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Visa, insurance and carnet for Russia (and baltics) Visa, insurance and carnet for Russia (and baltics)
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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
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Old 26 Jan 2004
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1
Quote:
Originally posted by Fuzzy Duck:
Hello

I've just returned from a trip through the baltic states and Russia.

Baltics were easy as you guessed. No Carnet or visa needed if you are a UK citizen (you don't say where you're from?)- just show up at the border and buy insurance there (about 20 euros for 2 weeks at each border) - quick and easy. I got there overland - not sure about shipping - perhaps you need to add a few more details of what you plan to do?

Russia was a bit more of a pain for me. I'm writing this as a UK citizen - so it might be easier/harder for other nationalities.

You need a visa (a tourist visa is fine for 1 month stay - anything more might need a business visa, which is probably more difficult to get). Try and get this well in advance of your trip (maybe 2 or 3 months before you plan to set-off?) - mine took ages to sort (I left it until the last minute) and the Russian embassy in London were refusing to issue any visas except the 24 hour turnaround ones - which are the most expensive. You need a letter of invitation in order to get a visa. You can get this from an agency or do a DIY job. The hostel in St Petersburg can issue a letter for you to do your own DIY job. When you enter Russia, you need to register within 3 days - otherwise you might get into trouble. I think this is usually done by the hotel you stay at, if flying there. For happy campers it's a bit more tricky. I got all my stuff done by Scotts Travel in London - they gave me an address of a hotel in St Petersburg to register at - from Latvia it's easy to get to St P in 3 days. Then I just went to the hotel and managed to get it stamped - although nobody spoke English so it was a bit tricky. Also my bike broke down during this 3 day period and I was scared of missing the deadline - but it all worked out OK in the end - St Peter is dodgy so make sure you park your bike in secure parking - but well worth visiting.

I got Russian insurance at the border (I think it would have been cheaper if I had paid in Roubles - but they accept dollars or euros) - it cost me about £50 for a month (I think I was ripped off, but I might be wrong) - I think there is a UK company who can provide insurance cover for all these places - which might be easier and cheaper - I think they are listed in the Russia Lonely Planet Guide - this also has good information about all the visa stuff.

Let me know if you want to know anything else - Russia is well worth touring - but I found it a bit scarey at first... I would also get my bike sorted before going there, as parts and things were hard to find and I'm told that shipping stuff in is difficult.

I hope this helps a bit...

I am planning on a ride to Moscow. Next summer, thanks for putting this up. I now know what questions I should be asking.

Natureboy


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