Russian Tourist Visa
Discussion
A month is cutting it very very fine as they need the following:
1) A letter of all travel movements.
2) A letter off a sponsor in Russia.
3) proof you have money (statement).
4) 2-3 weeks to process it all.
If you get any of the details wrong on the forms or any of the above it will delay the proceedings by at least a week, I put mine in 8 weeks in advance to make sure if there was any issues I could address them (travel movements and sponsor letters were incorrect)...
I went through it all last year for a trip to Russia occupied Finland, it was a f
king ball ache.
Trip was good though.
Oh and do it in person so its not lost and you can change things quickly if wrong.
Russia Visa Application Centre in London
15-27 Gee Street
London EC1V 3RD
Russia Visa Application Centre in Edinburgh
16 Forth Street
Edinburgh EH1 3LH
Postal applications should be sent to
PO box 64391
London EC1P 1NJ
1) A letter of all travel movements.
2) A letter off a sponsor in Russia.
3) proof you have money (statement).
4) 2-3 weeks to process it all.
If you get any of the details wrong on the forms or any of the above it will delay the proceedings by at least a week, I put mine in 8 weeks in advance to make sure if there was any issues I could address them (travel movements and sponsor letters were incorrect)...
I went through it all last year for a trip to Russia occupied Finland, it was a f
king ball ache.Trip was good though.
Oh and do it in person so its not lost and you can change things quickly if wrong.
Russia Visa Application Centre in London
15-27 Gee Street
London EC1V 3RD
Russia Visa Application Centre in Edinburgh
16 Forth Street
Edinburgh EH1 3LH
Postal applications should be sent to
PO box 64391
London EC1P 1NJ
Edited by Du1point8 on Thursday 9th May 13:39
You can get an invite from the hotel you are staying in usually? You also need three months worth of bank statements (very recent ones), 2 photos iirc, proof of travel insurance. If you use an agency it can be done within about a week. Don't make a single mistake on the form, however small you may think it is, or it will be returned.
Thought I would come back and update with my experience.
I used http://www.realrussia.co.uk/ they sorted the visa and support (invite) documents and turned it around in 7 days. The process was £30 more than posting directly and probably worthwhile for the support available from them. Bank statements etc are only required from the unemployed or self employed. ALL in the visa cost around £140 (more than the flights!).
Cheers for the advice all.
I used http://www.realrussia.co.uk/ they sorted the visa and support (invite) documents and turned it around in 7 days. The process was £30 more than posting directly and probably worthwhile for the support available from them. Bank statements etc are only required from the unemployed or self employed. ALL in the visa cost around £140 (more than the flights!).
Cheers for the advice all.
Tyrant said:
Thought I would come back and update with my experience.
I used http://www.realrussia.co.uk/ they sorted the visa and support (invite) documents and turned it around in 7 days. The process was £30 more than posting directly and probably worthwhile for the support available from them. Bank statements etc are only required from the unemployed or self employed. ALL in the visa cost around £140 (more than the flights!).
Cheers for the advice all.
£140 for one tourist visa?I used http://www.realrussia.co.uk/ they sorted the visa and support (invite) documents and turned it around in 7 days. The process was £30 more than posting directly and probably worthwhile for the support available from them. Bank statements etc are only required from the unemployed or self employed. ALL in the visa cost around £140 (more than the flights!).
Cheers for the advice all.
Pretty certain mine was in the £30-40 price range.
When my parents visited Russia as part of a cruise, they said the Visa was about £110 (they didn't purchase it, but they said it was possible to get one then and there) and just did guided tours. Not sure why it's so expensive and difficult though; who'd want to be an illegal immigrant in Russia?
George7 said:
When my parents visited Russia as part of a cruise, they said the Visa was about £110 (they didn't purchase it, but they said it was possible to get one then and there) and just did guided tours. Not sure why it's so expensive and difficult though; who'd want to be an illegal immigrant in Russia?
I used a travel agency a few years back and it was quite easy but the paperwork was comical. A form asking all sorts like parent's occupations and box less than an inch high to list every country I have ever been to (over 50, so I listed all on my current passport) along with every city I was visiting. Once you are there you have to carry around a document listing fictional hotel reservations in all cities you are going to. Then you need to register in any area you are spending more than 48hrs in. If you are stopped by police you can be fined for not doing this. Registration involves the hotel owner taking your passport to a police station (or your host with a copy of the deeds or rental agreement of their home) and paying a fee. This is all ridiculous and is taken with different levels of seriousness wherever you go. Oh and you don't want to get caught without papers.In all Russia is a massive ballache to travel in. Nobody smiles and everybody's favourite word is 'nyet'. On the other hand, once you get to know some people they are incredibly hospitible and the scenery is amazing.
On the subject of illegal immigrants, there are many from Central Asia and are treated like absolute s
t.Rostfritt said:
I used a travel agency a few years back and it was quite easy but the paperwork was comical. A form asking all sorts like parent's occupations and box less than an inch high to list every country I have ever been to (over 50, so I listed all on my current passport) along with every city I was visiting. Once you are there you have to carry around a document listing fictional hotel reservations in all cities you are going to. Then you need to register in any area you are spending more than 48hrs in. If you are stopped by police you can be fined for not doing this. Registration involves the hotel owner taking your passport to a police station (or your host with a copy of the deeds or rental agreement of their home) and paying a fee. This is all ridiculous and is taken with different levels of seriousness wherever you go. Oh and you don't want to get caught without papers.
In all Russia is a massive ballache to travel in. Nobody smiles and everybody's favourite word is 'nyet'. On the other hand, once you get to know some people they are incredibly hospitible and the scenery is amazing.
On the subject of illegal immigrants, there are many from Central Asia and are treated like absolute st.
Its not as bad as this ^^^^^^^In all Russia is a massive ballache to travel in. Nobody smiles and everybody's favourite word is 'nyet'. On the other hand, once you get to know some people they are incredibly hospitible and the scenery is amazing.
On the subject of illegal immigrants, there are many from Central Asia and are treated like absolute s
t.I've been working out here since 2004 , typing this from Siberia !!, I’ve never ever carried my passport with me unless I’m catching a train or plane or driving, all other times its left at the house / hotel safe .If your a tourist and you go out leave it in a safe place ,Its too risky too keep it on you in case you lose it or get it stolen .I’ve never been stopped by the police in nearly 10 years !
To get your visa , make sure your application is correct , Plan and prepare your itinnery .Most reputable hotels will include an invitation letter , to help with the visa process. Once you arrive in Russia you'l get a double sided immigration form , its filled in automatically when you pass through passport control they will give you a copy ...Just dont lose it !!
If you want to do the tourist bit , forget Moscow , go to Saint-Petersburg its a much nicer city, take a day trip to visit Peterhoff , Winter Palace , etc,
On another note why not contact a guide before you travel they may also help with travel / invitation letters etc.?
included a web site
http://tourguides.viator.com/Listing.aspx?type=tou...
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Tyrant said:
Thanks, a trip to London I was hoping to avoid.
There are few postal services I've found but they're more costly than the flights!
Cost out Intourist booking your flight + arranging your visa + booking their cheapest hotel (used to be the Izmailovo, vast accomodation complex from the Moscow Olympics) and then not staying there once they've registered your passport . . . There are few postal services I've found but they're more costly than the flights!
We went for a weekend in Moscow in February and had a fantastic time:-
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Don't believe the bad stories you here, we didn't find any of it true. Also we paid approx £70 per visa, but my mrs took the paperwork in as only works round the corner.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Don't believe the bad stories you here, we didn't find any of it true. Also we paid approx £70 per visa, but my mrs took the paperwork in as only works round the corner.
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