multi entry business visa for Russia

[flyingdog]

Hi everyone !
Subject already discussed a few times but I am getting so many different advices that I am getting confused :confused:
I never went to Russia so in order to be allowed to request a multi entry business visa I need to get another visa first ... any kind of visa if I'm right.
So let say I start flying on my new job and fly to Moscow for the first time requesting a 24 hours visa via the handling agent (waiting at least 4 hours in the plane upon arrival if I'm still right) then may I request a multi entry visa ?
all info will be very much appreciated :ok:

[leonard17F]

Last time I did this was 6 years ago....
Time spent/wasted on arrival to get a visa can depend on many factors, but it was not that bad......

To get a multi-entry visa, I used a tourist/visa agency (then in Paris) and the process was very straightforward. They got all the necessary "invitations" and took care of all the paperwork.

I do NOT recall if I needed a previous 1-shot visa or not (which I had, but I doubt it).

I was still a F/O, and my then-Captain who did the first leg to, got stuck at the check-in of BA in Heathrow going back to Moscow to pick-up the aircraft, so my Boss called me, appointed me "Captain on the Battlefield", found a young lady who was typed on the aircraft and off we went....

[envoy]

I got a new multi-entry business visa to Russia recently.

The visa application required a sponsor letter from an agency in Russia - the letter was expensive, a few hundred dollars and several weeks to have sent to me.

On top of that, the visa itself was a few hundred dollars as well, as well a few days' wait while getting expedited processing. If you are US/UK/AU passport holder, there is some tit-for-tat so the process is more complicated, more expensive and takes longer than others.

If you are at a pinch, a tourist visa is quicker and cheaper. AFAIK, visa on arrival is only available in Moscow (and maybe St Petersburg?), and you need to coordinate with your handler before arrival to assure availability.

My 10 cents worth...

[silverknapper]

One of our guys got a multi entry with no previous visas.

I suspect whichever agent you use can have a bearing on how successful you are.

As envoy says its an expensive process. However having once had to sit at Vnukovo for 6 hours in the cold and dark waiting for one on arrival once, it's worth every penny!

[vova_k]

You don't need to have previous visas to apply for multi-entry visa.


Tourist visa is 2-entry max

[flyingdog]

thanks for your advices, it seems that almost each visa agency has its own way to deal with this matter. Some can offer a letter for a multi entry in the first place but most of them can't provide the required invitation for the multi entry unless you already hold another visa, might be a bit different for UK passport holders. My chief pilot must come back to me with THE solution on Monday ... hopefully :rolleyes:

[Captain Kaboom]

A couple of months ago, shortly before the summer, it took the Russian Consulate 5 weeks to process my multi entry visa, they were too busy...

It was my fifth in a row, no obstacles, they just couldn't be bothered.
So be anticipating alltough the winterseason might be easier.

And I did it through a agency.

Also, it is not possible anymore to get an entry visa in St Petersburg, only in Moscow (2 months ago)

Be prepared, things seem to take time dealing with Russians...

CK

[Deep and fast]

Call travel direct in Edi. They handle all of our russian visa applications and info will be accurate.