Need Info on Russia visa
 

I will riding from Netherlands to Vladivostok, Russia, starting mid-May next summer (2017). Does anyone know the requirements for Russian visas? Specifically:

1. Do I have to give exact dates when I am going to enter Russia on the west side and when I am going to leave Russia in the far east at Vladivostok?

2. Do I have to have a voucher from a hotel to show where I am staying?

I am asking these questions because the visa agenc tells me that I do have to give exact dates and have a hotel voucher, especially since I am an American. I hope this information wrong.

Thanks for any hints you can give me on this.

Oh -- another thing -- I think my route will take me across kazakhstan. Is there any of you who have done that? If so, any hints? I think this will require that I get a multiple entry visa for Russia. If so, will I need an exact date for both entry in Kazakhstan and reentry into Russia?

Ron

The visa will have an exact start and end date. You don't have to enter and exit on exactly those days, but you can only enter on or after the start date and leave on or before the end date. So when you apply for your visa put the earliest possible date you will be in Russia and be sure to get a duration that will give you plenty of time.

If you plan to go into Kazakhstan or Mongolia (Mongolia free 90 days on arrival for Americans by the way) then you will need to apply for a multiple-entry visa which is much more expensive and a little bit more complicated. However your visa will just say "Multiple Entry" and will not have any specific dates that you have to be out of Russia during that time.

Don't know about the hotel voucher. I did not need one but I applied with my UK passport both times. In any case, a fully-refundable hotel booking in Moscow (cancelled once the visa has been issued) should suffice.

Thanks Jordan
 

Thanks Jordan. This is exactly the info I neded. I appreciate the reply and the advice. The information I was getting from the visa service I contacted was scary and very unhelpful.

Ron

Real Russia | Travel and Visas for Russia and the region

These guys have a very thorough FAQ on their website.

While you're not explicitly recommending RR, it's worth remembering that there are also other Russia visa agencies too: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...y-beware-71975

Hi,

@Ron: I've been through Russia a while ago and it's true what Jordan says about the visa. Now what i did is get an invitation online and applied for a 3 moth business visa. Not through an agent. Did it on my own, no problems.
I got to say that i don't know the rules for Americans. But just wanted to let you know that it could be possible.

I stayed on a total of little over 2 months in Russia just 1 time in e hotel.
Never been asked for the registration(as they call it). Also not at the borders.
But again, maybe it changed. I didn't bother about it. I did hear of others who they did ask though.
Maybe you can ask others like Colebatch. He's been there several times.

Wishing you a nice trip next year!
:-)

Hey Ron, I had a multi-entry business visa for Russia earlier this year. I'm American like you, rode from South Africa to Vladivostok

In the visa application process I was required to specify hotels at which I would stay, so I just guesstimated cities and picked hotels off Google Maps. I never stayed at any of the specified hotels and it didn't matter. Didn't come across any requirements for a "voucher" in advance while preparing the application.

Good luck! :thumbup1:

It has been a Decade since I was in Russia, but I needed a letter of invitation as well as to state where I was staying.

Nobody is going to check though, your visa only says when it is good for.