Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 22 May 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London
Posts: 249
Russian Visa - Help me out with this easy question!

I'm not getting very sensible answers from the russian embassy nor am i getting very sensible ones else where. I just want a simple anwser!

I need a Russia Tourist Visa (I will be in Russia for less than thirty days) and will be leaving home mid July and entering Russia mid August. To complicate things further i will be not home until early July.

Do i need to get a LOI or can i just march up to the Russian Embassy in London and get a visa? What is the cost and how long does it take? If i do need one where should i get it and how much should it cost!
__________________
Thanks
Joe
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 22 May 2009
kebabtomten's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: sweden
Posts: 79
You will need a LOI . Like many other embassies the Russian has outsourced its visa handling to a company check on theire webpage . Dont think you can apply directly at the embassy any more. Easiest way to get a visa is to go with a agency that provides you with a LOI.

Some agencies do not do this and require you to get one yourself. I am applying for my Russian Visa throug a company in Scotland as they had cheap prices and provided the LOI

Visas

cheers
__________________
www.uk2sydney.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 22 May 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: uk
Posts: 57
Joe

Irrespective of how long you're planning to be in Russia for, you will need an LOI in order to obtain your visa.
As Kebabtomten correctly says ... going through an agency is the only practical way forward. There are a number of such agencies around - try Googling "Russia Visa Loi"!

I'm currently using Scottstours ...... see HERE

Enjoy your trip
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 24 May 2009
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
Less than 24 hours for a tourist visa LOI (and 1200 rubles - about 24 quid) from my regular agent ... VisaLink.ru
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25 May 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 296
if you are riding or driving you will need an Auto Tourist Visa. i used RealRussia and it cost me about £120. takes about a week.excellent service. Andy
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 25 May 2009
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Gunma, Japan
Posts: 1,104
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andysr6 View Post
if you are riding or driving you will need an Auto Tourist Visa. i used RealRussia and it cost me about £120. takes about a week.excellent service. Andy
I have never in all my time moderating this forum, hosting travelers, and visiting Russian myself heard of a auto visa!
The only place on the 'net I could even find something about it is on the RealRussia site. Does your visa really say auto visa? Or is this something RealRussia is using to charge an extra fee I wonder...
Either way, I doubt that you "need" a so-called auto visa.
__________________
Japan touring information
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 29 May 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Nottingham UK
Posts: 227
I dont know anythıng about auto tourıst vısas and whether or not ıts a scam, but Ill just chıme ın that I got my cultural vısa for Russıa from RealRussıa and they were really helpful and well organısed. Also great websıte whıch allows you to upload your passport scan etc to theır sıte and updates vıa emaıl automatıcally at dıfferent stages of the process. From what I could see they were also cheaper than any other agency.

Scottsvısas I used for an Azerbaıjan vısa and wasnt so ımpressed, not as good or helpful and they seemed really expensıve (would have cost almost double for the same Russıan vısa I got wıth RealRussıa).

Only my experıence.
__________________
UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 29 May 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 296
Auto Tourist Visa?

Hi, the information i have about Auto Tourist Visa came from RealRussia , it did not cost any more money and once agian i can only recommend their excellent service. i assumed this was the norm. Andy
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 30 May 2009
Caminando's Avatar
Moderated Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DogZone Country
Posts: 1,218
Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
Less than 24 hours for a tourist visa LOI (and 1200 rubles - about 24 quid) from my regular agent ... VisaLink.ru
Sibirsky Extreme - a fantastic project and website. Really bold and brilliant. Ta!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 8 Jun 2009
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
Caminando; thanks very much sir !

Auto Visa; Agree with Chris, never heard of one in my life, and been to Russia over 75 times on 15-20 different russian visas.

120 quid is a huge amount for a tourist visa LOI ... or does that fee include the visa service at the embassy too?

I will say unequivocally that you do not need an 'auto' tourist visa, if such a thing even exists. Any valid visa is fine to enter and ride in russia, regular tourist visa, business visa, work permit, whatever. You do need insurance, and Russia now accepts the green card for this purpose. Else buy it at the border.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 27 Jun 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Nottingham, England
Posts: 1
Auto Tourism Visa....

I've just used Realrussia for my Visa. When explaining to them that I was entering Russia on a bike they said I should go for the auto-tourism visa. It DOESN'T cost any more, but what they do is supply details of your bike (make, model, colour and numberplate) to the Russian embassy with your visa request. That way the Russians record that you'll be entering their country on a bike, and have a record of what bike you bring in.


Where it says "PURPOSE OF ENTRY" you get "ABTOТуризм" (which reads "Auto-tourism") instead of "туризм" (which reads "tourism").
NO details of the bike appear on the VISA, just the word changing above.

Hope this helps!

p.s. the £120 is for the LOI, Visa, Embassy submission and a very, very helpful service. I'd recommend them (they are the ONLY company I've used to get a Visa - so no comparisons with others, but went out of their way to double check details and help me understand the entire process.... very helpful).
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 27 Jun 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,377
Interesting about the auto tourism visa. I have had many many Russian visas and never heard of one, and you certainly don't have to have one of these--a normal visa works just fine.

Also, I don't really see what the advantage of the auto tourism visa would be for the traveller, maybe less paperwork at the border (but I doubt it). I suspect that whether you have an auto-tourism visa or not, you'll still have to fill out the paperwork for the temporary customs import.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Russian Visa Question MAXVERT Trip Paperwork 1 14 Jun 2008 21:14
Russian business visa application question Pumbaa Trip Paperwork 7 21 May 2008 18:24
I can't get Russian visa seagull Europe 8 10 Jul 2007 10:43
Easy Tourist Visa for Iran worldon2wheels.de Trip Paperwork 4 17 May 2005 14:25
russian visa pietro.spera Trip Paperwork 4 28 May 2004 06:16

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 15:12.