Ann92
Just Starting
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:07 pm Post subject: Visa-regulations when randomly travelling throughout Russia |
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My dream is to travel throughout Russia, maybe start from China and from there over the border to Russia and then travel Russia from east to west.
But how can I travel randomly in Russia; take trains/hitchhike and sleep by hospitable Russians or in hostels, when the visa regulations require that I've planned my hotel in advance?
And which kind of visa should I apply for, when I want to spend somewhere between 4 and 5 months in Russia?
I really hope that someone can help me with this!
By the way, I'm from Denmark. |
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romdur
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 1:16 am Post subject: |
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Unstructured travel is feasible. It will take some time and preparation.
1. LEARN ABOUT RUSSIA. In my opinion, the kind of travel you are contemplating would be very unwise for someone who doesn't know Russia fairly well. If you have already spent some weeks or months in Russia, and have functional communication in the Russian language, then ignore this. Otherwise, be aware that travel in the Russian hinterland is not like travel in Europe! Speaking Russian will be a practical necessity.
2. For most foreigners, it is quite difficult, or simply not feasible, to legally spend more than 90 days at a time in Russia. The easy way to do this is to get a 90-day business visa. If you are tempted to plan staying longer illegally, DON'T. The Russian Federation is much harsher about overstaying than other countries. Whatever else happens, make sure you exit Russian passport control not later than 23:59 on the last day of the visa.
3. Get the visa at home (in Denmark). Most likely, you must apply not more than 45 days before your entry date into Russia.
4. With the business visa, you don't need a hotel invitation or voucher. You will need an invitation from the Russian foreign ministry, in response to a letter from a Russian business. Travel companies (like those associated with waytorussia) can arrange this for you.
5. Do plan a place to stay on you first night in Russia, preferably a hotel. This will provide you with an address, in case you are asked on entry. Also, the hotel will register your visa.
6. You are supposed to register your visa any time you spend 3 or more business days in one city or town. Experienced travellers sometimes advise not to worry about this too much, but recommend to at least register your visa in the first city you visit in Russia. In most of Russia, people are rarely checked for registration. There is nothing in a foreigner's passport that shows whether or not they are registered.
6a. Wherever you do spend more than 3 business days (presumably not while camping), do try to either register, or to have papers (such as rail tickets, etc.) to show that you have not been in your current location for 3 business days. At the very least, be prepared to bluff your way through. This way, you will be prepared in the unlikely event you are challenged.
7. Be sober about this. Some people (including folks on this forum) will hotly dispute this, but I have good reason to believe that you can be exposed to much greater risk of bodily harm than you are accustomed to in Europe. The great majority of Russians you meet will be very decent and kind, and many will go out of their way to help you. There is also vast lawlessness (not just breaking of laws, but the practical absence of law enforcement), and levels of robbery and violence thankfully unknown in today's western Europe.
For example, you should do fine riding trains across Siberia. On the other hand, hitchhiking in rural or wilderness areas could carry some very serious risk.
For these reasons, keeping safe requires awareness and care. Before your trip, please communicate as much as you can with people who know Russia well, and especially who have extensive experience in the areas you want to visit! |
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