Hi there,
I'm currently in KL, Malaysia beating the head against the wall on about to solve the Mongolian and Russian visas mess. i would to know from the HUBB if it is possible to get any mongolian visa at landborders, coming from Vladivostok, or i must have to apply for it at any embassy (mine should be Tokyo or Seoul) next June.
and for russian visa; i've tryed to apply for a double entry business this mornig in KL, but they've asked me, instead of the LOI copy, the Foreign Affair Ministry authorization and the original LOI from the russian agency, wich means a lot of time to wait and a lot of money to waste(?)here. they were also investigating asking name of the inviting company, kind of business and bla bla bla...

any suggestions?

regards,

Being a USA citizen I got my mongolian 30 day visa at the mongolian border, and I also extended it in Ulan-Bator. If you overstay your visa in mongolia it gets very expensive to leave the country.

The russian business visa required a LOI and I had to apply and receive the visa before leaving the usa.

What nationality are you?

For Mongolian visa, I think there is a consulate in Ulan Ude, Russia. You probably don't need any advance paperwork (LOI, etc.). If you are coming from Vladivostok, you usually have to pass through Ulan Ude. So, I would suggest you just get your visa there.

Russian visas usually require application in your home country. Maybe you will get lucky and they make an exception for you. But be prepared to make a trip to Italy for the Russian visa.

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Paging Colebatch...!

I'm led to believe there isn't any facility for getting a Mongolian Visa in Ulan-Ude... The closest city where this is possible is Irkutsk I think...

USA citizens travelling with their US passport rather than any other one they may hold do not require a visa for Mongolia if they are entering for 30 days or less as a tourist...

While it was a few years ago, friends got Mongolian visas in Ulan-Ude. Maybe it has changed. Even so, Irkutsk is only a day's ride away from Ulan-Ude. No big deal (unless you are on a strict schedule). Better than the situation for Kazakhstan where there is no consulate east of Omsk.

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I'm Italian...

for Chris in Tokyo: do you know how long i should to wait for mongolian visa in Irtkusk?
plus, what about the situation in japan nowaday, i mean beeing inside? my original plan is to get to japan for a couple of weeks then take the ferry to /russia. by the way: it is that true that the ferry runs once a week and take a stop over in korea?

thanx,

www.lungastrada.it

I have heard one or two days to get a Mongolian visa, but I am not sure. Maybe ask in the Northern Asia forum. Someone might notice the question there.
As for Japan, the situation is OK except for on the northeast coast. Much tsunami damage and a 20 km no-go near the nuclear plant. The rest of the country is waiting for your visit ! (Unfortunately, you need a carnet... )

The ferry DBS Cruise Ferry leaves every Saturday (I think), with a short stop in Korea (I don't know if you can get off the boat). Information I have is that the ferry is not running May 21 and 28 due to maintenance.

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Hi there
I got a Russian isa in Beijing last year with no fuss at all was easier and cheaper to get there than it was to buy at home UK. also got my Mongolian one from Beijing simple process both visas were available next day at very little cost if I remember correctly the Russian one (transit visa only 10 days all you can get if not applied for in your own country) was £55 and the Mongolian visa £35.00 so by going through Mongolia into Siberia a 10 day transit visa was plenty for me to travel down to St Petersburg and exit Russia. Just whilst on the subject of visas anyone planning to go to China via Thailand get your Visa in Bangkok I saved £185.00 by buying it direct from the Chinese embassy in Bangkok and dont buy the express visa because I was staying in BKK for a week and was willing to wait the 3 days I was told it would take but when I went to the embassy the lady asked me if I wouldnt mind coming back in two TWO hours then I could collect it wow what a great service and all for only £25.00. I got all the information I needed concerning visas from www,seat61.com by following the links to each country I was visiting. Oh I done this trip by bus bike train last year and am planning a similar one just by bike this year.
Safe Riding
Regards Bill Anderson

You can definitely get a Mongolian visa in Ulan Ude, next day if you pay extra. (Sept 2010). So unless you planned to enter Mongolia at Solovyovsk / Ereentsav, there is no problem.

Good luck with the Russian visa, please post your results!

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Thanks for the suggestion Daniel.
but my plan is to get into mongolia from Ereentsav... i'll (try) apply for it once i'll be in tokyo, next july.
as for russian visa: got it mine , 30 days double entry tourist visa, in jakarta last week. 2 days waiting, express procedure, 105 $/
hope this would help