russian visa in japan

[ben south]

Hi all, I know you are not meant to be able to get a russian visa outside of your own country, but, has anyone ever got a russian visa whilst in japan for a british passport?

[Tony P]

Rules vary for different citizenships.
You should always first check the RUS Embassy WebSite where you are, even before asking here.

Certain Nationals can apply at any Embassy.

At present a UK Citizen can only apply for a RUS Visa in the country where they have Residency Rights (and can prove them). That, to most Brits, means back in 'Blighty'.
Even EU automatic rights to residency in other EU states is not always accepted - they often require more, in the form of proof of that local residency happening.

There is an exception, that is a Transit Visa - but the time limits permitted are short and based on 'official' distances needed to travel between the stated entry and exit points via the shortest route. I cannot recall the actual figures but something like 500-800Km per day is in the back of my mind.

A transit Visa can be applied for at any RUS Embassy - presumably though only in an adjoining country

[Chris of Japan]

Probably a good idea to call and ask.
I couldn't find any info on the embassy website regarding residency rules here except for citizens of certain middle east and SE Asian countries.
They probably have someone there who speaks English.
Consular section:
81-3-3583-4445
Other phone numbers:
81-3-3583-4224 / 81-3-3583-5982

[ben south]

Thanks for the response,
we will be in australia for 4-5 months before we go to Japan and then on to Russia so we can`t apply before we go because they will have expired,we will try in oz then Japan if that does not work we will have to post passports back to uk
what a bloody stupid rule! takes all the spontanuity out of travel.
better get used to it going through the stans!

Chris do the ferrys to vlad run all year?

thanks Ben.

[Tony P]

Originally Posted by ben south

we will be in australia for 4-5 months before we go to Japan and then on to Russia so we can`t apply before we go because they will have expired,

Maybe.
I believe the maximum lead time from issue of a visa to the commencement of its validity period is 3 months. Then you can enter at any time during the validity period - but must also exit within it.

Originally Posted by ben south

what a bloody stupid rule!

Agreed.
It is partly Governments playing Tit-4-Tat and partly a result of Ex-pats abusing the system.

Many Ex-pats (not just British) had for many years been living here full time on year-long visitor visas and popping to Helsinki or Riga for a weekend once a year to get a new one.
The Russian state didn't approve for a variety of reasons and introduced the 'residency where you apply' rule for some nationalities.

Following that many Ex-pats changed their annual visa-runs to their home country and continued living here full time. So the Russians introduced 90 day limits to Visas or for longer ones the '90 day limit in 180 days' rule - except for Working Visas (don't get excited, these are NOT Business Visas, but for specialist Work Permits!).

Still Ex-pats abused the system, successfully relying on Border Officers not bothering to calculate days from the 'passive' list of entry/exit dates stored in the Immigration computor. So it is now done 'activly' by the computor which automatically flags up anyone who has overstayed without permission when their Visa/Passport is swiped/scanned on exit.

No doubt some bright sparks now have obtained 2 passports and have 2 one year long visas in parallel, and swapping them in their pockets just across a border every 90 days!

You think Brits are made to run in circles?
See what Russians have to do to get a UK Visa.

Firstly the British Embassy stopped dealing with applications and interviews insisting applicants go to the Embassy's specified private agency (and pay their additional fee!) adding to the cost of their visit to UK.
Within a couple of years the Russians played Tit-4-Tat and made British applicants in UK do the same!

Another rule is that in RUS applicants MUST apply in person - not by post, proxy or agent, in person. OK, the private agency, knowing Russia is a bit bigger than UK helpfully (?) agreed to set up some regional centers. OK?
Not for the poor people of Vladivostock - their nearest Application centre is in Novosibirsk over 3,500 miles away. More than 7,000 miles (11,450 Km) round trip just apply for a visa to visit Britain, for every member of the family, with no guarantee of success! Add that per person cost to their holiday following UK stopping accepting postal applications from Russians!!!


(Rant over!)

[dnicoletti]

HI THERE,
I dunno if this can be useful for your cause too. i've got my tourist visa (30 days only, double entry) at russian embassy in Jakarta, last june this year. i'm an italian passport holder, but i didn't noticed any difference with the brits or yankees as for regulations. i just had to wait for three days to get it back. as Chris says (hi Cris) you should to call to check it out.

www.lungastrada.it

[ben south]

Thanks for the replies,visas are a pain in the arse no matter where you come from,its about time they made it a bit easier havnt they got a world superbike round next year!
cheers Ben