Visa formalities for spectators of the XXII Olympic and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi

Since December 1, 2013 tourist visa formalities for a period up to one month for foreign citizen- and stateless person - spectators of the Games have been simplified.

Since December 1, 2013 visa requests by spectators of the Games shall be accepted through specially designated “Olympic windows” in Russian consulates, as well as visa centers (if any). If there is no possibility of organizing “Olympic windows”, the visa applications of the Games spectators will be processed out of turn. On request of the spectator the visa can be issued on the same day.

To obtain the above-mentioned tourist visa a foreign citizen or a stateless person has to submit the following documents:

I. Valid passport;

II.One colored photo 3,5x4,5 mm;

III. The completed visa application form (Please check the requirements for filling in the visa application form on the web-site of Russian diplomatic mission or consulate in your country, you can find contact details on the web-site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia “Diplomatic and consular missions of Russia” http://www.mid.ru);

IV. Medical insurance valid on the territory of the Russian Federation (if needed) (Please check the requirements for submitting the medical insurance on the web-site of Russian diplomatic mission or consulate in your country, you can find contact details on the web-site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia “Diplomatic and consular missions of Russia” http://www.mid.ru);

V.Electronic or facsimile copy (no hard copy needed) of confirmation of “Reception of the foreign tourist” issued by the Russian tour operator placed on the Unified Federal Register of Russian Tour Operators. The procedure of issuing such confirmation is established by the current Russian legislation. However, the accommodation of the applicant in Russia (name and address of the hotel) shall not be indicated in the confirmation (this document may be issued by a Russian tour operator or a travel agency in your country that works with the Russian Federation on a permanent basis.)

VI. One of the documents listed below (any of them at the applicant’s discretion) that confirms the intent of a foreign citizen to become a spectator of the Games.

1) an entrance ticket allowing to attend sporting events and/or the Games ceremonies;

2) an electronic confirmation of purchasing a ticket issued by Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee or by one of the authorized ticket resellers abroad;

3) a Spectator Pass.

For further details on every issue mentioned above you can address directly Russian consulates in your country or Russian visa application centres (if any).

The complete information on the procedure of purchasing tickets and receiving your Spectator Pass is posted at http://tickets.sochi2014.com.

If you have any questions concerning tickets and Spectator Passes please call the support service of Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee using the multichannel phone number: 8-800-555-52-14.

There is a fee to be collected for the tourist visa, its amount and order of its payment are to be checked on the web-site of Russian diplomatic mission or Russian consulate in your country, you can find contact details on the web-site of MFA of Russiahttp://www.mid.ru in the section “Diplomatic and consular missions of Russia”.

Please note that a foreign citizen or a stateless person who already have any visa (business visa, study visa, employment visa, etc.) valid for entering the Russian Federation during the period of holding the Games can become a spectator providing that they have tickets for sporting events and a Spectator Pass.