Way to Russia Talk Lounge

knowledge · Just Starting Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 7

I am from Norway. When staying in Russia on a tourist visa can I send my passport to a friend in Norway who then goes to the Russian embassy in Oslo to deliver the passport and the 12 months business visa invitation emailed to his address from WtR?

Is it risky to use the mail in this way and what happens if I am stopped in the street having no passport?

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 620 Location: Moscow

No. Do NOT try this.

For starters it is against Russian law to post a passport through the mail, courier, or any other kind of delivery service.

For another, you cannot under any circumstances be in Russia without a passport. No way no how. AND remember that your Russian visa is glued to your passport page. If you were so stupid as to send away your passport to a friend in Norway, you would be in Russia without a passport or a visa. This kind of stunt could land you in jail, legal no man's land, or worse.

All around it is A BAD IDEA. Forget it.

danbrew · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject:

In addition...

I assume that you want to try this method because you would like to continue to stay in Russia beyond the date on your tourist visa - and would like to apply for a business visa while already in Russia.

So... there are some problems with this.

First, your tourist visa will have a stamp indicating that you've entered Russia but it will not have a stamp showing that you've left. That's the first thing the Russian Consulate will notice when they're holding your passport and getting ready to issue your business visa.

Second, suppose the guy in Norway doesn't notice the part above and does actually issue you a visa. When you get around to leaving Russia 13 months from when you first entered, they are going to notice that you've overstayed your tourist visa by 12 months and that you were never "stamped in" on your business visa.

For those countries that issue visas, they're generally pretty serious about making sure you play by their rules. Especially with all of the changes with the Russians over the last year or so - read through this forum for more detail on those changes.

All in all, a bad plan.

knowledge · Just Starting Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 7

Thanks for replies. I guessed it wasn't possible, but one guy in the forum wrote about getting a friend to pick up his visa to avoid traveling a long distance himself to get it. So I asked, without thinking much about the implications. Thanks again!

danbrew · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:55 am Post subject:

It's not at all uncommon for folks in a *different* country from their home country, and while not in Russia, to send off their passport to the home country to apply for a Russian visa. Suppose you are a resident in Oz and you're in China. You won't get a Russian visa in China, but you could send your passport to Oz and have a trusted pal apply for an expedited visa and then send the passport back to you. This will come in handy if you're traveling the world and have been away from home for months and months and months and plan on being in China (or wherever) for some period of time that will permit you to send your passport home for a new visa.

Smile