Invitation (приглашение): who issues it and how to obtain it

This page is for Turkish citizens traveling to Russia specifically for business, education, work, or humanitarian purposes, and for the people and institutions inviting them. In Russia, you do not obtain the invitation; the inviting party does. Below, you will find which institution issues the invitation, how a relative or company in Russia can apply, the 2026 fee, and the special visa route that does not require an invitation.

• An invitation is a document issued by Russia's official authorities inviting a foreign national to Russia. It is legally recognized as one of the main grounds for issuing a visa.
• Visas requiring an invitation: private (guest), business, education, work, and humanitarian visas.
• Cases not requiring an invitation:
  • e-visa (see R1.2)
  • tourist visa: a tourist voucher from the tour operator or a hotel reservation is sufficient (see R1.3)
  • private visa issued to foreigners who are relatives of Russian citizens: a written application by the Russian citizen is sufficient (below)
• Information included in the invitation:
  • your first and last name (in Cyrillic and Latin letters)
  • your date and place of birth, gender, citizenship, and country of residence
  • your passport number and date of issue
  • the purpose of the trip, the estimated length of stay in Russia, and the places to be visited
  • the name and address of the inviting institution or the name and address of the inviting person
  • the number and date of the invitation decision and the invitation's validity period
• The visa dates are determined according to the dates in the invitation.

• Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (МИД) issues invitations upon applications from:
  • federal government institutions
  • embassies and consulates of foreign countries in Russia
  • international organizations and their representative offices
  • government institutions of federal subjects (regions)
• The regional migration units of Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs (МВД) issue invitations at the request of:
  • municipalities (local administrations)
  • legal entities (companies, universities, etc.) registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs under the notification procedure
  • Russian citizens and foreign nationals permanently residing in Russia with a residence permit (ВНЖ)
  • branches and representative offices of foreign companies accredited in Russia (for work invitations)
  • highly qualified specialists (ВКС), when inviting family members
• You cannot apply for the invitation yourself while in Türkiye. The inviting party in Russia must apply.
• The invitation application can also be submitted electronically through Russia's public services portal, Gosuslugi.

1. The inviting person prepares the documents. According to the service card on Russia's Gosuslugi portal, the following are required:
   • invitation application form for individuals (ходатайство)
   • guarantee letter (гарантийное письмо) for individuals
   • the inviting person's identity document
   • a copy of your passport
   • the inviting person's proof of income (2-НДФЛ form)
   • proof of payment of the fee
2. The application is submitted to the migration unit. The inviting person applies to the Ministry of Internal Affairs migration unit at their place of residence.
3. Processing period:
   • general rule: no more than 20 business days after complete documents have been registered
   • for highly qualified specialists (ВКС) and accompanying family members: no more than 14 business days
   • in cases requiring immediate entry, such as urgent medical treatment or the serious illness or death of a close relative: no more than 3 business days
4. The invitation is collected. The result documents are delivered on the day the inviting person submitted the application.
5. You apply for the visa. According to the Russian Embassy, the original invitation is required for the visa application. If you apply from Istanbul, the telex invitation must reach the Consulate General at least 1 day before you submit your documents (see R1.3 and R1.5).

• Requirements for companies and other legal entities:
  • invitation application form for institutions
  • the institution's guarantee letter
  • proof of payment of the fee
  • a copy of the invited person's passport
• The inviting institution must be registered with the Ministry of Internal Affairs under the notification procedure.
• Work invitations are prepared together with the work permit (see R3.1).
• For an education invitation, the school's educational license is checked (see R5.1 and R5.2).
• For medical treatment: based on an invitation issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs upon the application of a medical institution, a work visa valid for up to 1 year may be issued to the person receiving treatment and their accompanying person.

• Invitation fee: 8,000 rubles for each invited person (Article 333.28, paragraph 17 of the Russian Tax Code, text dated August 4, 2026).
• The inviting party pays the fee.
• Some older official service pages may state 800 rubles. The applicable amount is 8,000 rubles under the current text of the Tax Code.
• This fee does not include the consular fee or visa center service fee payable in Türkiye (see R1.3).

• Since September 1, 2021, a Russian citizen may submit a written application to the consulate for a foreign national who is their relative. By decision of the head of the consulate, a multiple-entry private visa valid for up to 1 year may be issued.
• With this visa, you may stay in Russia throughout the entire validity period of the visa. The visa may be extended in Russia for up to 1 year.
• Those considered close relatives: spouse, parents, children, child's spouse, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, adoptive parents, and adopted children.
• The Russian citizen's written application is written in free form and includes:
  • the Russian citizen's first name, last name, patronymic, date of birth, passport number, and address
  • the invited relative's first name, last name, date of birth, citizenship, gender, and passport number
  • the requested number of entries, purpose of the trip, entry period, place of stay, and city to be visited
• If the Russian citizen is in Russia, the application must be certified by a Russian notary.
• Documents to be submitted together:
  • the original or a notarized copy of the Russian citizen's internal or international passport
  • proof of relationship: marriage certificate or Form B for marriage; birth certificate or Form A for parents and children
  • if the document is not in Russian, an apostille and a Russian translation certified by a Russian notary or at the consulate
  • your passport and the application form completed and signed at visa.kdmid.ru
• The surnames in the passports and relationship documents must match.
• The processing period is at least 10 business days.
• Joint entry: the spouse, minor children, and incapacitated adult children of a Russian citizen may obtain a visa to travel with the Russian citizen based on the citizen's application.
• Exceptional cases: in exceptional circumstances, the head of the consulate may also issue a visa upon the foreign national's own written application. If you are traveling for urgent medical treatment or because of the serious illness or death of a close relative, a private visa valid for up to 3 months may be issued.

• There is a decision prohibiting your entry into Russia or one of the grounds for refusal under the law applies (see R1.1 and R2.5)
• The destination is an area requiring special permission and the authorized institution has not granted permission (see R1.9)
• The inviting company's registration, the branch's accreditation, or its tax registration cannot be verified
• The school has no educational license for an invitation for education or teaching purposes
• Information confirming payment of the fee does not appear in the state payment system
• The circumstances underlying the application have changed or no longer exist

• The inviting party provides a guarantee for your living, medical, and accommodation expenses in Russia with the application and takes measures to fulfill this guarantee.
• They ensure that your actual activities in Russia correspond to the purpose stated in the invitation.
• They take measures to ensure that you leave the country on time when your stay expires.
• If they accommodate you at their home, they are generally also the "receiving party" (принимающая сторона) responsible for registering your migration status (see R2.1).

• Failing to check whether the first name, last name, or passport number in the invitation matches the passport.
• Renewing the passport after obtaining the invitation. The old passport number remains on the invitation.
• Failing to compare the invitation period with the travel dates. The visa is issued according to the dates in the invitation.
• Going to the visa center without bringing the original invitation.
• Paying intermediaries who "sell invitations." Invitations are issued only by Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Internal Affairs (see R10.4).
• Submitting the application of a Russian citizen relative without notarization while that person is in Russia.

• How long does it take to receive the invitation? No more than 20 business days for individual invitations. Fourteen business days for highly qualified specialists and their families, and 3 business days in urgent cases.
• Who pays for the invitation? The inviting party in Russia pays the fee: 8,000 rubles per person.
• My spouse is a Russian citizen. Do I need an invitation? No. Your spouse submits a written application to the consulate; you may obtain a multiple-entry private visa valid for up to 1 year.
• Is an invitation required for a tourist visa? An MIA invitation is not required. A tourist voucher from the tour operator or a reservation and payment document from a hotel on the federal list is sufficient.
• Are an invitation and a visa the same thing? No. The invitation is the basis for the visa application. The Russian consulate in Türkiye issues the visa.
• My invitation was refused. What can I do? The refusal decision can be challenged in Russia; Gosuslugi's administrative appeal service is also available for this purpose. Consult a lawyer in complex cases.

• Gosuslugi – Individuals obtaining an invitation (documents, processing time, grounds for refusal)
• Gosuslugi – Institutions obtaining an invitation
• Federal Law 115-FZ, Article 16 – procedure for issuing invitations
• Federal Law 114-FZ, Article 25 – grounds for visas
• Russian Tax Code, Article 333.28 – invitation fee
• Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – visa application form