ISIT 2011 - Visa and Passport Requirements

ISIT2011 TPC Chairs Contact E-Mail: isit2011@eng.tau.ac.il

1. If, as almost everyone has done and as suggested by the organizers, you plan to apply for a humanitarian or tourist visa, please do so very URGENTLY by forwarding your application according to the instructions to the Reiseburo WELT company that has been engaged by the Symposium to handle the arrangements for the issuance of the visa, the lodging arrangements, and the optional transportation and excursion arrangements at an additional cost. Please note that without obtaining a visa it will not be possible to participate in the conference unless your Russia does not require visa for citizens of your country (this is the case for extremely few countries).

2. A hard copy of an invitation letter is NOT required for obtaining the visa; such letters have been sent to the Russian consulates in your countries. The only thing you need is a TELEX number and information that is sent to you after you apply (see details at http://www.isit2011.org/travel_visa.php). It is possible, though very unlikely, that the consulate employees insist for an explicit Invitation Letter. If that happens, please contact HelpDesk and they will supply you with the letter.

3. If you need an Invitation Letter for your employer to approve your trip please contact HelpDesk and such a letter will be provided. If you need this letter urgently, express mail delivery is possible but in that case, regrettably, you will have to bear the cost which is approximately of the order of $70.

4. If you addressed the Organizers for humanitarian or tourist visa support, please, urgently forward your filled-in Аpplication to Organizers on the Russian side (visa support, hotels booking, transportation and excursion services are processed by Reisebuero WELT Company ssi@msk.welt.ru). It is important for obtaining Russian visas beforehand in order to participate in the Conference. You can find the Аpplication form in your Personal cabinet in WELT “Electronic booking form”.

We appreciate your understanding and your attention to these details. Despite the complicated procedure that is necessary for everyone to go through, we are sure that in the end everything will be taken care of and that we will see you in St.Petersburg for a unique, truly outstanding, and enjoyable Symposium.

Visa and Passport Requirements

To enter the Russian Federation (Russia) every foreign citizen should have:

a valid Russian Entry Visa;
a valid passport for entry to the Russian Federation (the expiry date must exceed the planned date of your departure from Russia by 6 months);
a migration card. You’ll be provided with the form in airplane or at airport. Please, fill it in and keep with you during your stay in Russia. You will need it upon arrival and departure at the customs.

Your passport and Entry Visa will be checked and verified by Passport Control Officer upon arrival and departure, at the hotel, at purchasing tickets and when traveling by train, ship, airplane or local/international carriers.

The participants, accompanying persons, and guests of the conference are required to obtain one of the following visas:

Tourist Visa (for accompanying persons, and guests);
Humanitarian Visa (for ISIT 2011 participants and accompanying persons).

Accompanying persons can request a tourist visa or a humanitarian visa at her/his choice.

The Russian visas are issued only by the Russian Embassy (Consulate) in the country of your residence based on:

A Tourist Voucher and a Foreign Tourist Reception Confirmation issued by Reisebuero WELT Company (MVT – 000070) (Tourist visa).
Telex Reference Number forwarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Russian Embassy (Consulate) in the applicant’s residence country (Humanitarian visa).

According to the Russian legislation for obtaining Entry visa to Russia in the residence country which citizen you aren't.

You have to provide us with the written sojourn permit in the residence country for more than 90 days. Such permit can be: work permit, temporary residence permit, sojourn permit for over 90 days, residence permit, and work or student visa. Multiple entry visa will not be accepted as the above-mentioned permit.

If according to the rules of the residence country work permit, work or student visa are not required, the applicant should provide a letter from his/her employer confirming that the applicant has worked/studied in this country for a long period of time.

The citizens of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia

obtaining Entry visa to Russia in the countries of their residence are not obliged to provide the above-mentioned additional documents.

Humanitarian visa (only for ISIT 2011 participants and accompanying persons)

Visa service support for Humanitarian visa costs 1500 RUR per person in case the documents are submitted prior to June, 25. From June 26 to July 20 the cost will be 2250 RUR

Humanitarian Visa invitation – (Telex number) will be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (will be sent by Reisebuero WELT Company to your e-mail)

Please note:

In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia of 27/12/2003 No. 19723A, the participants shall obtain a «Humanitarian Visa».
Reisebuero WELT Company will send Telex number to ISIT 2011 participants only after «Application form» is filled in and Visa service support fee is fully paid.
Visa service support fee doesn't include the visa fees that must be paid at the Russian Embassy (Consulate).
Visa service support for receiving Humanitarian visa will be provided for the period from July, 28 till August, 08; and it will be valid only for visiting Moscow or Saint-Petersburg.

To obtain visa support for Humanitarian visa, please:

Fill in the “Electronic booking form” on the website registration;
Fill in «Application form» (for participants) or «Application form» (for guest \ accompanying person). You can find them in your Personal cabinet after filling the “Electronic booking form”;
Upload the filled «Application form» and a copy of your passport (legible photocopy of the pages with required information) in your Personal cabinet;
Pay the visa service support fee.

As soon as you pay visa service support fee, complete «Application form» and upload it along with scanned passport in your Personal cabinet, you will be advised in written form within 10 days with the Telex number (will be sent to you by e-mail) required in the Russian Embassy (Consulate) of your residence country.

To obtain a Humanitarian visa, the following documents should be presented to the Russian Embassy (Consulate) of your residence country:

Telex number;
completed «Application form for Russian Entry Visa» (you will get it in the Russian Embassy (Consulate), one per person.

Please, be informed that «Research communications» should be mentioned as purpose of your visit in the «Application form for Russian Entry Visa» at the Russian Embassy (Consulate);

valid national passport, validity exceeding planned date of departure from Russia by 6 months;
2-3 passport-size photos.

Applying for visa.

Personal visit to the Russian Embassy (Consulate).

Please, use the contact information about inviting Organization:

Name of the Russian Organization –

Street Address –

City, Post Code –

Telephone:

Fax:

Russian Embassy (Consulate)

Mailing visa application.
Please, check the possibility of mail application at the Russian Embassy (Consulate) in your country.
- Get the «Application form for Russian Entry Visa» from website of the Russian Embassy (Consulate) in your country, fill it in and send to the Russian Embassy (Consulate) by courier.
- Put "TELEX number XXX" in the «Application form for Russian Entry Visa», in the field for type of Visa requested.
- Make sure to put in envelope: filled «Application form for Russian Entry Visa», passport and photos. Check with the Russian Embassy (Consulate) how to pay visa fee and provide payment confirmation.
- Upon processing of the application, the Russian Embassy (Consulate) will send the passport with visa back to your address.
- Usually visa application turnaround time is no longer than 14 days.

Tourist visa (for accompanying persons and guests)

Visa service support for Tourist visa is free of charge

Tourist visa – («Tourist Voucher» and «Foreign Tourist Reception Confirmation») will be provided by Reisebuero WELT Company

Please note:
The Reisebuero WELT Company will send to you the visa support documents only after booking a room and making payment for accommodation.

To obtain visa support for Tourist visa, please:
A legible photocopy of the guest's passport should be uploaded in your Personal cabinet.

To obtain a Tourist visa, the following documents should be presented to the Russian Embassy (Consulate) of your residence country:

Tourist voucher;
Foreign tourist reception confirmation;
Confirmation of the hotel reservation;
completed «Application form for Russian Entry Visa» (you will get it in the Russian Embassy (Consulate), one per person;

Please, be informed that «Tourism» should be mentioned as purpose of your visit in the «Application form for Russian Entry Visa» at the Russian Embassy (Consulate).

valid national passport, validity exceeding planned date of departure from Russia by 6 months;
2-3 passport-size photos.

Please pay attention!

The check list of the documents that should be submitted to the Russian Embassy (Consulate) you can find on the website of the Russian Embassy (Consulate) at your home country.
Visa service support for Humanitarian visa costs 1500 RUB per person in case the documents are submitted prior to June, 25. From June 26 to July 20 the cost will be 2250 RUR.

Migration registration of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation

Please see details on this PDF document.