How to Get a Russian Visa in 2019?

On 12 May 2010 a mutual visa exemption was signed between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey. After this, the Russian visa was lifted. Russia no longer required a visa from citizens of the Republic of Turkey.

This arrangement was disrupted in November 2015 when Turkey shot down a Russian plane said to have violated Turkey's borders. According to the statement made, from 1 January 2016 the Russian visa is now mandatory.

Of course we'll apply for a tourist visa. I'd applied for the visa 5 days before my departure, and when the person working at the agency said it would take 4 days, a separate period of tension began for me. My flight was on Friday night at 01.50 and I got the visa on Friday evening at 16.00. This process was very stressful for me because the tickets were non-refundable, and so was the hotel reservation. Thank goodness, even if only just, my visa came through.
M

The maximum validity of a tourist visa is 30 days. Tourist visas to the Russian Federation are single or double entry. Multiple-entry visas are only possible if it's proven with the necessary documents that the person travelling for tourism will visit Russia and other countries neighbouring the Russian Federation (the CIS - Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic countries), or countries for which they'll use Russian territory on the way back (China, Mongolia).

The route you'll follow must be stated on the ticket of the person travelling as a tourist or by the Russian tour operator organising the tour. Looking at this part, getting a multiple-entry visa doesn't seem possible. We hope we get rid of these unnecessary procedures as soon as possible. Now on to the documents needed for the tourist visa procedure;

Documents Required for a Russian Visa

• A document proving that you'll be hosted by a Russian tour operator (registered with the tour operators' association); this document, called a Voucher, can be sent to you by the hotel you'll stay at in Russia or given by the tour operator you'll go with. The document must be delivered to us. Tourist visas aren't issued without a Voucher, and only the original Voucher is accepted.
• At this stage you can make your hotel reservation and agree with any agency just for the Voucher. Unfortunately there's no standard Voucher price either. The price, which was $55 when I first asked, I managed to get down to $30. I recommend calling all the agencies one by one. 😃
• An original passport with at least 2 blank pages and valid for at least 6 months after the visa expires.
• Filled in online on the VFS Global Russia site, printed from the computer and signed by the applicant: application form
• 2 colour photographs – 3.5 * 4.5 cm, taken against a light background (white or light coloured); features must be distinguishable.
• Hotel and flight reservations for the same dates as your Voucher dates.
• Health insurance isn't compulsory for Turkish citizens but is recommended.

I suggest you don't needlessly pay tour companies for the visa application. As of June 2017, the cost to me of a 4-day tourist visa was;

• Voucher: $30 = 105₺
• Service Fee: $35 = 122.5₺
• Single Entry Fee: $28 = 76₺, coming to a total cost of about 305₺.
• If you want an urgent visa, the visa comes out in 1 day and the single entry fee is calculated as 152₺.

For detailed information and to apply for a Russian visa, click here.
I look forward to your comments with questions and suggestions. 😃