Border crossing to Russia
 

Planning a trip this summer (June - August) from Turkey to Russia via Georgia/Azerbaijan. Then taking the route north to Moscow, Saint Peter., Murmansk, crossing to Norway and down along the coast to Denmark and all the way south to Greece.
Will it be possible for a land cross from Georgia to Russia or Azerbaijan to Russia, if not, is there a ferry from Turkey crossing the Black Sea to Russia? who is operating ferries over Black Sea?
Any one wants to join?

Russia/Georgia land border not open to anyone - except military incursions!
Russia/Azerbaijan land border only open to CIS (a 'club' of a few former Soviet Union states - see Wikipedia) passport holders.

Ferries are operating across the Black Sea from Turkey and Russia. I don't know who they are though.

Black Sea ferry
 

One I know of is UKRFERRY SHIPPING COMPANY.

Contact the Turkey HU community...they are quite a resource for things like this!

Crossing from Georgia to Russia via Kazbegi/Vladikavkaz border point May 2012:
 

Went Friday 11 May 2012 up from Tbilisi to Kazbegi via Georgian Military Highway. The road is very nice, except for the crossing over the pass, where you have 14 km of really bad road. The rest is brand new and fun to ride.
Went up to the border point,parked the bike and asked the guy from custom if I can cross as a non russian/georgian/CIS citizen the border. The answer was YES YOU CAN!
I asked then again, and mentioned that last year the border was closed for foreigners. They said yes, it was closed but now it's open, it is ok to cross to Russia. If you have a russian visa, of course.
I did not crossed because I wanted to go to Azerbaijan and from there to Turmenistan on the way to Mongolia and Siberia.

border open?
 

I have been trying to find details for the same trip as you. ferries to ukrainedetails are as follows

Port Poti/Batumi:

'UBG-AGENCY BATUMI'

+995 (422) 274119

+995 (422) 272724

ubgbatumi@gmail.com


'UBG-AGENCY POTI'

+995 (493) 221060

+995 (493) 221998

ubgcompany@yandex.ru
Personally i would rather ride if the border is now open.

Good luck John

Thanks for the good news, am in central Turkey at moment, so should be there in a week or so.

Alec

I met with a friend of mine yesterday who had just returned from Georgia. While he did not cross the border himself, he said that he asked about it, and was told that third-party nations can now cross the Russia-Georgia border. Road trip!

Good News
 

Crossed over the Kazbegi border day before yesterday, all very efficient.
From Georgia to Russia - British Citizen.
Could not find Russian Green Card or Money changing at border, but that could be my language skills!!!!!

Best wishes - Alec.

Thanks for sharing this very, very and very useful info....

I hope they won't change idea in 3 weeks time, when I 'll try to cross the border

visa
 

how did you get a russian visa?? I am finding it im[possible.

Where is the kazbegi border?

I am an irish citizen.

Any help would be really appreciated. John

located border
 

I know where the border is now.. its only visas that is a problem. John

Russian Embassy, Dublin Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ireland.

As has been stated many times, not all nationalities can apply outside their 'home' country unless they can provide documentarty proof, specific to them, of a Right to be in the 3rd country for more than 90 days and/or proof of having been resident for at least that long.

Ireland citizens have to show this if applying in UK, but not in Ireland.
This is the 'documents required' section for Irish citizens applying in UK for a Business Visa http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk/pdf/doq_required_business.pdf

I have no reason to think the rules would be different for you in other 3rd countries.
But there will always be a poster, who knows someone, who heard of a chap who 'got' one in some far away, obscure place that brings out false hope and frustration.
'Rules is rules' and Russian burocrats love them!

visa
 

Hi Tony, I live in ireland and could get a russian visa if I was going to moscow for example.

Its getting an invitation that will be recognised for the georgian border area that is the problem..

the visa firms I have spoken to have said they will not issue an invite....the only option may be to say i,m going to Moscow and just turn up at border with crossed fingers. John

This is why I would like to know what others did visa wise. John

John,

It is not an invitation you produce at the Georgian border - it is a Visa.

To get the Visa get the invitation to say you are going to wherever is easier to get an Invite. Moscow, Vladivostock, anywhere. Although Moscow or StPeter is the most common.

Your actual Visa will have no mention of where you asked for. It is a Visa to be in Russia - all of it, not one city. It will list the inviting organisation and their address, but that is immaterial.

Once you have a Visa you can use it anywhere. No one knows, no one cares what the application said - as long as you have a Visa.

I have several pals who applied to visit Moscow who never came near here. One entered via Vladivostock (Zurbino) from S. Korea and exited into Kazakhstan - the nearest he got to Moscow was 2 thousand miles away!

Russian burocracy is about each step being dependant on you having got through the previous one. Each official works on the basis that as someone authorised the previous step it is not his responsibility and must be OK and it is not his job to him to check up on the previous guy.

Believe me. Get an invite to/from Moscow and avoid the place, otherwise it will cost you some beers!!