Official border 'protocol' (Russia/Asia in particular)?
 

Is there such a thing?! I am new to the world of overlanding, although we're spending our first couple weeks headed through europe our first 'big' border will be due east of Crimea into Russia.

I was just wondering, what exactly is the basic process regarding, in particular, customs? I've heard so many stories about people not getting pports/immigration forms stamped enough times etc etc, I was just wondering how straightforward the whole thing is. We are slightly throwing ourselves in the deep end but it'd be great for anyone to share some knowledge!

We'll (touch wood ) have all our visas/docs before we leave so that's fine, it's just the totally unfamiliar border process as we'll be coming in a nice big 4wd, a change from the A320/ Boeing 737.

Thanks,
Tom

Are you crossing at the Kerch Peninsula via a ferry? I did that crossing the other way last summer. It was slow but uneventful, although I've heard that the Russian side of that crossing can be kind of a pain!

I crossed into Russia at a different point about a month ago, not very complicated--show them your title/registration and fill out a customs form for importation of a vehicle, there are different types of importation, so it is important to select the right type--I think "temporary import" is what you want. Then you hand that in, and they give you a colored temporary import certificate. Be sure to check that the expiration date is far enough in the future to get you out of Russia (but cannot be longer than your visa). Don't lose this certificate.

Provided that you have the proper bike docs and fill out the paperwork correctly, I'd be surprised if you have any problems, although it is all rather time-consuming.

Hi there, we are intending to cross at the kerch peninsula, that day, provided everything is still on schedule we're driving the 150km or so from sudak to get to the border in the morning and hope, that night to have got to Verchnebakanskij about another 140km into russia.

In other words it's not a big day but we should have the best part of it to deal with border formalities- what do you think?!

I crossed there in 07. See here

John