VISA PROCEDURE for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens

Most nations in the world require a visa to visit Russia.

For participants of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens for the dates of the event:

The Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow will send special directions to the Russian Consulates throughout the world about a facilitated visa procedure for participants and guests of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens. According to it, the applicant(s) is/are to complete the attached visa form (template) with their/his/her personal passport information and e-mail it to the Russian Rugby Union. In compliance with the personal data in the completed form a scanned formal invitation letter will be issued & e-mailed back. It is to be taken to the nearest Russian Consulate along with the corresponding personal documents such as passport, the necessary number of pictures, completed application form, etc. We recommend to call the Consulate in question or study its website before taking the documents to the Consulate.

Please be advised that there MUST be at least TWO adjacent blank pages in the passport and the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the last day of the expected stay in Russia.

We strongly recommend to deal with the Consulate directly without applying to any intermediate visa companies. The documents can be submitted by a representative, no personal presence is required.

As the above visa procedure is exceptional, please make sure you mention that you are applying for the Russian visa to attend the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

With the formal invitation letter for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens the applicant can submit personal documents to any Russian Consulate in the world regardless of the citizenship.

The deadline for visa applications for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens is the 01st of June 2013.

The question of abolishing the visa fee for all categories of participants of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens is under consideration by the Russian State Authorities at the moment. And due Russian Government Statement is being prepared.

For experts, representatives and visitors prior the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens:

Russian visa types depending on the exact dates and number of visits:

·  single entry up to 30 days

·  double entry up to 90 days

·  multiple entry for 1 year

To start the visa procedure the applicant is to complete the attached visa form (template) stating the exact dates and the type of visa required and provide us with high quality scans of the data pages of the passports. Please be advised that there MUST be at least TWO adjacent blank pages in the passport and the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the last day of the expected stay in Russia.

As soon as the documents are approved by the Russian Foreign Ministry we will send you your visa support reference number which is to be quoted at the Russian Consulate when applying for the visa.

The approval for a multiple entry visa will take from two to three weeks while the one for a single/double entry visa will take from two to three days (this is the standard legal procedure of the Russian Foreign Ministry which cannot be speeded up).

For some nations the visa can only be issued in the country of citizenship, unless the applicant has a residence or work permit in a foreign country. Please consult the website of the Russian Consulate in your country for more details.

For further steps to be taken on receipt of your visa support reference number we strongly recommend to consult the Russian Consulate in your respective country or its website to find out the visa requirements, as well as other visa details as some of them may vary in different countries.

For tourists, fans and visitors of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens

An authorized Tourist Agency to provide tourist vouchers for ticket holders required for their visa applications is to be determined unless it is decided otherwise.