Way to Russia Talk Lounge

prestowk · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 26

I'm devastated by learning of the new regulation that says EU nationals can stay in Russia only 90 days in a 180 day period. This practically breaks any plans of staying in Petersburg for a prolonged time.

I would be satisfied with a solution that lasted at least 6 months. Would it be possible, in a hypothetical example, to stay from Oct 1st to Dec 31st (claiming the 180 day period runs from July 1st to Dec 31st), and then immediately afterwards from Jan 1st to March 31st (claiming the 180 day period runs from Jan 1st to June 30th)? Yes, this is contrived, but I'm desperate.

Anyone came up with any other solution? How do EU students stay in Russia for longer than 90 days?

WayToRussia · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:35 pm Post subject:

No that wouldn't work, as they might count the period from the moment your visa is valid.

You can still stay longer in Russia if you have a work permit and the special type of business visa that goes with it. Same for the student visas.

Perhaps, there's some confusion in names. The "business" visas you're getting through agencies or online, is a type of tourist visa for those who need to attend events, explore business opportunities, etc. If you are officially employed by a Russian company, you can get a long stay visa.

Also, the new EU-Russia regulation makes it easier to get long-term business visas, but you have to ask at the consulate in your country to learn the specifics, as the consulates are now given more freedom in deciding against these rules.

prestowk · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 26

Aha, interesting. So, the options seem to be: get official employment, or student visa.

You say the consulates have more freedom in the decisions now. Unfortunately the consulates I have contacted so far have been far from cooperative -- when I try to friendly ask what I need to do to receive a visa valid for more than 90 days I'm greeted with silence or just that it's not possible.

My problem: I'm an independent contractor, and don't have an official Russian employer. Do you have any suggestions for visa types I could apply for to stay for more than 90 days?

WayToRussia · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject:

Well, the only way would be a student visa or an official work permit.

If you're a contractor the Russian authorities believe you won't need to stay longer than 90 days at a time (that's a standard international practice by the way to issue visas valid for up to 90 days). If you're from EU, there's an agreement that makes it possible to get a longer term visa with extended stay after you traveled to Russia a few times, but I'm afraid it's not yet fully implemented, or at least the consulates don't really follow it.

If you have a lot of money, you could theoretically set up a company in Russia (or a representative office of a company abroad), get all the official documents, including a work permit for yourself, and go from there...

You can read more about setting up your own company at
http://waytorussia.net/business/

Other useful links are:
http://vfbs.ru (more expensive)
http://debitcredit.ru (can help you set up a rep office cheap, but don't have expertise with work permits)
Both speak English.

mev · Frequent Guest Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 28

This year (2007), I spent five months bicycling across Russia. I feel very fortunate that I was able to do this under the previous visa rules. I had a multiple entry visa and entered twice: once for three days cycling across Kaliningrad and once for five months for of cycling from St Petersburg to Vladivostok.

My question is whether there are any known options for a non-Russian to take a bicycle trip of similar duration (e.g. sports visas?) or whether one needs to either fit within "setting up company" or "student visa" types of categories?

--mev

p.s. My bicycle trip journal:
http://www.bikerussia.com

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 676 Location: Moscow

You rode a bicycle from St. Pete to Vladivostok?? Wow. Super wow.

Please tell us how you pulled that off. How did you accomplish registration? Do you speak Russian? Where did you stay en route? What nationality are you?

Whoever you are mev, I'm amazed.

I don't know how you did it the first time and I can give no advice for a subsequent trip. But surely you're a hero!

mev · Frequent Guest Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 28

How did you accomplish registration?I entered from Estonia and spent three weeks at a language school in St Petersburg. I registered my first night in a hotel and for three weeks at the language school. After that it was mostly camping in a tent, but I registered when I could when I stayed in a hotel. I kept my registration related documents though they weren't checked when I flew out of Vladivostok.

Do you speak Russian?A little. I had two semesters of Russian classes before arrival and three more weeks in St Petersburg. This gave me more than "survival Russian" though less than "conversational". I want to learn more.

Where did you stay en route?Hotels or "homestay" in large cities. Camping otherwise.

What nationality are you?US

Bicycle touring is a nice way to see Russia since it brings you through places with few other tourists and lets you see the small places. I hope to make other bicycle travels through Russia in the future.

It also changed some pre-conceived ideas I expected. For example, before the trip I thought I might be stopped by militisia occasionally or by road police. The road police did wave me over a few times - however it wasn't to check documents as much as ask the same friendly curiosity questions others asked "where are you from? where are you going? how long on the trip?..."

--mev