How to read Russian Visas

All of the headings on the visa are both in Russian and English, so reading the validity period, section 4, should present no problem. However, information such as the type of visa and number of entries is in Russian only. This brief guide will help you confirm the details are correct.

Section 1 - ENTRIES

The number of times that you can enter and exit the Russian Federation using this visa within its validity period.

	Single entry / exit.
	Double entry / exit.
	Multiple entry / exit.

Section 2 - DATE OF ISSUE

The date on which the visa was issued by the consulate, this is in dd.mm.yy format.

Section 3 - NATIONALITY

Your nationality, if you are German it will read:

Section 4 - VALIDITY PERIOD

Shows the dates that the visa is valid from and until in dd.mm.yy format.

Section 5 - TYPE

The consulate type code of the visa.

Section 6 - SURNAME (LAST NAME), GIVEN NAMES (FIRST NAME)

Your name, first in Russian and then in English. If you wonder at the surprising way that Russians who check your visa may pronounce your name, look in the bottom left corner of the visa and you will see your name translated back from Cyrillic to Latin characters!

Section 7 - DATE OF BIRTH

Your date of birth in day.month.year format.

Section 8 - SEX

Your gender which will be either:

	Male
	Female

Section 9 - PASSPORT NUMBER

The passport number that this visa applies to, that is, your passport number.

Section 10 - VISA ID

Russian Consulate visa identification number.

Section 11 - INVITATION No

If you have a business visa then this will relate to the invitation that was generated in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, otherwise it will be empty.

Section 12 - PURPOSE OF ENTRY

Depending on the type of visa, this will read either:

	Tourism
	Commercial (Business)
	Private

Section 13 - INVITED BY, REFERENCE AND GROUP No

The name of the accredited organisation that sponsor your visa, in most cases ERIDAN visas will read:

and be followed by a series of numbers.

Section 14 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Any additional information that you may have provided to the consulate or that they wish to place on your visa. This will be specific to you.