Way to Russia Talk Lounge

shumphreys · Just Starting Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

Hi Everyone,

As 2 Australians currently in Tallinn, Estonia we are trying to organise visas to get into Russia. We have just been informed that as of yesterday 22-10-07, a new rule has come into place that prevents the Tallinn Consulate from issuing visas to foreigners, and have been advised to apply in our own country. On ringing around this rule seems to be in place also in Helsinki, Finland. The consulates are typically very hard to contact, rarely answering the phone and not responding to emails so if anyone has any inside information on this issue it would be greatly appreciated. We have already obtained our letter of invitations and now just need to find somewhere to process the application - preferably relatively nearby to Estonia! Also to any others hoping to apply soon - make sure you check with the embassy where you are as to whether they will process your application, as this is a very new rule there does not seem to be any information online about it.

Thanks for your thoughts, Sarah

greg222 · VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 600

Yes, this rule seems to have come out of nowhere with very little (or no) forewarning. I just read about it in the Moscow Times today, but didn't realise it applied to tourist visas.

From the article:

"Zubkov's decree also says foreigners might have to obtain the visas in their native countries -- which implies that U.S. and British expatriates could no longer hop on the train to Kiev for a visa run. But representatives of visa agencies and foreign business lobbies were unsure how that rule would be implemented, and some said it might not apply to Westerners."

"Timur Beslangurov, managing director of Vista Foreign Business Support, said foreigners would be able to obtain visas in the Russian embassy of any country as long as they could present a residence permit for that country, or at least some document proving that they had the right to live there for 90 days."

To me that implies you could apply in Western European countries, where Australians are granted 90 day stays on entry. Maybe try calling the Helsinki consulate again and arguing that case.

I have also read that the rule is being applied on reciprocal terms (this might or might not be true). So if there's a country nearby that has an Australian consulate where Russians are able to apply for Australian visas then that would be your best bet.

Sorry, but the best advice I can offer is to keep trying to contact the consulates in Riga and Vilnius. Then start looking further afield. Since it's a new rule, it's bound to be applied inconsistently, so there's still hope.

Let us know how it goes.

WayToRussia · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:30 pm Post subject:

Yes, that's right. There are new regulations, and you can find more info about them here: http://blogs.waytorussia.net/item/107

Basically, you can't apply for a Russian visa in a country other than the one you're a citizen of, unless you have a permit of stay for that country. The consulates are allowed to do exceptions though, so I guess if visa business brings a lot of cash to the consulate in Shanghai, China, for example, they might be willing to issue you a Russian visa there, but it's not sure and it will surely be more expensive.

Also, you can't stay now longer than 90 out of 180 days on a multiple entry 6- or 12-months visa. You also can't get a multiple visa now if you never had a Russian visa before.

shumphreys · Just Starting Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

Thanks for both of your posts and input, it has been frustrating thinking that we have been the only ones affected by this, and I have not got a consistent response from any of the 5 or so consulates I have spoken to.

I have a final question on this point - I also have a British passport (originally I was told it would take 2 weeks to process a visa if I applied using my British one, and 3 days for my australian one, so I avoided using it), so does that mean this is sufficient to prove that I can reside (for over 90 days) in whichever country I am in (Estonia at the moment) in the EU and therefore I should be able to get a visa from here!?

Thanks again!
Sarah

Jabberwock · Just Starting Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

I'm an australian citizen, too, in Russia on a 1 year multi entry visa. I got my visa in Riga, back in June, and first entered Russia on July 19th. I left Russia on September 10th, and re-entered on September 17th. In view of these new laws, I am wondering how long I have left, before I need to leave the country? Like, in my case:

a) does the 90 day period start from the date when I FIRST entered Russia on my current visa? If that is the case, I should already be gone, right!? If THAT isn't the case (and I hope it isn't!) then

b) do they start counting my 90 days as of October 10th, when the new law was passed? Or

c) do they start counting my 90 days NEXT time I apply for a visa, and my current 1 year, multi-entry visa "isn't affected by the new law..." (pretty doubtful, I realize!) Or

d) is this law going to take a half a year or two to filter down to the pogranichniki, and they'll just wave me through with a knowing smile that says "Law? What law?"

How should one act in such a case?! I certainly don't wish to run afoul of the system and get an administrative misdemeanor attached to my name in their files.

Regarding the law about obtaining your visa in your home country only (or in a country where you have right of abode for more than 90 days): If this is the case and there is no consulate in the area willing to help, perhaps you could simply DHL your passport to the Russian embassy in Sydney and get it DHLed back? Expensive, I realize, but DHL is a cheaper airline than QANTAS! The bad part is being without your passport for a few weeks. In some countries in western Europe (and the Baltics) that may be a risk worth taking? If you're on the move, crossing borders then obviously that isn't an option. Does anyone know if a consulate requires you to be physically present in the country where you're applying?

From quite a few years of past experience, I have found the Russian consulate in Riga to be quite helpful and even friendly, at times. For example, they have always ignored the usual requirement of having an AIDS certificate. shumphreys, have you tried that consulate? I'd be interested to hear if they have also tightened up...

Hope you find a solution.

katrin · Just Starting Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

Hi everyone,

first of all, thanks for this very informative website.
Next year, my boyfriend (Italian) and I (German) would like to travel on the trans-mongolian railway together. We have both been living in France for several years, but France does not require residence permits for EU citizens any more and thus does not issue them (good-bye to bureaucracy!).
Does this mean I'll have to get my Russian visa in Berlin and he in Rome?! Does anyone have any experience with this already?

And about visa registration: I guess we'll do it in Moscow before we leave, but what if we want to hop off in some cities on the trans-mongolian for more than 3 days?

Thanks for answering...

Katrin

WayToRussia · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:28 am Post subject: Russian Visa Update

Hello,

We have news about the new Russian visa 90 days regulation and the limitation to apply in the country of residence. See New Russian Visa Regulations - 90 days rule on Way to Russia blog.