Russian Business Visa - issues?

[kinvig]

Has anyone had problems using a multipass business visa in russia?

I've been advised to get one as it's cheaper than the tourist visa - will I have any issues?

[pranda]

Hej!
I had a multiple visa (for 6 month) to Russia - no problem at all!
I cross the border to Russia 4 times on my way from Denmark to South Korea in 2007.
You only need to registratet once - before 72 hours after your 1. bordercrossing.
greetings Poul Randa / Denmark

[roco rider]

Planning our trip thru Russia and it seems like the free market economy is working well, i have had prices for a letter for multible entry between $250---$400 euro. can anybody give me some direction thanks.roco rider Australia

[Tony P]

Kinvig, Hi

A Tourist Visa is only for a single entry.

Business Visas are the best if you are planning more than one entry. I have 1 year Multi Entry Visas (now about to get my 4th) which cost me about £130 at the London Embassy plus whatever your "Inviting" (or sponsor)Company want - this service can be provided by Visa Agencies but I am unaware of the current charge. Russian Embassies in different countries charge differing amounts - I believe in France and Finland they are cheaper!.

The advantage of Business Visas over Tourist is you do not have to have confirmed accomodation etc when you apply covering the entire duration of your intended stay, and Registration formalities are more flexible.

Once the Visa is issued there is no interest in how you got it or its purpose or type even though the Invitation letters are bogus.

Registration, as Poul says, is necessary within 3 working days of entry (Weekends and official holidays do not count). A Tourist Visa registration must be done through your hotels - BUT a hotel generally will only do it for the period of your stay there unless they see a good reason to extend this. $$ are a good reason! With a Business Visa you (or rather your host) registers at a local Post Office - cost about £4. Getting someone to "host" you costs anything from £35 up - its a Free Market Country!!

Technically a Registration should be changed if you move to another District for more than 3 days - but even Russians ignore that these days.
The Registration should be sent back to the local Police Office 2 days prior to leaving Russia.

You should carry your Passport, Migration Card and Registration (or a photocopy if sent back) with you at all times.


Rocco
Invitation Letters.
I don't have this problem but it is indeed a sellers market. Shop around the Visa and Tourist Agencies via the Internet or local newspapers in Russian communities in your country. The rate we have seen offered in London is currently about £200. But everything is negotiable.


The current diplomatic spat between Russia and UK does not affect the travelling public - YET.
It certainly has no influence of the attitude of Russian people toward you.

[RogerM]

Have a look at waytorussia.net has plenty of good info on invites and visas, its a sort of HUBB for travels in Russia.

My wife and I tried to get into Russia last year - was a few problems, firstly I could not get an invite more than a month out from the date I wanted to enter - not sure why, but that was the story.

Then the invite agency wanted another UKP50 to send the invite, rather than emailing as they indicated on their website - Rus embassy in London only accepts originals apparently - not sure how true that is either.

I phoned Rus embassy in London about time for visas to be issued and was told that in May it would not be until June and that we would have to leave our Australian passports with them for 3 to 4 weeks - that was not an option as we wanted to travel in Europe, plus I'm really uncomfortable about leaving a passport for that amount of time with officials known for their corruption. We gave up at that point.

In contrast a Mongolian visa was issued same day.

[Tony P]

Roger
Sorry to hear of your problems.

The Agency was being opportunist - and wrong - in asking for GBP50 to send the letter to you.

You never see an Invitation letter! It is sent by the host/sponsor company (via any agency) not to you but to the Ministry in Moscow. The Ministry gives them a reference number which you should quote on the appointed day when you go along to the Embassy with the other documents to Apply for your Visa. But it would already be in their computer if you do not have it.

In London, assuming everything is in order, they will issue a Visa the same day, next day or within a few days. The cost decreases as the time increases - see Russian Embassy Websites.

Try again - Russia is worth it, despite the seemingly impossible bureaucracy and opportunists after a quick buck.

[Blue88]

Great Info. I've now decided on a Business Visa even though I'm only looking at 1 Entry and 1 Exit. I will 'Post' with any useful info that I come up with. However,.. while I'm in that /neck of the woods',... might be rude not to explore a little further,.. Kaz and Mongolia,. Hey Ho

Thanks again

Blue88

'Poor Circulation': Riding Around The World, ....................... on £20 per Day

[kinvig]

I obtained my multi-entry (business) visa yesterday. It was actually much easier than I had been led to believe!

The visa will let me enter & exit Russia as many times as I would like for up to 90 days over a 6 month period.

Initially I went to a couple of online agencies to get them to do all the paperwork. The online agencies such as visatorussia weren't very good - they were really helpful, but they wanted things such as a previous tourist visa in order to apply for a business visa & an HIV certificate!

I then went to Stantours & they orgainsed the LOI for me without any real issues.

The russian embassy in London's website said I would also need a letter from my company, bank statements if I was self-employed to prove my credit-worthiness and my travel insurance documents.

When I got to the embassy, it turns out that all they wanted was my passport, LOI & visa fees.

The biggest problem at the embassy were the business men in the queue: trying to get suitcases into the building (despite signs warning to the contrary), last minute cutting & gluing photos to their visa applications, and my favourite, the business man with no LOI at the front of the queue trying to get a business visa with no joy!

So, one mulitvisa for me. Job done.