Russian Visa

I looked down the list and read a few posts about this...it seems the short answer is 'no' although one may be lucky it depends on the Consulate...am l correct? Okay...what if the Australian passport holder has a 6 month or 1 year business visa for Ukraine and applies for a Russian tourist visa in Ukraine? Probably noone will know this but...will the Russian consulate want to see Ukrainian visa registration or will the Ukrainian visa alone be enough? (l have Ukrainian visa registration in my passport from a previous visa, so l worry the Russian Consulate may ask for current visa registration)

Any Ukrainian visa you may or may not have is completely irrelevant to Russian authorities as the visa requirements between the countries are completely different. I'm not sure why you think that Russian authorities would want to see your Ukrainian visa, but you're wrong. Any Ukrainian visa you have is completely useless in terms of getting you a Russian visa.

The short answer to your question about you getting a visa in Europe for Russia is generally "no", but yes, you may get lucky at some consulates. In the past some of the Russian consulates in the Baltic States have tended to be more lenient on this subject. At least I think I read that here.

Not to state the obvious, but given the fact that Aussies seem to be among the worst in the world for overstaying visas, I think I better mention it. You do understand that a Ukrainian visa for 6 months is not valid for a stay of 6 months, right? That just means that the visa is good for 6 months, but you can't stay longer than 90 days. 1 year business visa similarly will have some restrictions on the length of your stay. My guess would be 120 days in 1 year.

??? I would think that having a 1 year Ukrainian visa is very relevant for an Australian wanting to get Russian visa in Ukraine as it shows that you are living in Ukraine not in Australia. Please only Everbite, A.Smith or Devil post a reply.

Rubblish again jman98...a six month visa for Ukraine allows you to stay for six months. The 90 day in 6 months rule applies to visa free travellers not to a traveller with a visa.

Correct me someone if l'm wrong...The country where one can apply for a Russian visa has got to do with residency, not citizenship...so if an Australian resides in Ukraine the Russian Consulate in Ukraine should issue them a visa. My question is whether a 6 month or 1 year Ukrainian business visa is acceptable to the Russian Consulate as far a proving residency.

Australians seem to be able to get Russian visas in the UK but not anyplace else, at least there is no certainty any place else.

Ukraine only seems to issue 15 day tourist visas, at least to non Ukrainians.

A business visa does not give right of residency. It only permits you to visit for a period of time to conduct business. The Russians recently tightened this with their own business visas (permitting no more than 90 days at a time even if you have a 0ne year multiple entry business visa) so I seriously doubt that they will accept a business visa as proof of residency.

If you have proof of residency in Ukraine then I suppose that would be acceptable but a business visa is not the same thing, is it?

Ruth

One more point, it is no longer the case that the consulates in the Baltic countries are easy places to obtain a Russian visa. Unless you have residency or a passport from an EU country, it seems that you will be unable to obtain a Russian visa in Tallinn, Riga or Vilnius.

I just updated the information on my website with the most accurate information that I have so you might check there as my memory is not encyclopedic.

Ruth

-"Ukraine only seems to issue 15 day tourist visas, at least to non Ukrainians." Don't think that's correct. It doesn't make sense plus l know that Consulate in Simferopol did list prices for 1 year buisness visas on their notice board outside the Consulate.

-Yes you're correct a business visa does not give right of 'residency' BUT l use the word 'residently' for lack of a better word. See: www.sydneyrussianconsulate.com/visat.html For foreigners in Australia applying for a Russian visa the requirement is quote: "All non-Australian applicants are required to produce an Austrailan residence/work permit with minimum validity of 91 days." By "residence permit" could simply be talking about a visa that's valid for 91 days or more? They must; because there's is no such thing as a 91 day residence/work permit in Australia!