A Visa is a document authorizing you to enter and stay in the territory of the respective state subject to certain conditions.
As the issue of such documents is the prerogative of domestic law, each country has its own requirements for applicants, and terms and conditions for issuing visas significantly differ.
Most countries have similar types of visas but there are slight differences. However, even visas of the same type may have different validity periods — one month, three months, twelve months, which depend on what the applicant requests and whether he/she can prove his/her need to stay in the country for the period requested.

Main visa types

Depending on the purpose of entry to the country, visas are divided into diplomatic and business visas, ordinary (including tourist) visas, transit visas, and temporary residence visas.

Diplomatic and business visas

Such visas are issued to foreign citizens with diplomatic and business passports (diplomats, members of official foreign delegations, their family members, consular employees, employees of representative offices of international organizations, etc.).

Ordinary visas

Depending on the purpose of entry and purpose of stay in the country concerned, ordinary visas are divided into private, business, tourist, student, work, humanitarian visas, and entry visas for asylum seekers.

Ordinary private visa

This visa is issued to foreign citizens that enter the country with a guest invitation from relatives, friends or acquaintances who are citizens of the country of entry or a foreign citizen who has a residence permit in this country.

Ordinary business visa

This visa is issued to foreign citizens who enter the country on a business trip with an invitation from an organization.

Ordinary tourist visa

This visa is issued to holidaymakers travelling on their own or to travel agencies for a group of tourists subject to travel vouchers or hotel reservations.

Ordinary student visa

This visa is issued to foreign citizens who enter the country to study at an educational institution.

Ordinary work visa

This visa is issued to foreign citizens who enter the country to work there.

Ordinary humanitarian visa

This visa is issued to foreign citizens who enter the country to maintain scientific, cultural, socio-political, sporting, or religious relationships or contacts, or for the purposes of pilgrimage, charitable activity, or delivery of humanitarian supplies.

Ordinary visa for asylum seekers

This visa is issued to foreign citizens subject to relevant resolution of an authorized agency to recognize this foreign citizen refugee in the territory of the country issuing this visa.

Transit visa

This visa is issued for a short period of time for the purposes of transit through the territory of the country. To obtain such a visa, one has to have a visa to the country of subsequent entry. There are single and double transit visas. In certain states, transit visas are mandatory, even if the passenger does not leave the special zone of the airport while the aircraft is being refueled.

Visas for temporary residence

Such visas are issued to foreign citizens allowed to enter the country for a temporary period within the limits of a quota for issue of temporary permits, procedures for determination whereof to be provided by an authorized agency of the visa issuing country, or without such quota.

Depending on the number of entries, visas are subdivided into single, double, and multiple.

Single entry visa

This visa grants the right to the foreign citizen to cross the border of the state that issued this visa one time to enter the country and one time to leave the country.

Double entry visa

This visa grants the right to the foreign citizen to enter the country twice.

Multiple visa

This visa grants multiple entry to the foreign citizen.