Confused About Russian Visa Requirements
 

Hi,

Im confused about how one manages to travel around Russia for extended periods of time, as I'm finding you need an invitation to get in (understand this), and the location of your accomodation to be stated as well (don't understand this!).
I wish to ride from Georgia to St Petersburg but don;t know how I'm supposed to specify all my accomodation prior!?
Previous backpacking I've just made it up as I went.

Apologies for such an elementary question.

Cheers
Tom

It's all to do with the visa type. You don't want a "Tourist" visa as you might think but a "Business" one - which despite its name doesn't really need a business purpose.

Getting a business visa for 3 months (or longer) is relatively easy if somewhat beaurocratic and a bit expensive. The necessary Letter of Invitation can be bought on line (I used Stantours but there are many others) and after that it is simply visit the embassy in Sydney and spend more money.

Search this site and you'll find the full details or PM me and I'll send you my mobile (I'm in Newcastle) so I can talk you through it.

just go to waytorussia.net
all your answers are there, straight forward and worked out just fine for our visas.

Whhen you apply visa to Russia you can basicly have three different kind of visas: Culture, tourist or business visa.

I have had two of those kinds, culture and business visa. i suppose it depends little bit which agency you use to apply visa what visa you get. I always apply one year, multientry visa (as i live about 300 km from Russia and do every year several trips there with motorcycle). I know some finnish motorcyclist once run into problems when some of the group had business visa and they were on motorcycle trip. They had to drive to nearest border guard/police station to clear things up. People from same group with tourist or culture visas had just paper check on the spot. So if someone recommends i would advice to apply tourist or culture visa.

When you apply Russian visa you are normally asked to enter three different locations of your travel. Those locations are not normally never checked so just put some cites where you might visit Like St.Petersburg, Moscow, Volgograd.

You need to have letter of invitation to Russia. There are lot of companies writing those letters.

Great help, Thanks guys

Tom,

I see you are listed as from Wollongong, so I am guess you are an Aussie, like me.

I got a LOI for a six month Multi Entry busisness visa from Stantours (mostly because of all the advice I got for free) and sent it to Russian consulate in Sydney. About 2 weeks to turn around. No issues with any entry or exits, which did three of.

Hi
2 months ago we got the tourist visa for one month with 2 entries.
Invitation is easy to get by internet (we paid 10€/person) and it covers all your stay in Russia.
But a very important thing ,if you travel by motorbike, is that, in both the invitation and your visa request, must indicate "autoturism" (intead of "tourism") and the invitation must have a remark where indicates you are travelling with your own motorbike. So, be as clear as possible when you talk with the travel agency to request the invitation.
At least, this is for UE citizens

Hi Tom
You don't say what the duration of your trip is but mention extended visit.

Just so you know the tourist visa is only valid for 30 days and outside of your own country you can only apply for a new transit visa which is valid only for 10 days.

So if you plan on going for more than 30 days go for the more expensive business visa if possible, but an application for this may not be successful.
I applied for one and could not get it, so had to settle for the 30 days double entry tourist visa.

If you overstay your visa it’s really not as bad as people make out, you don’t get arrested, deported, shot or sent to a gulag :helpsmilie: You must turn yourself in (don’t risk getting caught or it will be worse) if the lapsed time is quite short (a few days) the immigration office will deal with you. If it’s a lot longer (34 days like me :oops2:) the immigration office will take you to court. However this is also not so bad (even though I panicked at the time, hind sight is an amazing thing) I got a new transit visa and told to leave the country (and sternly warned to make sure I was OUT by said date) got a 2000 rouble fine, and banned from returning to Russia for 6 months. So no train smash, but it is a hassle and will cost you (however it was worth it in my case)

You now have more information if needed. I am not recommending it, just giving you some details, but hopefully you will get out in time.

Cheers
Lorraine

I guess I will be less than 30 days? I'm planning on entering at the Georgian border and riding to St Pete so 30 days should be ample.

Has anyone been to Volgograd? Is the steppe all farmland now? I'm really interested in travelling up the Volga, but less so if it's just 2000km of cabbage farms...

Thanks again (especially Lorraine) for all your help

Tom

Yes a lot of people have been to Volgograd

Some bits of ride report and photos here on the region:

Siberian Extreme 2010 - Back for More - Page 59 - ADVrider

2012 pics
 

The ground around the Volga is a bit sandy on the western bank, but good,fast hard pack on the eastern side of the river. It pretty much flat steppe all around.

Here are pics from offroad adventure riding thru the Volga region this year:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/7...e556dab0_c.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5339/7...7c423acb_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7...58aecbe0_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7071/7...8aa7e583_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8001/7...49aa958a_c.jpg

How do you get around the fact that you have to register within 3 days with your location and then re-register when you move place.

I worked all over Russia for many years and want to go back to do the drive from oz to UK via Russia

rules as of 2011 is you have register within 7 working days so with a bit of thought you get 9 days , they dont seam to be as uptight about it as they used to be if you have gaps in your registration just tell them you have been camping , if i have large gaps in mine i try to register again a few days before i leave so there is something more upto- date to show them at the border

We only had ours checked once at Tashenta, crossing into Mongolia. The good thing is that most hotels will do it, so just sleep at a hotel once a week.

We had a 2 week gap in ours (stayed with friends) and had no issues when we left at Vladivostok.

Cool, where did you ship to after Vladivostok?

Um the bike kinda died in Russia was left there. But this is man you need.

Melnikov Yuri
General Manager
Links, Ltd.
89 Svetlanskaya str., office 312,
690001, Vladivostok, Russia.
Tel/fax: (423)222-15-78
Tel: (423)222-08-87
Mobile: +7 902 5243447
mail to: ymelnik (at) links-ltd.com

We opted for the business visa. It took 2 weeks to get the invitation which was a form, we used an online service - fairly easy. That way we did not have to provide proof of hotel booking to apply for the visa. No hassles in & out other than the vladikavkaz border takes forever for foreigners - including Armenians & Azeris. Hotel did the registration,every place will stamp tons of forms, just hang on to them in case some official wants them. Volgograd was very fun. We went through saratov & Engels ...not the sexiest places but interesting & fantastic for the people we met, especially the crazy awesome bikers in Engels. They are a trip. Exited straight east to Kazakhstan. The road is lumpy. Watch out for psycho bus drivers, our friend ran into one...

Hi Tom

How extended is extended? 10 days was enough for us - we got a transit visa in Bishkek as we only wanted to get across the country as quickly as possible! Good luck, take a picture dictionary......

Cheers

Hi,
Are you guys in Wollongong? I'm in bulli.
Pm if you are able to chat and share some info, if you don't mind.
Thanks a mill
Tom

a 1 year business visa allows you to be in the country up to 3 months per stay.

And up to 90 days in the previous 180.

Worth adding here ... since I recently put in for a new business visa. The visa applications are (as of November) requiring a short autobiography, in Russian, and computer printed, to go with the business visa applications.

The big KTM didnt survive mate?

PM sent

Cheers

Yeah - burnt out the clutch, which was a symptom of some wider issues in the lubrication system. Ultimately repairable (engine was still running ok, but the hydraulic tensioners weren't working properly etc) made the decision by the time I shipped and repaired it the price of a replacement was just going to be about $2k difference. Basically it all came down to prep - eventhing that wasn't replaced in the rebuild failed.

Left it with the russian guy who also a mechanic, really nice and looked after us for a couple weeks and eventually drove us to Vlad and took us to a bikerfest in Nakhodka, lots of fun.

So I have to go back one day, I loved Russia and miss being there, magical place. I have an idea for a really huge trip.

BTW loving your RR on ADV.

Mmm that is a pain in the butt and looks to be one of those things that happened because the Australian Government required it first, bet they don't even read it. Do you think that they would accept one that is run through Google translate or translate.ru?

Wollongong!
I'm in Mittagong, small world eh?

Sure is mate! I ride around there a bit, just sold a Triumph and bought a Dominator coz I was scared of dropping my thruxton whilst bashing around Penrose forest.

If I simply want to ride my bike from West to East and then ship it to USA, can I make that my "business"? Such as journalist or travel writer or "Global Travel reconnaissance"

Brilliant feelback Neill08 If you have a blog or a way to hear more then let me know. I intend to follow in your footsteps 2013

Visa Regristration
 

I was near Tver last year at a friend's house. I read about registering the Visa with the local post office. Somehow my GF convinced/had the post office guy stamp the paper and everything was good to go. I am not sure how this worked, but it was pretty easy and no cost.

FWIW, I had a document from a US state that was "Apostle". This is over and above a standard Notary. I made a copy of it and had it "stamped" by notary at my US bank. The russian officials did not like the "Apostle" doc with embossed color foil deal etc, instead took the Notary doc with the blue circle stamp and scribbled handwritten signatures. Since then I have made some of my "own documents", had them "notarized" and everything works fine.
YMMV

TY:) excellent! we are too lazy to blog but you are welcome on FB, niello8(at)hotmail ...

Hi Guys, I am planning on applying for a 12 month Business Visa for Russia very soon. When I apply for the Visa I will be full time employed but at the time of entry to Russia I will be unemployed.

I have noticed that one of the requirements for a Business Visa states "Applicants who are self-employed, company directors, working from home or unemployed need to provide bank statements for the last three months which have a current balance of a minimum of £100 per day for the duration of the visit (not required for housewives, students and retired applicants). Please note that if you wish to provide online banking printouts please make sure they will be certified and stamped by your bank".

Does this mean that I will need to have £36,500 in my bank account to get this Visa or is there a way around this? Or because I am employed at the time of application I will not need this?

Sorry to just drop in on this thread, but I have been unable to find any info on this after hours of hunting through HUBB and other external sites. Your help is greatly appreciated. All the best.

I was in the same boat as you - I just got a letter confirming my employment from employer at the time and sent that off with the application. No problems.

Excellent. I was thinking something along these lines but unsure how it worked. I will just have to not let my employer know about my plans to leave till I have got a letter and Visa sorted haha. Thank you for your help.

We got a 'Cultural Visa' which is 12 month multi-entry and much like the business visa. However, we did not need to involve an employer at all.

Just a LOI and the last 3 months bank statements showing +£100/day balance. We supplemented this with a statement from my ISA and that was enough for it to be granted.

HTH.

G

Thanks for your reply, really apreciated. I am slightly confused (easy to do haha), are you saying its possible to get this Visa without a £36,500 bank balance? I will have more along the lines of £15,000 so need to satisfy all Visa requirements with that. All the best, Matty.

You don't need the £36,500 in the account - they are just looking (if they look at all) to make sure that you have enough funds (or flow of funds) to show that you can be self supportive whilst in Russia ie you will not become a burden on the Federation purse.

Brilliant. Thank you for your help, this will be my first big adventure and just tackling the admin at the moment so your help is greatly appreciated. All the best.

.
Hi Craig,

Can you please tell me more about the formalities when leaving Russia, and entering Mongolia.

Thanks.

vette

When leaving Russia at Tashenta about 500m before you get to the border you need get you registration checked, this is at a small building just before an open shed that looks like an aircraft hanger. Then on to border control, first customs to take your bike out, then to immigration to get you passport stamped. From there it was out of border control to another gate where your passport is checked. That is the Russia side.

It is 25ks to the Mongolian border control. You need to pay for your tyres to be disinfected (maybe $5), then immigration, vehicle (temp import). They made us open a some luggage for inspection. After you clear border control you need to buy insurance about $20 iirc.

It is all pretty straight forward though.

Thank you Craig, much appreciation to you.

Are there opening and closing hours, or is it a 24 hour border?
What time did you get there, and was there any queuing, and waiting?

vette

Hi

we were there one year ago in summer. The border opened around 9 in the morning (the imigration guy 500 m before the post came even later), they made a lunch break and it was closed in the evening. Closing can get you trapped, as told us some French people, that had to stay the night in no-mans land, as the Mongols didn't like to work any longer that day.
When we were there, it was said, that the border is closed on sundays.
There is usually not so much traffic at this frontier (besides the days when the Mongol Rally crosses), but it takes some time (we had to wait longer as the computer system of the Russians was not working at the first moment).
Be aware, that Mongol border guys like to be bribed, it was really an ugly crosssing, I liked the border to Senegal much better.

Regards

Christian

PS we had to be transported on a Uazik, as pushbikes should not run on their own through no-mans land
Here is a report of our travel (in german): Bike Siberia: Erste Mongolei-Eindrücke, positive wie negative

registering in Russia
 

We entered Russia ,registered in a hotel , travelled for 3months kept all receipts from food, diesel when asked, arrived Magadan ,registered in hotel, during the 3mths of travel we were in and out of Russia twice, and were asked for our registrations , so showed our receipts. Every one was happy.
This was 2011 July.. August... September..........camping in our vehicle.

Not 24 hour AFAIK and as like the guys above we had to wait for lunch to finish where the registration check is done. I think they are closed on the weekend/Sunday also.

We had no bribery issues at the Mongol border and the staff were friendly.

I concur with these comments, particularly the lack of bribery issues at Tashanta.

Also mentioned above was to have to show the inside of your luggage. I always (politely) say I don't want to because it's a PITA and I have nothing of interest for them anyway. 9/10 (including at this border) it works and I don't have to unpack anything.

Also try to pay as little as possible for having your tyres sprayed. I got away with about 50 cents in Kazakh money, claiming I had nothing else. It's a p!ss take IMHO anyway.

Once you leave the Mongolian border compound having done customs and immigration (barrier/ big fence...) try to ride past the clown who tries to sell you the 20 $ road tax (what effing road?) and insurance (bollox, between the border and UB, there's absolutely nobody to have a collision with anyway. Also no police or anyone else to check...). There's nobody in a car to chase you; I think it's just a con anyway.

For me paying for the desinfection is a bribe, especially when you can negociate it. But as we were on cycles, this was not necessary.
They tried it on 3 occasions, first, just to get in at the gate, the guardian wanted some money, we refused. He then gave us some formulaire to fill it out. As there were so many sandflies flying around, it was hard to fill out the formulaire, as we could not hide in a car.
In the building itself, an officer wanted money for doing his job (filling a formulaire). Last occasion to make money was offering change. We were coming on saturday and it was not clear if the bank would be open. But we could change at the bank, by searching the responsible person (so it seems to be possible to change at any time).
The story about the french people waiting in no mans land is especially bad, as they had a handicaped persion with them (the group got separated, some were let in, others were too late).

Multi Entry Business Visa
 

Looking on various websites it seems that you can not apply for a 1 year multi entry visa unless you have previously had a Russian visa?

Does anyone know if this is definitely the case? We only need 2 entries but we will be on the road for several months before we reach the russian border. Apparently you can only start the visa application (have the LOI issued) 45 days before your date of first entry which is cutting it to fine for us.

Thanks for your help!!

Different nationality, different rules...
 

Walter. Is your Russian visa in your Aussie passport?

I'm currently dealing with Stantours for my Russian ME Business visa. I asked David about your experience. This is his response...

"They started insisting on NOTARISED autobiographies, in Russian for Aussies for multi entry visa, I hope no such rule for Brits, yet"