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From Italy to Japan through Balcans, Caucasus and Russia From Italy to Japan through Balcans, Caucasus and Russia
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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 20 Mar 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by liammons View Post
Other people have got multiple enrty russian visas without having previously had a visa though.

Who told you that?
Several travel agencies.

However, it's not "Kazakhstan" the topic...now I'm most interested in the BAM road and how to get to Sakhalin.
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  #2  
Old 21 Mar 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by francescoristori View Post
[...]
For first...I'd like to know about the BAM road from Tynda to Vanino..how it is?
I want to get there to get on a ferry to Sakhalin, going south to Korsakov and then ferry again to Wakkanai, Hokkaido, Japan.
How's the road in Sakhalin?
I will feel more safe if someone is going to ride the BAM with me.
Another question, will I find some knobbly tires in Irkutsk (or near, also in Ulan Ude or Severobaikalsk) that fit my bike (Super Ténéré 750 rims) to ride on the bam? Or it's not necessary to have knobbly tires to ride the BAM?

Any other advice, story to tell about..etc..I will appreciate it, thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by francescoristori View Post
Several travel agencies.

However, it's not "Kazakhstan" the topic...now I'm most interested in the BAM road and how to get to Sakhalin.
Please do yourself a favour and search for Colebatch posts here and reports on advrider and you'll find plenty of infos about the BAM.
Knobbly tires will not be your only problem...
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  #3  
Old 21 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by crisidsto View Post
Please do yourself a favour and search for Colebatch posts here and reports on advrider and you'll find plenty of infos about the BAM.
Knobbly tires will not be your only problem...
I talked to Peter Foulkes and Jon Brookbanks, they rode the BAM till Tynda, but I have no news about Tynda to Vanino.
I will read and talk also to Colebatch...unfortunately I know that knobbly tyres are not the only problem, but not to find them could be a greater problem.
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  #4  
Old 21 Mar 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by francescoristori View Post
Several travel agencies.

However, it's not "Kazakhstan" the topic...now I'm most interested in the BAM road and how to get to Sakhalin.
Hi, i never had a Russian visa before and obtained in February, without problems a one year multi entry visa. I used RealRussia and it was fast and efficient ...
But some others agencies had a fit when I spoke about a business visa for what is basically a holiday. Chose the right agency, you can get a business visa. You do not need to provide any business doc or reason....
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  #5  
Old 22 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by maria41 View Post
Hi, i never had a Russian visa before and obtained in February, without problems a one year multi entry visa. I used RealRussia and it was fast and efficient ...
But some others agencies had a fit when I spoke about a business visa for what is basically a holiday. Chose the right agency, you can get a business visa. You do not need to provide any business doc or reason....

Thanks for the reply. Maybe I can find the right agency, but now, due also to money, I think I will avoid kazakhstan.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris of Japan View Post
I think they gave you information about PERMANENT import, not TEMPORARY import. There is no import tax for temporary import. If you permanently import, you cannot ride without registering the bike (very expensive).
I recommend you enter at Wakkanai via Sakhalin. It is the easiest port. Other ports usually (but not always) ask for a carnet.
If you send me the e-mail you got from customs, I can probably decipher if they are talking about temporary or permanent import.
I think it's a temporary import, in fact I specified in the subject "Import a bike (temporarily) to Japan".
But if you give me via PM your email address I'll forward you the whole discussion.

If there is no import tax for temporary import is even better!

A friend told me that if your bike was built in Japan (mine was built in Iwata by Yamaha) you don't have to pay import taxes...anyway!
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  #6  
Old 23 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by francescoristori View Post
A friend told me that if your bike was built in Japan (mine was built in Iwata by Yamaha) you don't have to pay import taxes...anyway!
I don't think that is true. I can't find any Japanese law that say so.

Actually, there is no import tax on motorcycles. The 8% you were told is consumption tax (sales tax, VAT).

If you really care about laws and regulations, read on (Just read the bold parts and you will get the idea):
Under Article 17, Paragraph 1-10 of the Customs Tariff Law, vehicles for private use accompanied by the individual or shipped unaccompanied by persons entering Japan for purposes other than transferring their place of residence to Japan, are exempt from customs duties provided they are re-exported within one year of the day that import permission was granted.
Under Article 13, Paragraph 1-4 of the Law Concerning Levying of Domestic Consumption Tax on Imports, goods covered under Article 17, Paragraph 1-10 of the Customs Tariff Law are exempt from consumption tax.
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Last edited by Chris of Japan; 23 Mar 2014 at 09:44.
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  #7  
Old 23 Mar 2014
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Yes, in fact it was a consumption tax, but they were pretty sure about paying it...anyway I sent you a mail.
Thanks por copy-pasting that article, so I have 1 year.
And if I stay more? Do I have to pay consumption tax and then register the bike?
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  #8  
Old 24 Mar 2014
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I contacted again the Tokyo customs that confirmed about the exemption on consumption tax.
They said "If you would like to get duty/tax exemption without carnet, it is necessary to declare the fact of temporary importation and re-exportation and give a security guarantee in advance. (the guarantee will be back after exportation, however you will have to come Japan again to get back the guarantee or will have to designate a Customs manager who has address or residency in Japan to do the procedure on behalf of you.)"
It's not really easy I guess.
I'd like to contact the Wakkanai customs, but I can only find a telephone number, do you have an email, Chris?
Thanks.
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  #9  
Old 25 Mar 2014
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I think the decision on whether you need to give a guarantee is up to the customs inspector at the port of entry. I have never heard of this being required at the Wakkanai ferry.
I don't think there is a publicly available e-mail address for Wakkanai customs. I'll try to call them in the next couple days and ask if there are any changes this year. I am a bit busy today.

Quote:
Originally Posted by francescoristori View Post
I contacted again the Tokyo customs that confirmed about the exemption on consumption tax.
They said "If you would like to get duty/tax exemption without carnet, it is necessary to declare the fact of temporary importation and re-exportation and give a security guarantee in advance. (the guarantee will be back after exportation, however you will have to come Japan again to get back the guarantee or will have to designate a Customs manager who has address or residency in Japan to do the procedure on behalf of you.)"
It's not really easy I guess.
I'd like to contact the Wakkanai customs, but I can only find a telephone number, do you have an email, Chris?
Thanks.
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