Russia Visa in Ulaanbaatar, Possible? Whats the situation?

[momo034]

Hi all, we will soon be doing Mongolia on two wheels but will sell the bike in Ulaanbaatar to take the trans-siberian home.

I have read some conflicting info about whether you can get a Russia visa in UB or not. One of us is with a US passport, the other with a Swiss. Anyone done this recently?

Specifically we were curious of

A.) it is possible (I have heard you must apply for Russia visa in your country of residence)

B.) Do you need all the invitation and hotel bookings etc.

C.) How long does it take

And lastly, if it takes several weeks would it be a problem to leave our passports in UB while they process the visas and go tromping around Mongolia with only photocopies of our passports and the receipt from the Russian embassy.

Any help much appreciated!

[motoreiter]

Originally Posted by momo034

(I have heard you must apply for Russia visa in your country of residence)

Not sure about for Swiss citizens, but US citizens definitely don't need to apply for a Russian visa in the US. I've received many Russian visa outside of the US. This differs by country, however, based on reciprocal visa arrangements, so could be different for Swiss.

[klausmong1]

In 2015 I met one person in Oasis who got a Transit Visa in UB.

I am not sure what Nationality he was, but I think he was from Europe.
At least he did not speak German. So no Swiss, Austrian or German.

[Batelumes]

Last year friends of me get It. Not sure how many time was needed, but I think It was less than a week. Try to get fresh news.

Regards.

[jordan325ic]

I got my Russian work visa (UK passport) in UB November 2016.

[Lovetheworld]

Is there any update to this?

Coming from Europe to Mongolia, continuing to Vladivostok, it is not clear to me what the best choice is. Perhaps take a normal tourist visa of one month (which we will probably need one month). And then go to Ulaanbatar to get a new Russian visa?

I also read the business visa can be used to get a longer duration double entry visa. But if you take the multiple entry that is one year, you have to stay out of Russia for three months. This is too long, maybe we stay two months in Mongolia.

So three months double-entry also won't work because it is probably too short.

So I'm wondering if we would take a 5 to 6 months double entry business visa, it would work? Or other restrictions?

[klausmong1]

First:

This year I met a British guy in UB who got transit Visa.
And he was able to go back to Europe in 10 days, not more.

Second:

I ad 3 times now Russian Multi entry business visa.

And I got in several times without 3 month of waiting.

With a 1 year business visa you van stay up to 90 days in 6 month, then you have to wait.

And you have to apply for it in the country where you are living.

only transit you can get on the road as it seems.

[momo034]

Thanks for all the replies. Just to report back how it went for me...

It was possible for me (I am with a US passport) but my travel partner was Swiss and for her it was NOT possible. She had to Fedex her passport back to Siwtzerland and pay an agency to do it. Go figure.

For me I needed the invitation and hotel bookings and it took just over a week I think. I was out motoing around the country though and didnt return to pick it up for several weeks, which was fine. The guy working at the embassy speaks great english and was surprisingly friendly.

So it works fine for some nationalities, but not for others.

[Lovetheworld]

Thanks guys for the info.

It seems that for Europeans you could only arrange transit visa's. I guess we could use that as a backup plan, but would prefer the business visa with double entry.

@klausmong1, I guess I didn't interpret the rules well. I guess during 6 months you can stay 90 days, but they can be split up over multiple entries. And when you reached the maximum of 90, then you have to stay out for 3 months. I guess it is like that?

[klausmong1]

Yes, it is like that.

And you cannot have 2 Russian Visas at the same time!!

So if you have a valid visa, you cannot apply for a new one

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by klausmong1

Yes, it is like that.

And you cannot have 2 Russian Visas at the same time!!

So if you have a valid visa, you cannot apply for a new one

you can ... you just need to have more than one passport.

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by Lovetheworld

I also read the business visa can be used to get a longer duration double entry visa. But if you take the multiple entry that is one year, you have to stay out of Russia for three months. This is too long, maybe we stay two months in Mongolia.

I have had 15 one year business visas, and often go in and out weekly. There is obviously no 3 months out of country requirement. The only requirement is that you are limited to be in Russia a maximum of 90 days during the past 180 days.

[klausmong1]

Originally Posted by colebatch

you can ... you just need to have more than one passport.

You are right, I did just think about the option with 1 passport.

And how I understand, if you use the 90 days in the first 90 days, then you have to wait for another 90 days ( to fullfill the 180 days ) to enter again.

But if you use the 90 days in different periods, than you can just enter again after 180 dys for a new 90 days of traveling

I hope this was not to complicated.:-)

But if someone knows the rules well, it's Colebatch

[Lovetheworld]

It is clear to me, thanks. I have used two passports per person on a previous Asia trip, but now it doesn't seem to be necessary. Longer Russia visa, Mongolia visa, and Japan you get 90 days free.

And we travel with kids, so that would involve a lot of extra cost (not only for the passport but also double visa)

[Lovetheworld]

Coming back to this topic, it seems that we won't be able to get a Russian Business visa for the kids (I guess that kind of makes sense, otherwise it would be child labor :P )

So we would probably have to try and get either a new tourist visa or at least a transit visa in Ulaanbataar, to get to Vladivostok. If we choose to do it this way, we will update this topic.

However, it would also mean that using a tourist visa for the first part. It would have to be 30 days at least, and should start (as in being valid) from around a week after we left home, something like that. That seems to be possible, if the invitations are done correctly, is my current understanding.