Christmas always seems to go by too fast, doesn’t it? If you’d like to extend the holiday season, consider applying for a Russian visa. As Gadling reported earlier today, Russia celebrates Christmas about 2 weeks later than the United States, on January 7th.

Gift-giving, however, happens tonight, as back when Russia was communist giving gifts on Christmas was officially frowned on.

How festive is the Christmas season in Russia? Contrary to what you might expect, it’s actually quite festive, as Gadling’s Meg Nesterov discovered:

“I arrived in Moscow last Friday (western Christmas Eve) to find the capital freezing but festive, with New Year’s yolki (trees) decorated all over the city and various versions of Ded Moroz walking the streets, and now in St. Petersburg, locals are rushing home with Champagne and Charlie Brown-like trees under their arms. Nearly every public square has a large decorated tree and every store has elaborate holiday displays.”

If you want to head to Russia to bask in the Christmas spirit for just a little bit longer, you will need a Russian visa. Unfortunately, the process of getting said visa might be enough to wipe the holiday cheer from your heart, especially if you try to obtain one on your own. The Department of State notes that “Russian visa requirements are highly complex, and U.S. citizens must take care that they do not unintentionally violate entry and exit regulations.”

Here’s what you’ll need to get a visa if you plan on entering Russia as a tourist:

• Your passport.
• A completed visa application form
• 1 passport photo
• A copy of your airline tickets or a copy of your itinerary showing your flight number and the dates that you’ll be in Russia.
• A tourist invitation from a Russian travel agency or hotel that can serve as your visa sponsor. The hotel or travel agency must be registered with the Russian government.

When applying for a Russian visa, a visa agency like RushMyTravelVisa can be a tremendous help. When you submit your application through us, you get personal assistance from a dedicated visa specialist. Your caseworker will answer any questions you might have and review your paperwork to catch common mistakes that could delay your visa. Then, we expedite your visa application with the appropriate Russian Embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Russian visa today!

Tags: Russia, Russian tourist visa, Russian visa

This entry was posted on Friday, December 31st, 2010 at 10:09 pm and is filed under Destinations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.