Russia - Finland Border Crossing
 

Dear All

I heard on another forum that there were changes to the temporary import documents for cars / bikes in august 2004 whereby the documents were valid only for 10 days and then had to be "extended" at great cost and time in St Petersberg. This information came from a 4 wheeled swedish traveller who has been across this border 6 times and the past few years so I consider that it is reliable.

My question is whether anyone else out there has crossed this border into Russia in of after august 2004 and how long were their temporary import documents for the bike/car validated for?

I know the maximum is 6 months but as we all know customs the world over are a law unto themselves.

All answers gratefully received.

Les

I went through in July this year, and to be honest I wasn't going to be in the country more than 10 days, so I can't confirm or refute the rumour. If I remember correctly the temporary vehicle import paperwork was made out using info from my visa. I believe a tourist visa is valid for up to a month, depending on what you specify when you apply for it. So presumably the old rules were that you'd have to get both visa *and* import certificate extended if you wanted to stay longer than the original visa.

Sorry I can't be more helpfull. Hopefully someone who's been over this autumn can straighten things out.

Iain

Iain
Cheers
Les

...for information, the (very good) website www.waytorussia.net has now updated their travelling to russia by car section and it contains very good information on the finland-russia border, and the documents required.
Les