Russian visa
 

Hi all,

planning a very unexpected trip through Russia! They visa application for UK/Irish passport holders with vehicle states that a "tourist voucher" is required. And what is that when it is at home? And where do I get one?

Also be grateful for any info rvsglobal (London) - good, fast etc?

Thanks

Do you need a tourist of business visa?

In any case you can find a lot of info here, it is well explained:

Real Russia | Visas for Russia and the region

We had our Visas organised by them in 2014 , 2015 and 2016, but there are lots of other agencies helping doing just that. I just found they were the cheapest and business visas are VERY expensive.

You may try to do without the help of a visa agency to save few quids, but it saves a lot of hassle.

You don't need any specific doc for your vehicle. you will need to fill a temporary import document at the border that you must keep for as long as you remain in the Russian Custom Zone. That zone includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and counting....


Cheers,

Thanks for your reply. That is expensive! Is there anyone who has done this without an agency? I only need a single entry tourist visa to cross from Ukraine to Georgia.

I Obtained my "tourist voucher" online, email arrived with the tourist Voucher in 2 days, then I decided to go to the Russian Embassy in Manchester, (very small office hard to find) a nice Russian lady who could speak English very well checked the appreciation all good to go but because I needed the Visa quickly I decide to pick my passport up from the Russian Embassy in London (processing of Visa are done in London). And yes Russia Visa are not cheap but I know I saved a big chunk of money this way but I had time on my side.

Did you have to provide hotel bookings etc? And did you tell them it was "autotourism"?

It doesn't seem to matter if you say autotourism or tourism for our kind of trip.
We were told autotourism is for when you are doing rallies etc.
We were never asked about hotel bookings, though it's easy enough to do via booking.com because you can always cancel easily without charges, providing you choose the right offers!

When you apply for your "tourist voucher" online you are asked what city you are visting? just look at your route and pick out the "BIG" ones'
The rest is done by the online company ok.
Was never asked if I was driving or riding a motorbike?

Don't put 'autotourism' unless your invitation states 'autotourism' as the purpose of travel.

You can get a tourist invitation for almost nothing these days (seem to remember paying £15 last time), but with a UK passport you will pay high visa fees, regardless of where you get your invitation.

RVS Global is I believe the official visa handling agency for applying for a visa at the London Embassy. I found them easy to deal with, but you don't have a choice anyway, if you apply at the London Embassy.

Listing destinations on the Russian visa application means nothing, it is not printed on your visa and will not be checked in any way once in the country. Don't put any closed cities (e.g. Norilsk) or restricted areas (e.g. Chukotka) and you will be fine.

EO

Great, thanks guys.

News on RU-embassies in Bishkek and Almaty
 

Hi all
I'd like to apply for 30-days or transit-visa in either Kyrgyzstan or Kazahkstan later in the year, Swiss citizen
Has anyone been through applying and hopefully granting at one of these embassies?
Ta for any hints, experiences etc.
Cheers, Chris

A transit visa is valid for a maximum of ten days. In 2011 I got one on the spot at the Russian Consulate in Oral (Uralsk), Kazakhstan.

I don't think you'll get a Russian tourist visa in either of those countries unless you are a resident (this is the official rule), though it's worth asking.

The better option is just to get a double / multi entry business visa.

Bonnie, we can make you invitation for tourist visa

Needing a LOI
 

Hi Alex,

I am also in the need of an invitation for a tourist visa, can you help?

Cheers,
Joe

Yes, sure. write me at alex.nikonov(at)rusmototravel.com