VISA APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR CANADIANS

Once we receive your visa invitation from the Herzen Inn, we'll return it to you by email. You will need to mail a printout of this document along with the other items discussed on this page (click on “consular info” then “Russian Visa Requirements”) of the Russian Embassy website.

While you should follow the guidelines issued by the Russian Consulate in applying for your visa, SLS provides the following to assist you in filling out your application. Please note that the main embassy instructions available on the website are only for Canadian citizens applying from within Canada.

All the materials required for the visa application are listed on the Russian Embassy website here (click on “consular info” then “Russian Visa Requirements”). Below are a few notes on materials you must send.

To obtain a tourist visa, you will need to submit the following:

-A completed visa application form (Please photocopy this application in its entirety for your records before sending.)

-Your passport (yes, your actual passport- We recommend that you end it Certified Mail and include a trackable SASE mode of shipping for the return.)

-A photocopy of the passport information page

-A passport-sized photo

-Your visa confirmation from the Hertzen Inn, sent to you by SLS (you must also bring a copy of this with you to Russia to present at the airport) after we have received the photocopy of your passport. Please note we are at the mercy of the Russian Ministry in getting these to you, but, rest assured, as soon as we get them we send them to you.

-If you are submitting by mail, you must also include a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage (or, if using a courier, a prepaid waybill).

-Payment must be made in the form of a money order-NOT a personal cheque, cash, or credit card-available at your financial institution. Please make payment to the Consulate General of the Russian Federation.

-A single-entry visa costs $75. If your travel plans extend beyond this, please contact the consulate for the correct fee.

Despite what the instructions say, you DO NOT need to include a cover letter from your travel agent. A copy of your itinerary from Nomad travel, another travel agent, or a printout of your Internet reservation will suffice.

Please allow at the very, very least two weeks for processing. Expedited rates are available; please contact the consulate for the correct fee.

** This process must be repeated for every person traveling in your party.

Because the rather difficult-to-comprehend visa application form invariably raises questions, SLS provides some instructions below for filling out the tricky blanks:

5. Date of Birth: [Write the date with the day first and the month second. For example, if you were born Jan. 30, 1976, you would write it as 30/01/06.]
7. Object of Journey to Russia: Cultural
9. Russian Department or Organization:
Herzen University
6 Kazanskaya str., 191186
8123147472 Verontsova
9. Route of Journey: St. Petersburg
10. Date of Entry: [Day comes first, then month]
11. Date of Departure: [Day comes first, then month]
14. Tourist Group: Summer Literary Seminars
16. Medical Insurance: [Write in the name and policy number of your insurance that covers you abroad. If you plan on purchasing MEDEX Insurance then simply write in “MEDEX”. Remember that to attend SLS you are required to have complete medical coverage.]

DO NOT FORGET TO SIGN AND DATE THE FORM!

Where to send?

-Please check the wesbite to see if there is a Russian consulate office in your city, as you may hand your application in there. Otherwise, send it marked "Attn: Visa Section" to the Ottawa address below. ----The great majority of you will be sending to the Ottawa consulate at:

Attn: Visa Section
THE CONSULAR SECTION OF THE EMBASSY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

52 Range Road

Ottawa, Ontario

K1N 8J5

The Consular office may be reached from Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at (613) 236-7220 or (613) 236-6215, or by fax: (613) 238-6158

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