Yeah... I assumed everyone knew I was talking about the Sochi Olympics... but one should never assume. Never heard of a visa-free concession. That's cool.

The system here sounds similar to the UK but not sure by what route things filter into the Consulate. VisaToRussia forwarded me a name of a service in Vancouver that they knew International Russian Visa Service Corporation - Your Russian Connection - Travel Visas and forms to Russia for all nationalities. Pretty competitive rates, only $85 for the application service, and so I will send the completed application off to them tomorrow.

Yeah, things could have been worse. The Russian government has several offices... all in Ontario and Quebec. We'll see if I get called for an interview. We're the Vladivostok of Canada.

__________________
Samuel Longiaru
Kamloops, BC Canada
1975 BMW R60/6
http://thetwilightproject.net

just got my 1 year russian business visa

haven't had any previous visa as they normally require.

payed around 230Euro.

cool!

Well done.

Two questions if you don't mind. Assuming you applied in Germany -

1. Your Passsport citizenship?

2. If not German/Schengen did you have to produce proof of your Residency in Germany?

Enjoy whatever you come for

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yes i should have mentioned this, i'm german and i applied with a german tour agency. not sure how this works for other citizenships, but i guess it's worth asking a few agencies if there is a way even everywhere on the net is written that you need a previously issued Russian visa.

cheers
Moritz

Thanks for that.
It clarifies matters and stops some people getting carried away with the wrong idea and shows the importance of individual detail !

Different Citizenships are treated in different ways. Russia may treat all Schengen passport holders the same way but Britain is not a member of Schengen although it is of the EU.

British passport holders can only apply for Russia Visas in Britain or in other countries where they can demonstrate Residency.
This is proof of actual, 90+ day residency specific to them, not just the general right of some EU members to go to live in other EU states and not just be there as a tourist in passing.

The local Russian Embassy should/will require to see the local 90day+ permission required in that country in support of Visa applications made there - Carte de Sejour in France - Meldebescheinigung / Anmeldebestätigung in Germany - Certificadoado de Registro in Spain - Zameldowanie in Poland - and so on.

Moving on -
Until very recently there was a requirement that British citizens could only apply for a One Year Multi Entry Business Visa (different from a Work Visa) if they had held a 90 day or one year Business Visa within the preceeding year. I also know a German citizen who two years ago could not obtain a one year MEBV for this reason.
This requirement appears to have been recently removed from the UK Russian Embassy Visa Handling Agent's website and someone from HUBB is seeking clarification from them.

The only thing certain about dealing with Russia is uncertainty !

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Hi,

I would like to know more about the entry and exit date on the visa application form. How flexible is the entry date for instance?
If you are not sure jet what kind of range is acceptable?

cheers

Wolsly

I am not sure what you mean, but -

You can only enter and exit RUS within the date range on the Visa - you don't have to come on the first day or leave on the last - you are free to do it any time within the validity period (subject to the 90/180 rule for year visas).

The date range on the visa comes from the Invitation (Business visa) or Travel details on the application (Tourist visa).

Tourist Visas are only valid for a maximum of 30 days. Business visas for 90 days - or if year with a 90/180 day restriction.

A visa cannot be applied for/issued more than 45 days (I think it is) in advance of the vaildity period.

They will not let you in before the date on the visa and you will have real difficulties if you remain in RUS and try to exit after the last day on the visa.
These difficulties can include - delay, penalties, denial of future visas etc.

If I havn't answered your query please be more specific.

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Griffdawg got confirmation from the Russian Embassy Visa Handing people in UK that British citizens do not need a previous visa before applying for a first time 1 year MEBV.

Another problem out of the way and one less - until the next political row!

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You need to get the visa in your home country. A 30 day visa will cover you easily between Ukraine and Kaz' can't remember the cost. Forget the green card for russia they won't recognize it. I bought insurance on the Rus/Ukraine border, 30 days for about $20. This was checked at every road block in Rus ( that's a lot of road blocks)
To return to Rus from Kaz i had to DHL my passport to a visa agency in London as the Rus embassy in Bishkek ( Kyrgistan) would not issue a visa even though I had an excellent letter of recomendation etc.
This process took about 3 weeks and cost me in excess of $300. This was for a double entry business visa. You will not be issued a business visa unless your passport already contains a 30 day Russian visa!
Nightmare.

For the first, for British Citizens, this is not quite so, but nearly!
See my Post 35 above.
Some other citizens are treated differently and can apply anywhere without Residency requirement in the Country where the application is being made.

If you are stuck in (say) KAZ and need to cross RUS to get to western Europe it is possible to get a Transit Visa there.
RUS Transit Visas allow 3 days or longer worked out on a daily distance allowance between stated entry/exit points - I think it is about 500Km/day.


For the second, wrong now.
If your home insurer will issue them, Green Cards have been accepted in RUS for over a year. You can still buy RUS insurance at or near borders (as I do - its cheaper and more recognisable to ДПС).

For the third, for British Citizens, also wrong now.
See my Post 38 above.

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Green Card issue

I can confirm: the green card issued by European insurance companies are valid in RU.
I crossed Russia this summer with a green card issued by a company (cant remember the name) from Romania. No problems at all.

Safe rides,
Adrian