Russia Visa Application Centre launched in Dubai

Application for a visa to Russia has been made easier with a new VFS centre opened to facilitate procedures, save time, money and effort for applicants and the Russian consulate in Dubai.

The promising partnership between VFS Global and the Consulate General of the Russian Federation is expected to give a boost to visa application services to travellers from the UAE to Russia.

According to a senior official with the VFS Global, the new centre in Dubai is the first Russia Visa Application Centre in the Middle East region. Services at this centre commenced from 22 January 2017.

Vinay Malhotra, COO - Middle East & South Asia, VFS Global, said residents of the UAE can visit the new VFS Global centre to submit their visa applications to Russia in a comfortable and professionally managed environment.

"The centre is centrally located at WAFI Mall, Level 2, Falcon Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai," he said. "VFS Global has partnered with the Government of the Russian Federation since 2009, and serves them in 15 countries from 34 visa application centres globally."

Over the last one year alone, the company has rolled out Visa Application Centres in 10 other countries for this client government, he added. "In Dubai, VFS Global serves a total of 23 client governments, having been present in the country since 2004."

VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, he underlined. "With 2,318 Application Centres, operations in 127 countries across five continents and over 130 million applications processed as on 30 November 2016, VFS Global serves the interests of 51 client governments."

Gocha Buachidze, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Dubai and Northern Emirates, said as the number of visa applications to Russia from residents of the UAE continues to grow year-on-year, the Government of the Russian Federation aims to provide quicker and more convenient services to travellers to Russia.

"We are confident that VFS Global and its professional staff will do everything to expedite and secure swift application procedures and extend world-class services to our visa applicants from Dubai."

"We look forward to the continual advancement of travel and business to our country and we are confident that this new centre will effectively meet the growing visa demand from applicants."

Malhotra said the long-standing partnership with the Russian Federation, over the last seven years, is reflective of the trust they have bestowed on them through this successful relationship. "We are privileged to further extend our network for them in Dubai and remain committed to providing comprehensive end-to-end visa services for applicants."

Key features of the centre

- Convenient and centrally-accessed location

- Professional staff with local language capability to handle queries and applications

- Well-appointed centre for enhanced comfort of applicants

- Application submissions accepted by appointment & walk-ins

- Personalised form-filling services available

- Automated queue governance for smooth flow of applicants

- Dedicated website for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements, check-list and applicable fees

- 100% secure handling of passports, documents and personal information

- Door-step delivery of passports

Russia Visa Application Centre

Contact details

Helpline: +971 4 205 5717

Email: info.russiauae@vfshelpline.com

Website: http://www.vfsglobal.com/Russia/uae

Business hours: 9:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs (Sunday to Thursday)

Submission Timings: 9:00 hrs - 15:00 hrs | Sunday - Thursday (except holidays)

Document Collection: 15:00 hrs - 17:00 hrs | Sunday - Thursday (except holidays as declared by the Embassy)

- ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

Ahmed Shaaban

Originally from Egypt, I am a sound professional with a 23-year diverse experience as a researcher, lecturer, instructor, reporter, journalist, copy writer, translator, interpreter, proofreader, correspondent, and voice-over specialist with so many public and private entities in USA, UAE and Egypt. I have full command of all English and Arabic languages skills. I have a “Doctorate of Business Administration” degree, Swiss Business School. I have two Master’s degrees; one in Media Sciences, Mass Communication College, Cairo University, 2014, and one in Applied Business Research, Swiss Business School, 2018. I have a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Translation, Al-Alsun College for Languages & Translation, Ain Shams University, Egypt, 1996. I have three post graduate diplomas in Education, Curricula and Instruction, and Islamic Studies. I enjoy reading, writing and adventuring.