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OlgaSaavedra
Just Starting
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:08 pm Post subject: Travelling into Russia with Russian passports & using So |
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Hi,
My mother and I will be travelling to Russia in August for holidays.
Both of us have valid Russian and South African passports.
We have lived outside Russia for over 20 years so we have the appropriate passports.
We will be going through Germany (intransit) to St Pietersburg.
We were told that we can use our Russian passports to get in and out of Russia and use our South African passports to leave South Africa to Germany and gain entry into Germany and South Africa on the way back after visiting Russia.
Is this true and is it done commonly without any problems?
Thanks a mill!  |
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DelBoy
Just Starting
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 7
Location: London
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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Yep, that's true and no, there's no problem with having more than one passport. Some of us have four 
What you need to remember is that you have to enter and leave Russia on a Russian passport, same goes for US, UK, Israel, Canada, etc ... i.e. if you are a citizen of a particular country, you have to use its passport to cross its border. Simple as that.
The only difference in case of going to Russia is, because of visa requirements, you'll need to show your Russian passport to the airline clerk on the check-in in SA and/or Germany, as they have to make sure you will be admitted to Russia [without visa in your SA passport]. Same goes for the return flight - the only time you need to show your SA passport in Russia, is when you check-in for your flight - again, the airline is required to check your admissibility to the destination country. And they always do, 'cause they don't like to fly you back for free LOL 
Other than that, both on arrival and on departure to/from St.Petersburg (immigration/passport control and customs), you only need your Russian passport. |
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polarrrbear
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| It's not that they don't like to fly people back for free. They get fined quite a bit for bringing inadmissible people. It was in the range of $3000 or so per person a few years ago. I'm not sure if it's about the same amount now. Either way, some people still manage to get on the plane and get refused of entry, because airline check in was negligent or some other reasons, it's not easy for them either. |
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DelBoy
Just Starting
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 7
Location: London
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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Sure, I was just going for a lighter note in otherwise very boring post
Actually, a good friend of mine, who used to be a pilot with one of the small Caribbean airlines, lost his job few years ago, when the company went under, bosses blaming ground staff for massive negligence fines they repeatedly got hit with by US and Canada ... Apparently, if negligence is proved, the fines more than triple (over $11k per case, if I remember correctly).
Anyway, the OP should be alright, as there are no cause for concern in her situation. |
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