Yes, this happens when people want to save money and do it by themselves instead using a proper visa agency.

I know many people from different EU countries where this works out without problems.

This is certainly the case in the Hague if applying in person or through the agency recommended by the embassy. I don't know / care about other places, as I was talking specifically about regulations applying here.

I am sure there are agencies which for a higher price can get around the rules, but since the OP has visited Russia in the last 12 months, the argument is irrelevant anyway.

Maybe for him, but not for others.
It may help anyone if you know that it is possible by doing it with a proper visa company.

In my case, the last 2 times I did not pay higher prices for this service.

i got 12 months at takji, kyg`z border in july , if you need to extend yours get intouch with Oibek or George at MUZTOO in Osh thay can arrange it for you

Thanks all for the replies. I also understood meantime from visa agency that I should be able to apply for multi entry full year visum. The only worry from the agency was that Russian customs might make an issue when I then arrive with my (Russian) girlfriend at the border with what clearly is a holiday car and not a business car, but maybe such concerns are not really too relevant.

Does anyone know if the Belarus - Russian border has known issues with TIP issuing? (or do you get the TIP actually already at Polish / Belarus border?)

@ Cyber zebb - I'm already in touch with them, thanks! Do you know if you can extend for unlimited amount of times, or is it restricted to e.g. 1 or 2 extensions?

Thanks,
Martin

It is no problem to use a business visa for private / pleasure trips, I have done so for at least 10 trips into Russia.

The Belarus - Russia border has no immigration or customs facilities and has for the last year or so been closed to foreigners as far as I know, so you'll need to enter from another country.

@eurasiaoverland, how have you been applying for Russian visas? Since you, me and Martin are in Netherlands. Did you apply yourself or through an agency, if through an agency, which one do you recommend?
The Hague is one hour away, and we will be applying for four persons. I can imagine that we would save quite some money by doing it yourself, but I haven't done much investigation yet (which I will do)
Thanks in advance.

Oh and good to know about Belarus. I thought it would be to difficult anyway, and that we should drive around it. But this confirms it.

By the way, I checked your site, we almost have the same car, we just have a van built on top of it instead of a pickup :P
Will do more reading when time permits.

As far as I know there is only one border from Belarus to RUS that can handle Foreigners.
Do not use any other border!! Might cause big problems later.

And to avoid problems with questioning about the business visa, just tell them you are doing travel stories, videoshows ...

I know from 2 persons which were questioned about the business visa and had to pay a ( small ) fine.

But it is just about what you answer when you get asked.

Hi

Please look up the thread list as in an earlier reply I have written how I went about getting a visa in Den Haag.

EO

So Belarus is no go and at the border with Latvia we had bad experience, and apparently were not the only ones....

So what does that leave? Estonia or Ukraine? No other options?

Or should we simply try Latvia again with a full year visa?

Rgds,
Martin

Ukraine Border this year was OK for me.

But about borders:

You always hear different experience from different people.
That is normal.
Depends on the officer on duty at the border and the mood they have at the moment.

I had very good experience at different borders and heard about people with problems a few days later.

As I said, it depends.
And it is mostly about the question " why business visa " and if you get the proper answer prepared than it is all good.

Any border except Belarus. Just tell them you are driving to XX. Maybe it's because I speak some Russian, but I've never had problems at the border. I don't lie and say I am there for business, I tell the truth, and point out that a tourist visa isn't long enough for what I want to do. Even when I've been hauled in by the FSB in the North Caucasus, they didn't care a damn that I had a business visa.

The guys at the Shumilkino border (very far SE of Estonia) were very chilled when I passed this year. This is a busy border, like Narva, and my impression is that they just want to get people through.

Or, you could pick some very infrequently used border crossing in Ukraine (try Velikyi Pisarivka / Graivoron) where they don't speak English.

Good luck, don't worry about the border crossing. If you seem nervous / agitated they are far more likely to give you a grilling.

:thumbup1::thumbup1:

I don't worry to much about border crossings, and I also don't want to hijack this topic.

But if I visit Mongolia as well, will I get three TIPs for the car in total? So entering Russia, TIP 1, entering Mongolia with TIP for Mongolia of course, and entering Russia again (eastern Mongolia exit) and getting a new TIP there?

We will be using a 6 months double entry visa if all works out

Yes, you have 3 TIP

You leave Russia ( Customs Union ) and give back the TIP.

Get a new one in Mongolia, and agein a new one in Russia.

But that is easy.