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F.A.Q.

Why I need to buy an invitation?

Once you are going to get a Russian visa, you will need the invitation for that. Visa invitation is among the documents that Russian visa center or consulate will ask together with travel insurance policy. It is because there is the rule that people applying for Russian visa need to have the inviting company. For tourist visa, one will need the tourist confirmation and voucher. For business visa you will need the business invitation

I have my own insurance policy. Do I need to buy an insurance policy from you?

An insurance policy is a mandatory document for submitting a visa application. If your insurance company has a reinsurance agreement with a Russian insurance company, then your policy is suitable and you do not need to buy a policy from us. You can find out by calling your insurance company or the Russian visa center. They should have listings of insurance companies accented

A set of documents required to apply for a visa to Russia

1. Valid passport (must be valid 180 days after the expiration of the visa)
2. Visa invitation for business or tourist visa
3. Insurance policy for the duration of the invitation
4. Color photograph on a gray background with an open face without a headdress 3.5 x 4.5
5. Completed application form from the Russian Foreign Ministry website https://visa.kdmid.ru/PetitionChoice.aspx

A ready-made set of documents is submitted in person or by mail to the Russian visa center or the consular department of the Russian embassy. Consular and service fees are paid additionally according to the current tariffs

Download the list

With which countries Russia has open borders?

A list of countries with which Russia has open borders is given below. This means that citizens of these countries, as well as citizens of other countries permanently residing there, can get a visa to Russia

List of open countries (08.11.2021)
  1. Albania (RP of 28.07.2021 No.2084-r)
  2. Andorra (RP of 02.10.2021 No. 2770-r)
  3. Armenia (RP No. 228-r dated 03.02.2021)
  4. Austria (RP of 06/18/2021 No.1649-r)
  5. Azerbaijan (RP of 02/03/2021 No. 28-r)
  6. Bahamas (RP No. 3003-r dated 10/23/2021)
  7. Bahrain (RP of 04.08.2021 No.2156-r)
  8. Belgium (RP of 28.06.2021 No. 1745-r)
  9. Bulgaria (RP of 28.06.2021 No. 1745-r)
  10. China (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) (RP No. 1745-r dated 06/28/2021)
  11. Colombia (RP No. 2770-r dated 02.10.2021)
  12. Croatia (RP of 06/18/2021 No. 1649-r)
  13. Cuba (RP of 14.10.2020 No. 2649-r)
  14. Cyprus (RP No. 1745-r dated 06/28/2021)
  15. Czech Republic (RP of 28.07.2021 No.2084-r)
  16. Denmark (RP No. 2770-r dated 02.10.2021)
  17. Djibouti (RP of 02.10.2021 No.2770-r)
  18. Dominican Republic (RP of 04.06.2021 No. 2156-r)
  19. Egypt (RP No. 2236-r dated 02.09.2020)
  20. Ethiopia (RP of 13.11.2020 No. 2968-r)
  21. Finland (RP of 25.01.2021 No. 136-r)
  22. France (RP No. 2084-r dated 07/28/2021)
  23. Germany (RP No. 814-r dated 31.03.2021)
  24. Great Britain (RP of 01.08.2020 No. 1997-r)
  25. Greece (RpOT 12.02.2021 No. 329-r)
  26. Hungary (RP of 18.06.2021 No. 1649-r)
  27. Iceland (RP of 05/24/2021 No. 1342-r)
  28. India (RP No. 136-r dated 25.01.2021)
  29. Iran (RP No. 3003-r dated 10/23/2021)
  30. Iraq (RP No. 2627-r dated 09/21/2021)
  31. Ireland (RP of 06/28/2021 No. 1745-r)
  32. Italy (RP of 06/28/2021 No. 1745-r)
  33. Japan (RP No. 2649-r dated 14.10.2020)
  34. Jordan (RP No. 1745-r dated 06/28/2021)
  35. Kazakhstan (RP No.2406-r dated 09/20/2020)
  36. Kenya (RP No. 2627-r dated 09/21/2021)
  37. Kuwait (RP of 02.10.2021 No. 2770-r)
  38. Kyrgyzstan (RP No. 2406-r dated 09/20/2020)
  39. Lebanon (RP No. 1649-r dated 06/18/2021)
  40. Liechtenstein (RP No. 1745-r dated 28.6.2021)
  41. Luxembourg (RP of 14.05.2021 No. 1610-r).
  42. Maldives (RP of 02.09.2920 No. 2236-r)
  43. Malta (RP of 24.05.2021 No. 1342-r)
  44. Mauritius (RP of 13.06.2021 No.1649-r)
  45. Mexico (RP No. 1342-r dated 05/24/2021)
  46. Moldova (RP of 04.08.2621 No.2156-r)
  47. Morocco (RP of 18.06.2021 No. 1649-r)
  48. Netherlands (RP of 23.10.2021 No. 3003-r)
  49. New Zealand (RP No. 2770-r dated 02.10.2021)
  50. North Macedonia (RP No. 1745-r dated 06/28/2021)
  51. Norway (RP No. 3003-r dated 23.10.2021)
  52. Oman (RP No.3003-r dated 23.10.2021)
  53. Peru (RP No. 2770-r dated 02.10.2021)
  54. Portugal (RP No. 1342-r dated 05/24/2021)
  55. Qatar (RP No.136-r dated 25.01.2021)
  56. Republic of Korea (RP No. 2406-r dated 05/20/2020)
  57. Saudi Arabia (RP No. 1342-r dated 05/24/2021)
  58. Serbia (RP No.2649-r dated 14.10.2020)
  59. Seychelles (RP No.2968-r dated 13.11.2020)
  60. Singapore (RP No. 329-r dated 12.02.2021)
  61. Slovakia (RP No. 2627-r dated 09/21/2021)
  62. Slovenia (RP of 09/21/2021 No.3003-r)
  63. South Africa (RP of 02.10.2021 No. 2770-r)
  64. Spain (RP of 09/21/2021 2527-r)
  65. Sri Lanka (RP of 31.03.2021 No. 814-r)
  66. Sweden (RP of 23.10.2021 No. 3003-r)
  67. Switzerland (RP of 01.08.2020 No. 1997-r)
  68. Syria (RP No. 374-r dated 03/31/2021)
  69. Tajikistan (RP of 31.03.2021 No. 814-r)
  70. Tanzania (RP of 01.08.2020 No. 1997-r)
  71. Thailand (RP of 23.10.2021 No. 3003-r)
  72. Tunisia (RP of 23.10.2021 No. 3003-r)
  73. Turkey (RP of 01.08.2020 No. 1997-r)
  74. United Arab Emirates (RP No. 2236-r dated 02.09.2020)
  75. USA (RP of 06/28/2021 No. 1745-r)
  76. Uzbekistan (RP of 31.03.2021 No. 814-r)
  77. Venezuela (RP No. 814-r dated 31.03.2021)
  78. Vietnam (RP No. 136-r dated 25.01.2021)

My country is not on the list of open countries, but I have to go to Russia

If your country is not on the list of open countries, then in this case you can get a special invitation letter to receive a single-, double- or multiple-entry visa with permission to cross the border. It takes 12 to 30 working days to issue the invitation letter  Request the price offer

Why does the service ask me to enter my personal data

Full name, date of birth and passport data are required to issue an invitation letter. You decide when to delete your personal data from the system. This can be done by deleting the account. The data is automatically deleted one week after the expiration of the visa you ordered. Data processing takes place in accordance with EU legislation. Сonsent to personal data processing

While I fill the visa form, they ask me for the invitation confirmation number and reference number

Please find in the picture how to fill the visa form correctly

Do I need a visa to enter Russia?

For citizens of different countries, there are different rules on the need for a visa to enter Russia. Below is a list of countries and requirements in alphabetical order

List of countries whose citizens need or do not need a visa to Russia
CitizenshipDo I need a visa
Australiaa visa is required
Austriaa visa is required
Azerbaijando not need a visa
Azoresa visa is required
Aland Islandsa visa is required
Albaniaa visa is required
Algeriaa visa is required
U.S. Virgin Islandsa visa is required
American Samoaa visa is required
Anguillaa visa is required
Angolaa visa is required
Andorraa visa is required
Antigua and Barbudaa visa is required
Argentinado not need a visa
Armeniado not need a visa
Afghanistana visa is required
The Bahamasa visa is required
Bangladesha visa is required
Barbadosa visa is required
Bahraina visa is required
Belizea visa is required
Belarusdo not need a visa
Belgiuma visa is required
Benina visa is required
Ivory Coasta visa is required
Bermudaa visa is required
Bulgariaa visa is required
Boliviado not need a visa
Bosnia and Herzegovinado not need a visa
Botswanaa visa is required
Brazildo not need a visa
British Virgin Islandsa visa is required
Brunei Darussalamdo not need a visa
Burkina Fasoa visa is required
Burundia visa is required
Bhutana visa is required
Vanuatudo not need a visa
Great Britaina visa is required
Hungarya visa is required
Venezuelado not need a visa
East Timora visa is required
Vietnama visa is required
Gabona visa is required
Haitia visa is required
Guyanado not need a visa
Gambiaa visa is required
Ghanaa visa is required
Guadeloupe, Guyana, Mayotte, Martinique, New Caledonia, Reunion, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesiaa visa is required
Guatemalado not need a visa
Guinea-Bissaua visa is required
Germanya visa is required
Gibraltara visa is required
Hondurasdo not need a visa
Grenadado not need a visa
Greecea visa is required
Georgiaa visa is required
Guama visa is required
Denmarka visa is required
Democratic Republic of the Congoa visa is required
Djiboutia visa is required
Dominikado not need a visa
Dominican Republica visa is required
Egypta visa is required
Zambiaa visa is required
Zimbabwea visa is required
Israeldo not need a visa
Indiaa visa is required
Indonesiaa visa is required
Jordana visa is required
Iraqa visa is required
Irana visa is required
Irisha visa is required
Icelanda visa is required
Spaina visa is required
Italya visa is required
Yemena visa is required
Cape Verdea visa is required
Kazakhstando not need a visa
Cayman Islandsa visa is required
Cambodiaa visa is required
Cameroona visa is required
Canadaa visa is required
Canary Islandsa visa is required
Caribbean: Curacao, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius, the Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin and Arubaa visa is required
Qatara visa is required
Kenyaa visa is required
Cyprusa visa is required
Kyrgyzstando not need a visa
Kiribatia visa is required
Chinaa visa is required
North KOREAa visa is required
Colombiado not need a visa
Comorosa visa is required
Costa Ricado not need a visa
Cubado not need a visa
Kuwaita visa is required
Laosdo not need a visa
Latviana visa is required
Lesothoa visa is required
Liberiaa visa is required
Lebanona visa is required
Libyaa visa is required
Lithuaniaa visa is required
Liechtensteina visa is required
Luxembourga visa is required
Mauritiusdo not need a visa
Mauritaniaa visa is required
Madagascara visa is required
Macedoniado not need a visa
Malawivisa required visa
Malaysiarequired visa
Malirequired
Republic of Maldivesdo not need a visa
Maltaa visa is required
Moroccoa visa is required
Marshall Islandsa visa is required
Mexicoa visa is required
Mozambiquea visa is required
Moldovado not need a visa
Monacoa visa is required
Mongoliado not need a visa
Montserrata visa is required
Myanmara visa is required
Namibiaa visa is required
Naurudo not need a visa
Nepala visa is required
Nigera visa is required
Nigeriaa visa is required
Netherlandsa visa is required
Nicaraguado not need a visa
Niuea visa is required
New Zealanda visa is required
Norwaya visa is required
UAEdo not need a visa
Omana visa is required
The Island of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunhaa visa is required
Cook Islandsa visa is required
Pakistana visa is required
Palaudo not need a visa
Palestinea visa is required
Panama hatdo not need a visa
Papua New Guineaa visa is required
Paraguaydo not need a visa
Perudo not need a visa
Pitcairna visa is required
Polanda visa is required
Portugala visa is required
Puerto Ricoa visa is required
Republic of Guineaa visa is required
Republic of the Congoa visa is required
Republic of Koreado not need a visa
Republic of Ivory Coasta visa is required
Rwandaa visa is required
Romaniaa visa is required
El Salvadordo not need a visa
Samoado not need a visa
San Marinoa visa is required
Sao Tome and Principea visa is required
Saudi Arabiaa visa is required
Swazilanda visa is required
Northern Mariana Islandsa visa is required
Seychellesdo not need a visa
Senegala visa is required
Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesdo not need a visa
Saint Kitts and Nevisdo not need a visa
Saint Luciaa visa is required
Serbiado not need a visa
Singaporea visa is required
Syriaa visa is required
Slovakiaa visa is required
Sloveniaa visa is required
Solomon Islandsa visa is required
Somaliaa visa is required
Hong Kong Special Administrative Regiondo not need a visa
Macao Special Administrative Regiondo not need a visa
Sudana visa is required
Surinamea visa is required
USAa visa is required
Sierra Leonea visa is required
Tajikistando not need a visa
Thailanddo not need a visa
Tanzaniaa visa is required
Turks and Caicosa visa is required
Togoa visa is required
Tokelaua visa is required
Tongaa visa is required
Trinidad and Tobagoa visa is required
Tristan da Cunhaa visa is required
Tuvalua visa is required
Tunisiaa visa is required
Turkmenistana visa is required
Turkeya visa is required
Ugandaa visa is required
Uzbekistando not need a visa
Ukrainedo not need a visa
Uruguaydo not need a visa
Federated States of Micronesiaa visa is required
Fijido not need a visa
Philippinesa visa is required
Finlanda visa is required
Falkland Islandsa visa is required
Francea visa is required
Croatiaa visa is required
TSARa visa is required
Chada visa is required
Montenegrodo not need a visa
Czech Republica visa is required
Chiledo not need a visa
Switzerlanda visa is required
Swedena visa is required
Sri Lankaa visa is required
Ecuadordo not need a visa
Equatorial Guineaa visa is required
Eritreaa visa is required
Estoniaa visa is required
Ethiopiaa visa is required
South AFRICAdo not need a visa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsa visa is required
South Ossetiado not need a visa
Jamaicado not need a visa
Japana visa is required

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

RUSVISA.travel and KOLOBOK.online
Version 9 September 2026

This policy explains how Octagon Labs OÜ processes personal data when you visit our service, contact us, use an account or order visa invitation letters, visa application assistance, including electronic visa applications, or travel insurance. It covers customers, travellers and authorised representatives. Reading this policy or using the website does not itself give consent to optional processing.

1 Who is responsible for your data

The controller is Octagon Labs OÜ, formerly Scantravel OÜ, an Estonian company with registry code 12063112. Our address is Pärnu mnt 142, 11317 Tallinn, Estonia. For privacy questions and requests, write to info@rusvisa.travel or to our postal address. A change of company name does not create a new legal entity.

2 The data we collect and its sources

Depending on your service, we process your name, date and place of birth, nationality, contact details, passport details and copies, photograph, travel dates, itinerary, accommodation or host details, invitation information, visa application answers and supporting documents. Applications may also require employment, education, family or previous travel information. We collect only what is needed for the selected service.

We also process order and account details, correspondence, application status, invoices, payment references and transaction status. Website use may generate IP addresses, device and browser information, access times, security logs and cookie or similar identifiers, subject to the rules in section 8.

Data normally comes from you. It may also come from the traveller, a parent or other authorised representative, a booking agent or corporate customer, and service providers or authorities handling your order. If another person supplies your data, we provide the applicable privacy information within the GDPR deadlines, normally by our first communication or disclosure and no later than one month after obtaining it, unless a lawful exception applies.

If you order for another person, give them this policy and make sure you are authorised to provide their details. A representative’s agreement is not automatically valid consent on behalf of an adult traveller. For children, we verify parental or other lawful authority as needed.

3 Required information and sensitive answers

Fields needed for an application, payment or statutory record are identified when requested. Without necessary information we may be unable to accept the order, complete the application or provide the selected service. Optional marketing consent is not required to buy a service.

Do not send unrelated medical records or other sensitive information. Where a requested service requires health or other special-category data, we identify the relevant Article 9 GDPR condition before collection and obtain separate explicit consent where that is the applicable condition. Passport photographs are not automatically biometric data; they become biometric data within Article 9 when technically processed for unique identification. Criminal-conviction and offence data requires authorisation under Article 10, not merely consent; absent that authorisation, you must enter such answers directly on the official portal without sending them to us.

 

 

Why we process data and who receives it

4 Purposes and legal grounds

Application and order processing: we use the necessary identity, travel, contact and application information to assess your request, prepare documents, arrange the ordered services, communicate with you and manage payments or refunds. Where you are our contracting customer, the basis is Article 6(1)(b) GDPR, including steps you request before a contract.

Where a company or another person contracts for a traveller, Article 6(1)(b) does not automatically cover that traveller. For ordinary data, we assess Article 6(1)(f): our and the customer’s legitimate interest in arranging the authorised travel service, balanced against the traveller’s rights. We use another basis where required. Special-category data and international transfers require the additional conditions described in sections 3 and 6.

Accounting and binding legal duties: we retain required transaction records and respond to legally binding requests under Article 6(1)(c), including obligations under the Estonian Accounting Act. A foreign authority’s requirement does not by itself establish an EU legal obligation under this provision.

Security, complaints and legal claims: we use relevant account, transaction and correspondence data under Article 6(1)(f) to prevent abuse, resolve disputes and establish, exercise or defend claims. We assess necessity and balance these interests against your rights. Service improvement based on identifiable feedback is subject to the same assessment; tracking and marketing follow the consent rules below.

Optional marketing and non-essential tracking: we rely on Article 6(1)(a) consent. We request this separately and you may refuse or withdraw it. Operational messages about an order are part of providing the service. We do not treat acceptance of contract terms as permission for advertising.

5 Recipients of personal data

Access is limited to people and organisations that need the information for the relevant purpose. Depending on your order, recipients include authorised staff; hosting, IT, account-management and communications providers; payment providers, banks and accountants; invitation issuers, travel partners and insurers; visa centres, consulates and competent Russian authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its official visa portals; and professional advisers or authorities where disclosure is legally justified.

A provider acting only on our instructions must be bound by an appropriate data-processing agreement. Banks, insurers, invitation issuers and government bodies may instead act as independent controllers where they determine their own purposes and legal duties. Their privacy notices apply to their own processing. We disclose only the data needed for the selected service, rather than making every order available to every partner.

The insurer or invitation issuer used for your order is identified in the relevant service or order documents. You can request details of recipients and the applicable transfer safeguards at director@octagon.ink. We do not sell personal data.

 

 

International transfers and retention

6 Transfers outside the European Economic Area

Your selected service may require sending identity, passport, photograph, travel and application information to invitation issuers, insurers, visa centres or public authorities in Russia. Entering information on an official Russian visa portal is also a disclosure to the receiving authority. Other suppliers may process data outside the European Economic Area, including through remote access.

Russia is not covered by a European Commission adequacy decision. Protection and remedies may differ from those in the European Economic Area, and authorities may access data under local law. A contract for visa assistance or acceptance of this policy does not, by itself, authorise an international transfer.

Before a transfer, we identify its recipient, country and lawful mechanism. Where applicable, we use an adequacy decision or appropriate safeguards under Article 46 GDPR, such as the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses, together with an assessment of the destination and any necessary supplementary measures. We do not assume that a contract clause alone makes every transfer lawful.

Only where its specific conditions are met may a derogation under Article 49 apply. In particular, the contract-related derogations require strict necessity and an occasional transfer; they are not a blanket basis for routine outsourcing or repeated operational transfers. Where explicit consent to a particular transfer is the appropriate derogation, we first explain the recipient, data, purpose and risks arising from the absence of an adequacy decision and appropriate safeguards, and request that consent separately.

Before collecting data for a service requiring such a transfer, we provide the applicable recipient, destination and mechanism in the service-specific notice. You may request a copy or description of safeguards, with necessary redactions, using our privacy contact. If a lawful mechanism is unavailable, we do not carry out the affected transfer and explain the effect on the service. Withdrawal cannot undo data already lawfully disclosed or require a foreign authority to disregard its own retention duties.

7 How long we keep data

We keep identifiable data only while needed for its purpose. Application working files, passport copies and photographs are kept through completion of the service and any necessary correction or follow-up, then deleted unless a specific legal duty or documented dispute requires particular items. We do not keep a complete passport or application file merely because an invoice must be retained.

Account information is kept while the account is active and needed to provide access to ongoing services or documents. We review inactive accounts and remove data no longer needed. Unconverted enquiries are kept only for the period needed to answer and conclude the enquiry. Security logs are retained only for the necessary detection and investigation period; incident evidence may be isolated for longer where justified.

Accounting source documents are retained for seven years from the end of the financial year in which the transaction was recorded, subject to other applicable statutory rules. Records needed for a complaint or claim are kept for the relevant limitation period and, if a dispute arises, until its final resolution and any required enforcement period.

Marketing contact data is kept until consent is withdrawn or the purpose ends. A minimal suppression record may be retained to honour an opt-out, and proportionate consent records to demonstrate compliance. Cookie lifetimes are specified in the applicable cookie information. Deleted data remaining in restricted backups is removed through the backup lifecycle and is not restored to ordinary use without reapplying deletion requirements.

 

 

Cookies security and your rights

8 Cookies and similar technologies

Strictly necessary technologies support functions you request, such as session management, security and remembering privacy choices. Other technologies, including audience analytics, advertising pixels and cross-site tracking, require your prior consent. Declining them must not prevent access to the core service.

Before optional technologies are enabled, the cookie information must identify their providers, purposes, data, lifetimes and relevant international transfers, and offer a way to accept, reject or choose categories. Consent must be as easy to withdraw as to give. Browser controls can delete or block cookies but do not replace our obligation to obtain prior consent. If an optional technology cannot meet these requirements, it must remain disabled.

Third-party links lead to services governed by their own notices. An embedded third-party tracker or plugin is still subject to the applicable consent and disclosure rules on our website. Contact info@rusvisa.travel for information about cookies or to withdraw a consent given to us.

9 Security and automated decisions

We apply technical and organisational measures proportionate to the risks, including access restrictions, confidentiality requirements, secure handling of application documents and incident procedures. No transmission or storage method is completely risk-free. Where a breach meets the applicable notification thresholds, we notify the supervisory authority and affected people within the required periods.

We do not make decisions about you based solely on automated processing that produce legal or similarly significant effects. Visa decisions are made by the competent authorities, whose own processes and privacy rules apply. If we introduce processing covered by Article 22 GDPR, we will provide the required information and safeguards before it begins.

10 Your rights and how to use them

Subject to the GDPR conditions, you may request access and a copy of your data, correction, erasure and restriction of processing. You may receive data you supplied in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format and request its transfer to another controller where processing is automated and based on consent or a contract.

You may object on grounds relating to your situation to processing based on legitimate interests. We then stop unless the GDPR permits continuation, including for overriding compelling grounds or legal claims. You may object to direct marketing at any time, including related profiling, and we will stop that processing.

You may withdraw consent at any time by writing to director@octagon.ink or using the relevant withdrawal control. This does not affect the lawfulness of earlier processing. Where the withdrawn consent is necessary for a particular optional or sensitive-data service, we explain which part can no longer be performed.

Send requests to info@rusvisa.travel. We may ask for proportionate information to verify identity. We respond without undue delay and normally within one month; where legally justified, we may extend by up to two further months and explain why within the first month. Requests are normally free of charge. Refusal or a reasonable fee is possible only in the circumstances permitted by the GDPR.

You may complain to the Estonian Data Protection Inspectorate, Andmekaitse Inspektsioon, at info@aki.ee, Tatari 39, 10134 Tallinn, Estonia, or through www.aki.ee. You may also complain to a competent authority in the EU/EEA country of your habitual residence, place of work or the alleged infringement, and seek a judicial remedy.

11 Changes to this policy

We publish the current version with its revision date and bring material changes to your attention as appropriate. A policy update does not replace consent where new consent is required. This policy is governed by the GDPR and applicable Estonian law without limiting mandatory rights available to you.