International Visas

If you are traveling to Russia (or to former countries of the Soviet Union) you need to obtain an appropriate visitor’s visa.

Getting a Russian visa is a two step process. First, you will need to get an official letter of invitation from a company authorized by the Russian Ministries of Foreign and Internal Affairs called Visa Support Document or Invitation. Then you will need to take this invitation along with the application form and two passport size photos and an original of your passport to the Russian Consulate in the United States in order to have your visa processed. A visa will be glued directly on one of the pages of your passport. Click here to bring up a sample visa and learn how to read and understand it.

You have to choose a visa support type that best suits your travel and adoption needs. You may want to ask your adoption agency for advice as the visa type may depend on the region you are adopting a child from. For example, in some regions in Russia, you may proceed with adoption while traveling on a tourist visa. However, it is always recommended to obtain an adoption specific visa that actually has ADOPTION entered as the purpose of visit. You can apply for a Russian visa support, including ADOPTION visa support online through our site. We will refer your visa support application to our partner company in Russia where it will be processed.

Single or Double Entry Business Invitation

with ADOPTION entered as a purpose of visit

This invitation type is available for up to THREE months in duration and can be SINGLE or DOUBLE entry. The invitation is processed by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and has an official seal. The invitation you request will have ADOPTION entered under the purpose of visit and it will be acceptable by the Russian authorities during adoption proceedings. Usually, a three month double entry visa is what you need in order to complete an entire adoption process. A copy of the invitation is delivered to you by fax or email. Most of the consulates in the US accept copies of invitations. However, should you need an original it is available upon request. International shipping fee applies.

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Russian Tourist Invitation

This invitation is issued for up to one month stay and can be a single or double entry. The invitation comprises the tourist voucher and the confirmation and has an official seal of the authorized issuing company. Invitation is delivered to you by email or fax. Original is available upon request should the consulate request it, which is not known to happen.

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Multiple Entry Business Invitation

This invitation is issued for the period of 6 or 12 months and allows you unlimited entries during its validity period. The invitation is processed by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has an official seal. This invitation does not have ADOPTION entered as a purpose of visit as the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs only allows adoption visas to be processed for the period of up to three months. However, this visa type may be very useful if you plan to travel to Russia a lot over the course of a year in order to research the situation as well as possibly, keep in touch with the child’s remaining family and friends in the home country. A copy of the invitation will be sent to you by email or fax. A consulate in Washington DC usually does not require originals. However, San Francisco, Huston and Seattle consulates do require originals for the Multiple Entry visas. Originals can be sent upon request. International shipping fee applies.

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CIS Visa Support

Should you require a visa for one of the former countries of the Soviet Union such as Kazakhstan, Ukraine or Belarus, you will need to obtain a visa and will need an invitation as well. >