Guidance note 08
E-visa or invitation letter?
These are two separate routes into the same country. The unified e-visa is applied for online and uses no invitation. The consular visa is applied for in person and cannot be filed without one. Your passport and your itinerary decide which is open to you.
Section 1The two routes side by side
The e-visa is faster and needs no host document, but it is single entry, short, and usable only at listed checkpoints. The consular visa takes longer and needs an invitation, in exchange for more entries, longer stays and every visa category.
| Unified e-visa | Consular visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Invitation letter | Not required | Required |
| Who can use it | Around 64 listed nationalities | All nationalities |
| Entries | Single | Single, double or multiple |
| Length of stay | Short, capped by the scheme | Longer, set by category |
| Where you apply | Government portal, online | Consulate or visa centre |
| Entry points | Listed checkpoints only | Any international crossing |
| Purposes covered | Tourism, business, guest, humanitarian | All, including work and study |
Section 2Choose the e-visa when
The e-visa fits a short, simple, single-entry holiday by a listed nationality arriving at a major checkpoint. In that scenario the invitation adds cost and no benefit.
- Your nationality is on the current list
- One entry is enough for the whole trip
- The stay fits inside the scheme's limit
- You arrive at a checkpoint that accepts e-visas
- The purpose is tourism, business talks or visiting people
Section 3Choose the invitation route when
The consular route is the only option for non-listed nationalities, and the better option whenever the trip needs more entries, more days, or a category the e-visa does not cover.
- You hold a US, UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport
- You need to enter more than once
- You need more days than the e-visa allows
- You are travelling to work, study long term or report as a journalist
- Your border crossing is not on the e-visa list
Section 4Cost is not the deciding factor
The e-visa carries a government fee; the consular route carries a consular fee plus the invitation. The gap is small compared with the cost of a refused trip, so choose on eligibility and itinerary rather than on the cheaper line item.
A traveller who buys the cheaper e-visa and then discovers a second entry is needed pays for both routes. Deciding correctly the first time is what saves money.
Important
An invitation letter is a supporting document. It does not guarantee a visa: consular officers decide every application.
Questions
Do I need an invitation for the Russian e-visa?
No. The e-visa application does not ask for visa support, and uploading an invitation does not strengthen it.
Can I turn an e-visa into a multiple-entry visa?
No. If you need more than one entry you apply on the consular route with an invitation from the start.
Which is faster?
The e-visa, in most cases, because it is processed online without an appointment. The invitation itself is fast; the consular appointment is the slow part.
Can US or UK citizens use the e-visa?
No. Neither nationality is on the list, so the invitation route is the only one available.
Is the e-visa accepted at every border?
No. It works only at designated checkpoints, which is a common reason travellers move to the consular route.
Sources
Rules and fees on this page are checked against the primary authorities below. Where they disagree with us, they are correct.