Hi,
I'm off to Russia in a few months and was after some advice. In particular travel visa's. Are they free or what as a quick search online seems to bring back loads of companys selling them but i couldn't find any goverment type website with infor about them.

Anyone know where to get one?

Aaron

Aaron,

This is very spooky, I was just about to post something similar!

I'm having difficulty with the visa process to. I'm doing the trans-Siberian express and arriving in to Moscow by train from Prague (which has yet to be booked). Also, i'm arranging the hotel myself and the onward train travel when I get there. This means I don't have an invitation letter or fixed itinerary, both seem to be necessary for the visa application.

The cost of a postal application is £30 for a 30 day tourist visa as far as I can see. Have a look at this website. It's all abit confusing!Russian Embassy UK (http://http://www.russialink.org.uk/embassy/)

M

Visa:

http://www.russianconsulate.org/russian-visa.html

Russian consulate in London: 5, Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QS
Phone: +44 ((0)207) 229-8027, 229-2666, 229-9362
Fax: +44 ((0)207) 229-3215
http://www.rusemblon.org
Open hours: mon-fri from 09.00 to 11.30

Russian consulate in Edinburgh: 58, Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HF, Scotland
Phone: +44 ((0)131) 225-7098
Fax: +44 ((0)131) 225-9587
Open hours: mon - fri 09.00-12.30
Often quite difficult to get through on the phone though...


In order to receive a Russian visa, you need a visa invitation from a Russian citizen or a company, which is then taken to a Russian embassy or consulate, where the actual visa is issued. Within three working days of arrival in Russia, the visa needs to be registered by the person/organization that issued the invitation. If you do not register your visa in time, you may have trouble leaving the country.

Often your travel agency will arrange this for you.

If you are travelling to St Petersburg, you can have help with this from the youth hostel and travel company. http://www.sindbad.ru/
Book a night with them and they will arrange your invitation. You then send this, along with your passport, photos, money and other information to the Russian consulate in Edinburgh, or in London. When you arrive, they will register you - The same goes for hotels.

If you have a russian friend, they can go to the appropriate department and arrange an invitation - you then have to register yourself with the police.

Travel:
eg.St Petersburg
Now that there are bargain flights to places such as Tallin, in Estonia, it is a lot cheaper to fly there and then get the train (only a few hours)

Hope that helps - will try and post more...

(I spent several months living and studying in St Petersburg, and have returned on other occasions of course! Have travelled to other areas, including the amazing Altai Republic in southern Siberia, where i hope to return to this summer - one of the most
beautiful and magical places on earth! :) )

I'm going to St Peterburg in a couple of months.

Im looking to vissit russia in the near future and I wonder if anyone has been there recently? Any advice for travel.?