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Private visas are designed for those visiting friends or family in Russia, and can take so long to obtain - three months for the invitation alone - that they are only worth trying for if you are planning your trip several months in advance.
If you are applying for a private visa, you will need:
- Two completed and signed visa application forms
- One passport sized photo signed on the back
- A visa entitlement certificate (Izveschenie), issued by your host's local OVIR office
The visa entitlement certificate has to be the original document and not a fax or photocopy. If you are traveling on a private visa, you will have to register within three days of your arrival in Russia. To do this, you will need the assistance of whoever is providing you with accommodation during your stay. They will have to take your passport and migration card to OVIR (the Department of Visas and Registration) or to a post office, and complete a registration form with your and their details. They will then receive a stamped coupon, which you should carry with you during your stay. They will be required to return this coupon to OVIR when you leave the country, and are subject to heavy fines if they fail to do so, so be careful with it.
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