All foreigners who wish to enter Russia or have to think about obtaining Russia Travels Visa.
There are 3 visa categories:

1. VISITOR
2. TOURIST
3. BUSINESS

You have to contact local Russian embassy and send or bring the necessary documents for giving you the visa to Russia. Or you can get in touch with a travel agency or a special agency which provides such services. There are a lot over Internet.
Before you go to the embassy you have to get an international passport and check the validation date of your passport, it must be 3 months beyond intended return.
Pay attention that obtaining a visa take some time, that is why it will be better if you start preparation for the trip to Russia long before planning trip.

After you enter Russia you have check that receptionist at the hotel put a stamp in your visa. It is called registration, this stamp you will be asked to show at the customs when will be returning home. If you stay at lady’s apartment, then she has to take your passport and visa to local OVIR and put a stamp of registration. Keep in mind that 3 working days are estimated for that procedure.

Visitor Visa to Russia (Homestay)
You can be granted a visitor’s visa with a private invitation (izveshchenie) only. Your relative or friends in Russia should receive IZVESHCHENIE for you from local authorities (OVIR) and send it to you over regular mail. IZVESHCHENIE is valid within one year from the date indicated therein. The period of stay in Russia is limited up to 90 days. When your friend or relative will go to OVIR to order the invitation to come to Russia for you, it will take for about 4 weeks to have it ready, and them it will take a few days for you to receive it via regular mail. You will be asked to provide the origin copy of this document.

Tourist visa to Russia

Generally men receive tourist visa to come to Russia for the following reasons:

It is quickly.
It doesn’t need to wait any documents from Russia.

The procedure is simple you can contact a travel agency and they will do this work for you. You will need a ‘tourist voucher’, which shows that you have booked a hotel in Russia. Otherwise, you can get a voucher after booking a room at the Russian hotel. But this kind of visa has more limited time of being in Russia, up to 1 month only.

Business visa to Russia
This is the second by popularity visa category. If you wish to get this class of the visa you should have a business letter of invitation from a registered Russian company.

Some additional information for you
If the Consulate will have some extra questions, you maybe asked to come for the interview. Russian embassy has the standards and order of drawing up the documents.
- copies of the passport pages should be trimmed to the size of the original and stapled to the upper-left corner of the application form;
- another photo should be stapled to the specially marked place in the upper-right corner of the application form.
In case the documents will be in the wrong order, they may return them to the applicant.
Remember always checking the received visa: the spelling and information about you should be correct in the received documents. If there are any mistakes you may have lot of troubles during the tip. The fees may verify from $100 to $300 depending on the quantity of day processing.
Visa processing fees are non-refundable.
You can also download the forms and receive the full information at the official site of the Russian Embassy in the USA

Here is the list of Russian Consulates (Embassies) in different countries of the world

Australia
Russian Embassy in Australia
Address: 78 Canberra Avenue, Griffith, ACT 2603 
Phone: (616) 295-9033 
Fax: (616) 295-1847 
E-mail: rusemb@dynamite.com.au
Consular department 
Phone: (616) 295-9474 

Austria
Botschaft der Russischen Foderation in Osterreich
Reisnerstrasse 45-47
1030 Wien
Phone: (43-1) 712-1229, 713-8622 
Fax: (43-1) 712-3388
E-mail: russian@embassy.vienna.at
Generalkonsulat in Salzburg
Burgelsteinstrasse 2
5020 Salzburg
Phone: (43-6626) 241-84 
Fax: (43-6626) 217-434 
E-mail: rusgencons@salzburg.telecom.at

Belgium
Russian Embassy in Belgium
1180, Bruxelles
avenue de Fre, 66
Phone: (322) 374-3400, 374-5738, 374-6886 
Fax: (322) 374-2613 
E-mail: amrusbel@pophost.eunet.be
Consular department 
Phone: (322) 374-3569 
Fax: (322) 375-9415 

General Consulate in Antwerpen
Della Faillelaan, 20
Phone: (323) 829-1611 
Telex: (46) 35779 KGURSS B 
Fax: (323) 829-0589

Canada
Russian Embassy in Canada
285 Charlotte St., Ottawa, Canada
Tel: (613) 235-4341
Fax: (613) 236-6342
Visa Department:
Tel: (613) 236-7220, 236-6215
Fax: (613) 238-6158

Consulate General in Montreal
3655 Ave Du Musee
Montreal, Quebec, H3G2EI
Tel: (514) 843-5901, 842-5343
Fax: (514) 842-2012

China
Russian Embassy in China
Address: 4 Dongzhimen Beizhongjie,
Beijing 100600 PRC
tel: 86-(10)-6532-1381, 86-(10)-6532-2051
fax: 86-(10)-6532-4851

Cyprus
Russian Embassy in Republic of Cyprus
Ag. Prokopiou street
Engomi, Nicosia 
Phone: (3572) 46-4622, 47-2141, 47-2142 
Fax: (3572) 46-4854 
E-mail: transl@cytanet.com.cy
Consular department 
Phone: (3572) 47-6832

Denmark
Russian Embassy in Denmark
Kristianiagade 5
2100 Kobenhavn
Phone: (45) 314-25-585, 314-25-586 
Fax: (45) 314-23-741 
E-mail: emb.ru@get2net.dk
Consular department 
Phone: (45) 313-82-370

Finland
Russian Embassy in Finland
Tehtaankatu 1 b
00140 Helsinki
Suomi 
Phone: (35-89) 66-1876, 66-1877, 60-7050
Fax: (35-89) 66-1006 
E-mail: rusembassy@co.inet.fi
Consular department 
Phone: (35-89) 66-1449
Consulate General in Turku
Address: Vartiovuorenkatu 2, 20700 Turku, Suomi 
Phone: (35-82) 233-6441 
Fax: (35-82) 231-9779 
E-mail: rusconsul.turku@co.inet.fi

France
Russian Embassy in France
40-50, Boulevard Lannes
75116 Paris 
Phone: (331) 45-04-0550, 45-03-4020, 45-04-4030 
Fax: (331) 45-04-1765 
E-mail: rusembfr@club-internet.fr
Consular department 
Phone: (331) 45-03-0407 
Fax: (331) 45-04-4409

Consulate General in Marseille
8, av. Ambrois-Pare
Marseille, 13008 
Phone: (334) 91-77-1525, 91-76-2679 
Fax: (334) 91-77-3454 
E-mail: consrus@aix.pacwan.net

Consulate General in Strasbourg
Address: 75, allee de la Robertsau, 67000 Strasbourg 
Phone: (333) 88-36-7315 
Telex: (42) 891006 COGERUS 
E-mail: iouri.maiorov@wanadoo.fr, gkrfstbg@wanadoo.fr

Germany
Russian Embassy in Bonn
53177 Bonn
Waldstrasse, 42 
Phone: (49-228) 31-2085, 31-2086, 31-2087 
Fax: (49-228) 31-1563 
E-mail: rusbot@t-online.de, gogen@t-online.de
Consular department 
Phone: (49-228) 31-2083 
Fax: (49-228) 38-4561 

Russian Embassy in Berlin
10117 Berlin
Unter den Linden, 63-65 
Phone: (49-30) 220-2821, 226-6320, 391-8807 
Fax: (49-30) 229-9397 
Consular department 
Phone: (49-30) 229-9469, 229-1207, 832-7004 
Fax: (49-30) 229-0035 

Consulate General in Leipzig
Address: 04105 Leipzig, Kickerlingsberg, 18 
Phone: (49-341) 564-9528 
Fax: (49-341) 564-9589 
E-mail: rusgenkon_leipzig@t-online.de

Consulate General in Rostock
Address: 18057 Rostock, Thunenstrasse, 3 
Phone: (41-381) 492-2742 
Fax: (41-381) 429-2743
Consulate General in Munchen
Address: 80335 Munchen, Seidlstrasse, 28 
Phone: (49-89) 59-2503, 59-2528, 55-7657 
Fax: (49-89) 550-3828

Consulate General in Hamburg
Address: 22085 Hamburg, Am Freenteich, 20 
Phone: (49-40) 229-5201, 229-5301 
Telex: (41) 211927 UDSSR D 
Fax: (49-40) 229-7727 
E-mail: general.konsulat-hamburg@metronet.de

Italy
Russian Embassy in Italy
Via Gaeta, 5
00185 Roma
Italia 
Phone: (396) 494-1680, 494-1681, 494-1649, 494-1683 
Fax: (396) 49-1031 
E-mail: ambrus@flashnet.it
Consular department 
Phone: (396) 442-34149, 442-35625 
Fax: (396) 442-34031
Consulate General in Milano

Via Sant'Aquilino, 3
20148, Milano 
Phone: (392) 400-92113, 487-06041 
Fax: (392) 400-90741 
E-mail: consolato.russo.mi@iol.it

Japan
Russian Embassy in Japan
1-1 Azabudai 2-chome
Minato-ku
Tokyo 106-0041
Tel: 03-3583-4224, 03-3583-5982 
Fax: 03-3505-0593 
E-mail: rosconsl@ma.kcom.ne.jp

Luxemburg
Russian Embassy in Luxemburg
Ambassade de Russie
rue des Hauts-Fourneuax - Chвteau de Beggen
L-1719 Luxembourg
Tel: +352 42 29 29

Netherlands
Russian Embassy in Netherlands
Andries Bickerweg 2
2517 JP Den Haag
Holland 
Phone: (3170) 345-1300, 345-1301, 310-7506, 346-8888 
Fax: (3170) 361-7960 
E-mail: ambrusnl@euronet.nl
Consular department 
Phone: (3170) 364-6473 
Telex: (44) 34585 USSR NL 
E-mail: ambrucon@ambru.nl

New Zealand
Russian Embassy in New Zealand
Address: 57 Messines Road, Karori, Wellington 
Phone: (644) 476-6113 
Fax: (644) 476-3843 
E-mail: eor@netlink.co.nz
Consular department 
Phone: (644) 476-6742

Norway
Russian Embassy in Norway
Address: Norge, 0271
Oslo 2
Drammensveien 74 
Phone: (47) 22-55-3278, 22-55-3279, 22-44-0608 
Fax: (47) 22-55-0070 
E-mail: consul@online.no
Consular department 
Phone: (47) 22-60-3035, 22-60-5013 
Fax: (47) 22-56-5878

South Africa
Russian Embassy in South Africa
316 Brooks Street Butano Building
Menlo Park 0081
Pretoria, P.O. Box 6743
Pretoria 0001
Republic of South Africa 
Phone: (2712) 362-1337, 362-1338 
Fax: (2712) 362-0116 
E-mail: rusemb@iafrica.com

Consulate General in Pretoria
135 Bourke Street
Sunnyside 0132
P.O. Box 5715
Pretoria 0001
Republic of South Africa 
Phone: (2712) 344-4812, 344-4820 
Fax: (2712) 343-8636 

Consulate General in Cape Town
2-nd Floor, Southern Life Centre
8 Riebeek Street
Cape Town
Republic of South Africa 
Phone: (2721) 418-3656, 418-3657 
Fax: (2721) 419-2651 
E-mail: rusco@icon.co.za

Spain
Russian Embassy in Spain
Madrid, C/Velazquez, 155 
Phone: (8-1034) 91-411-2524, 91-562-2264, 91-411-0807 
Fax: (8-1034) 91-562-9712 
E-mail: embrues@arrakis.es

Sweden
Russian Embassy in Sweden
Gjorwellsgatan 31, 11260 Stockholm, Sverige 
Phone: (46-8) 13-0440, 618-5338 
Fax: (46-8) 618-2703 
E-mail: rusembsw@algonet.se
Consular department 
Phone: (46-8) 619-0470, 619-0405

Switzerland
Russian Embassy in Switzeland
Brunnadernrain 37, 3006 Bern, die Schweiz 
Phone: (41-31) 352-0566, 352-8517 
Fax: (41-31) 352-5595 
E-mail: rusbotschaft@datacomm.ch
Consular department 
Phone: (41-31) 352-0567, 352-0425

United Kingdom
Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom
Consular Section
5 Kensington Palace Gardens
London W8 4QS
Tel: (0207) 229 8027
Fax: (0207) 229 3215
Consulate General in Edinburgh 
58 Melville Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7HF
Scotland
Tel: (0131) 225 7098

United States

Russian Embassy in the USA

2641 Tunlaw Road, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007 
Telephone: (202) 939-8907, 939-8913, 939-8918, 939-8911
(Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.)
Fax: (202) 483-7579
Office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
Open to public: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 
Head of the Consular Division: Vadim V. Saveliev 
Jurisdiction: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky,  Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee,
South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. 

9 East 91 Street, New York, NY 10128
Telephone: (212) 348-0926 Fax: (212) 831-9162
Office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Open to public: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 
Consul General: Sergey V. Garmonin
Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New
Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

2790 Green Street
San-Francisco, CA 94123
Telephone: (415) 928-6878 , (415) 202-9800
Fax: (415) 929-0306
Office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Open to public: Visa Desk: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Passport&Legal Deck: Monday - Friday 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Consul General: Victor N. Lizun
Jurisdiction: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah.

2323 Westin Building, 2001 6th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121 
Telephone: (206) 728-1910 
Fax: (206) 728-1871
Office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Open to public: Visa Desk: Monday - Friday 2:00 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
Passport&Legal Deck: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Consul General: Vladimir I. Volnov
Jurisdiction: Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

1333 West Loop South, Ste.1300,  
 Houston, TX 77027.
Telephone: (713) 337-3300
Fax: (713) 337-3305
Office hours: Monday - Frid.  9:00 - 12:30; 14:30 - 18:00
Consul General: Nikolay V. Sofinskiy
Jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri,  Oklahoma,  Texas.