Russian Visa - Help Do I need to book my hotel and flight before ordering my visa?

I'm planning on visiting Moscow and I've been gathering information on the visa to Russia website because I'm unsure on how it all works and as I have been looking at the form it asks for a hotel address. I have found the hotel that I'm going to book, so do I just use that hotel address before actually booking the hotel, or do I need to book it first? If I go ahead and order my visa first and leave the hotel option blank and then book my hotel after I have received my visa, what will happen at the airport? Do I tell them that I now have a hotel and provide them with the address?

You have to book your hotel and flight first I believe. That's what I did when I went to Moscow. Russia also requires a letter of invitation… Someone has to invite you but you can also just pay for one (weird). Personally, for more complicated visas like this one, I'd recommend using a service like VisaHQ or Travisa. They know what they're doing and you don't want to risk losing out on a bunch of money if you can't go because the visa gets messed up. Just my opinion though.

Unless things have dramatically changed in the last few years, you need an invitation letter from a company, a friend or family member you will visit, or a tour guide to apply for the visa. It sounds like you are just trying to wing a trip on your own. Get and follow, precisely, the instructions. In Russia, sort of following the rules does not work.

Yes