Leaving car in Rusia/Kaz/Kyrg - TIP regulations - what is really possible?
 

Dear all,

Need help from fellow travellers!

Based on information we got from several sources including this forum, we set off to Central Asia in September this year in our Landcruiser, intending to drive first to the Ural mountains in Russia and - after obtaining a 12 month TIP at the Russian border - leave the car there for the winter, then fly back next year to pick up the car, drive into Kazachstan and Kyrgyzstan, leave the car again, and then either leave the customs union or extend the TIP and stay a bit longer.

Much to our disappointment however the customs at the border (Terehova border post Latvia-Russia) refused to give us a 12 month TIP, telling us that the TIP can never be longer than the lenght of your visa. They sent us to customs office inland - we tried 2 of them but they basically kicked us out of the country. Our big adventure ended after 2 weeks.

We got a little different story from every customs officer we talked to, but it seemed they all agreed a TIP can never be longer than a visum. I have understood however that EU travellers have managed to get it done whilst they should have the same visa limits as I have (max 30 days)

We want to try again but don't want again to be rejected the neccesary papers.

Has anyone travelled to Central Asia in similar fashion as we want to, and if so what experience did you have? Are we likely to be more lucky at a particular border crossing? Or are customs right and the 12 month TIP is a fairy tale?

Also, does anyone have official writing from Russian customs about the alleged new rules in force since 2016 which state that the TIP is standard 12 months now? I have read this on this forum and some others, however cannot find this info anywhere on e.g. Russian customs website. If we can bring anything like this to the border, we stand much better chance I assume.

Any experiences, tips/advise, links or official writings which can help us to realize our adventure would be much appreciated!!

Cheers from the Netherlands,
Martin & Elena

In August I drove into Russia from Estonia. My car was given until the expiry of my visa (about 11.5 months). I reached Magadan in October and the car is now waiting there for everything to freeze up so I can start the return trip (Jan - Apr).

It seems that when Russian customs recently extended the maximum period which the car is allowed in from 90 days to 365, that initially they gave one year regardless of how long the visa is. That now seems to have changed.

Since you have already used a Russian visa, the simple solution for you is to get a 1 year multi-entry visa. Why waste your time going to various borders on the remote chance that they may overlook the rule?

This year when I entered Custums Union in Kyrgistan from Tajikistan, the Kyrgitsan customs just gave me 2 month of TIP.
Even I had a 1 year Business visa, no way to get more.
I think it depends on the guys at the border too.

Maybe it is an interpretation difference. So the TIP can now be one year, but is still depended on your visa length.

So you are now hanging around in Latvia, still attempting to cross?
Or did you go back home already?

I'm not sure how much holiday you wanted to have before the winter, but perhaps you can drive to Ural next year, while leaving the car in Latvia or other Baltic states for the winter? It seems to be a 2500km drive so perhaps you can do that next year?
Maybe it was not your plan but the next best option?

This year all the people I met coming from Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan had 12 months TIP. This was last july/august. I know at least two guys who entered late september and received same 12 months at that border. No visa involved, as they were not going to Russia.

Things change quickly in the region, and, as klausmong1 said, can also depends on the border guards.

In my case it was from Tajikistan to Kirgistan at Baken border.

And I had 1 year visa and no chance to get more than 2 month time for the TIP.

I think it really depends on the border official. In July I got 3 month TIP when entering from Estonia to Russia. Exited the union to Tajikistan.

I didn't try to ask to get a longer one as I didn't need it.

All the people I was refferring to in my post entered Kyrgyzstan at Kyzylart – Bor Dobo border

We also had the feeling it may be more down to having bad luck with the border official than anything else....

@ eurasiaoverland: I need to look into the visa again as we were told we can get max 30 days or multi-entry with max 1 re-entry within limited time span. You got a 12 month visum? (see you're in NL as well?)

@ lovetheworld: no had only 2 weeks holiday now, the goal was really to get the car to Russia in starting position for next year. Drove back home, 8500km in 2 weeks, crazy road trip!

As we need to travel in stages our whole plan kinda depends on being able to leave the car in the area for which we need the paperwork to allow the car the stay whilst we fly out...

Hi Martin,

Yeah I understand the goal. But that was why I was suggesting to leave it in on of the baltic countries, in Shengen zone. That would be easy (just find a safe place for the car), no difficult paperwork involved. And then you can continue with your plan, even though you would be like 2 or 3000km away from your planning. So definitely not perfect, but I just meant it as the next best option.
But I see that you already drove back.

As an alternative plan, you could drive it to Bulgaria for example (again Shengen zone, so easy to leave the car)
And then get to Kazakhstan over the black sea and the caspian sea, using the ferries.
But I think you were looking to save some time when coming back for next year, so this is probably not a relevant option.

Succes in ieder geval!

Hi Martin

Yes I'm in NL, and I have received several Russian visas in Den Haag. To apply for a 1 year multi-entry visa, you must have visited Russia in the previous 12 months. So (assuming this is your first trip to Russia), you could not have got one before making your trip, but now that you've used your tourist visa, you can both go ahead and get one. It costs €35 plus the €30 agency fee. You need to get an invitation online; I used Real Russia and paid I think £120 for a one year multi entry business visa invitation (no, you don't need a business reason). That's all. You get the invitation immediately and can apply for your visa straight away.

Hope this helps, let me know if you need more info.

EO

Hi Martin,
as far as I am aware you had to enter with a business visa at least once before you can get a 1 year business visa with a business invitation. Otherwise you need an invitation through the Foreign Ministry which is pretty expensive (350 to 450 Euro, depending on the agency). This was at least the case when I applied for my 1st 1 year business visa in Germany.

We got now twice a 1 year TIP at the Russian Mongolian Borders (Ulaanbaishint and Altanbulag)with a 1 year visa. Accoring to the custom officer the 1 year TIP is the standard independent of the visa type. see also:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ssia-tip-88129

We met other travellers with non business visas got a 1 year TIP BUT also read in a German forum ( https://www.wuestenschiff.de/phpbb/p...7.html#p182587) about travellers with similar issues you experienced at the Latvia-Russian Boarder with a transit visa.

Regards
Bernd

Definitely not true !!!!

Even I know that this is said a lot of times, it is not true.

I got all my 3 1 year Muti entry business visa without a visa the past 12 month ago.
Even I knop personally ( or met them on the road ) people from Germany, Netherlands, Italy and GB, who also got their 1 year business without problems for the first time.

You only need an agency which can handle that and which ca get invitations from the migration authority.

First time I paid 250€ for the invitation + 50 € delivery.

Now you can get the invitation online from Visa service like visahouse.com for about 180€

Actually, that is exactly the feedback I got from the Russian embassy in Brussels. I had a business visa invotation letter for multiple entry and 12 months. The Embassy would still only allow me 3 months + double entry. Their explanation was "because you haven't visited Russia before".
When I told them I needed more, their response was that I would have to come back and apply for a new visa on the same invitation letter and I would receive multiple entry and duration to the end date mentioned on the LOI.