Get a letter of invitation or travel support (for Russia tourist visa)

What is a Letter of Invitation or Travel Visa Support Letter ?

This is the most important document that you need to present but should not be confused for a hotel reservation. A Travel Visa Support letter is not the same as a hotel voucher/reservation. A hotel voucher is not necessary to get you a visa but a Travel Visa Support letter will.

What is the difference ?

A hotel voucher may be obtained by booking a hotel through various entities such as the hotel itself, hotel booking engines such as booking.com , travel agents .

A Travel Support Letter (one that is required by the Russian embassy) must come from an authorized Russian Travel Agency or Russian Hotel.

Where to get it ?

Option 1: Email your hotel in Russia and ask for it. 

Option 2: Get it from your local travel agent to lessen the stress and hassle of getting one.

Option 3: Get a letter on your own. 

Option #3 gives you the freedom to shop around. Please bear in mind that the travel support letter is not free nor does it have a fixed price. My best option was to look for the most affordable service fee i can find.

The travel support letter fees i found in the net ranges from 30usd to as high as 60usd per applicant. 

Here's what a Travel Support Letter looks like :

TRAVEL SUPPORT LETTER 

There are 4 important components (encircled in violet) of the Travel Support letter that should appear in your application form:

1. Name of the Host Company

2. Address of the Host Company

3. Reference Number

4. Confirmation Number

Note : The hotels and travel dates declared in your travel support letter must be the same as in your application form.

And here's how to complete the Russian visa application form . 

How i got my Russian Tourist Visa

Philippine passport holder need a visa to enter Russia. Compared to other countries that i have previously applied for a visa like Schengen , Japan , Taiwan , China etc , Russian tourist visa application is fairly simple and non-complicated . 

Upon checking  their website , there are only five (5) documents to prepare .

TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS :
1. Duly filled up application form 
2. A valid passport (passport must be valid not less than 6 months from your date of departure from Russia)
3. One passport sized photo (attached to the application form with glue)
4. Travel Support/Confirmation from an authorized Russian Travel Agency.
5. Airline Tickets (travel dates must be the same as the confirmation and application form)

1, HOW TO FILL UP THE APPLICATION FORM

The application form is available at visa.kdmid.ru 

The link will open to the site as pictured above. Choose your country and language. Read the information in the blue box and then click Complete New Application Form .

Note : The application must be filled up online.

You must create your password so you can retrieve your application form in the future . One must also take note of the Application ID for future reference.

VISA DETAILS

Select Tourism as your purpose of visit . Common Tourist as visa category. 

The date of entry and exit to/from Russia must be same as in your airline tickets. It should be the exact date of your entry date and exit date.

PERSONAL DETAILS

Personal details are pretty much explainable but at this point you may save your work as draft. You may retrieve it again by using your password and application ID (which hopefully you have stored). Next page enter your Passport details which basically you will find in your passport :)

PASSPORT DETAILS

Now here's the tricky part :

VISIT DETAILS

Remember? One of the requirements is a Travel Support/Confirmation from an authorized Russian Travel Agency. If you have been able to contact one prior to filling up this form then input the info regarding the Name of Organization , address , their reference number and the confirmation number they have provided.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

The information being asked above is basically your permanent address and work details.

APPOINTMENT DETAILS

Appointment will be set at the Embassy of Russia in Manila.

Click the Next button and a summary of everything will be displayed. Check very carefully if you have missed / mispelled info from your entries. 

If you feel you are satisfied with it then you may Click and Submit .

Print the application form and glue your passport sized photo .

Don't forget to affix your signature.

Here's a sample print out of the application form :

Yellow highlighted part were intentional to protect our personal identity. Thank you.

As you can see it's fairly simple. Once you have printed the form , gather all the remaining requirements and head to their office in Makati . Don't forget to bring your payment :):)

The embassy also allows representative or travel agents to submit documents on behalf of the applicant. 

Visa Section of the Embassy of Russia in Manila address :

Room 402 A , 4th Flr , RCI Building

105 Rada Street Legazpi Village

Makati City MM Phils

Contact them at :

810-9581

Visa submission days :

Monday - Wednesday - Friday

0900am - 1200nn

Visa Fee : (updated Feb 22, 2017)

P 3,750/applicant - single entry

But do please check their website for more information . All information in this blog has been my personal experience and I will not be held liable if there are  changes in information. It is best to contact the authority before submitting your application.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER? I WOULD HAPPILY ACCOMODATE AND ANSWER FROM BELOW :)