives may petition for the issuance of a Russian visa:
- parents,
- spouses,
- children,
- children’s spouses,
- full and half siblings,
- adoptive parents,
- adopted children,
- grandchildren,
- grandparents.
If the inviting party is located in the Russian Federation, the application must be certified by a Russian notary and the original sent to Ireland. If the inviting party is located in Ireland, they submit the application to the consulate in person.
In this case, the applicant must also provide originals and copies of documents confirming the family relationship between the applicants, citizens of the Russian Federation, and the foreign relatives specified in the application, taking into account any possible surname changes. Originals or copies notarized in accordance with Russian law may be provided.
Attention! Birth and marriage certificates without an apostille stamp are not accepted. Certificates issued by Irish civil registration authorities can be apostilled at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland.
To obtain a private visa in special circumstances (such as illness or death of a close relative, or visiting burial sites), the need for the visa must be confirmed with relevant certificates and/or documents. In this case, an invitation from the Russian side is not required.
Apply for a private invitation to Russia for Irish citizens
Unfortunately, we do not issue private invitations. We also recommend a tourist visa or a business visa, as these options usually take less time.
Work visa for Russia for Irish citizens
If an Irish citizen plans to come to Russia for employment, they must apply for a work visa. Their employer in Russia must assist by arranging a work permit and a work invitation.
After entering Russia on a short-term work visa valid for up to 90 days, the Irish citizen must register for migration purposes and extend the work visa for the validity period of the work permit. The employer is responsible for ensuring this is done on time.
Preparing the documents required to obtain a work visa takes about 1.5 months. A work visa can be extended multiple times, and there is no need to leave the country if the employer remains the same.
Apply for a work invitation to Russia for Irish citizens
Unfortunately, we do not issue work invitations. This invitation must be arranged by the organization inviting the foreign citizen for employment. If you want to look for an employer in Russia, we recommend using a tourist visa.
Recommended reading: How to stay in Russia continuously for 1 year or even up to 3 years without a work visa
Where can Irish citizens apply for a Russian visa in Ireland?
A Russian visa can be obtained only through the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Ireland, in Dublin.
Russian consular office in Ireland
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ireland, Consular Section (Dublin):- Address: 184-186 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 14, Ireland D14X6R3.
- Phone: +353 (1) 492-20-48.
- Fax: +3531-492-69-38.
- Email: dublin.consul@mail.ru.
- Website: dublin.kdmid.ru.
- Office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – from 08:30 to 11:30.
Visitors are received by prior appointment only.
Frequently asked questions
- Clarify the reason for the refusal – request a written explanation from the consulate if it was not provided automatically. Please note that the consulate has the right to refuse a visa without giving reasons, and a request for clarification may also be rejected.
- Correct any mistakes – recheck the documents (application form, invitation, and passport validity) and submit the application again after correcting the deficiencies.
- File an appeal – challenge the refusal through the consulate or court if it is unfounded, with help from lawyers or the inviting party.
- An administrative fine – from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles for individuals, and up to 500,000 rubles for the host party, such as an employer or relative.
- Entry ban – in case of serious violations, such as illegal employment or overstaying a visa, entry to Russia may be banned for up to several years.
- Deportation – in cases of major violations, such as forged documents or illegal stay, deportation may be imposed, followed by entry restrictions.