Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Paul Varjak · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 37

My girlfriend is a Russian national living in Russia (Nizhny Novorod). Can anyone tell me what countries Russian Nationals can visit without first getting a Visa?

Paul Holmes · VIP Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 965

Most require a visa, but many are just bought at the airport. Turkey and Egypt are the most popular places for them to visit.

You want them to go to places to get a simple visa, because it improves their chances to receive a more difficult visa in the future. First Turkey and Egypt, then Spain then Finland or Thailand soon the USA and Canada

Paul Varjak · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 37

Thank you, not many countries at present then?

I was in USA a few months ago and heard it would soon be easier for Russians to travel there. Can anyone give any links for info on this?

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 612 Location: Moscow

I can give no links, but I heard from a very reliable source just last week that 94% of applied for Russian visas to the US were currently being approved.

This person was in a position to know. Maybe US visa policy is on the upswing.

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

Yes I think so too...everyone I have talked to have had no problems getting a visa to here

TrevorM · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject:

Most countries outside of the EU for which tourism is very important either do not require a visa or give one on arrival either free or for a nominal fee.

Direct experience:-

Ukraine - I think only internal Russian passport required.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives - free tourist visa stamp in passport on arrival.

Other countries from information on the web:-

Turkey, Thailand, Egypt, Mauritius - visa obtained on arrival.

Things I've heard:-

I gather a lot of Russians also go to Cyprus, probably northern Cyprus as this is under Turkish control. Southern Cyprus (I think) has now joined the EU and would probably require a visa (not sure if it it is in Schengen).

It sems Malta is also popular with Russians, so if it does require a visa it is probably easy to obtain.

The best thing to do is to pick a country you would like to visit and then do a Google search for the "country + visa" and then find the country's official site with visa requirements, or one of its embassies that has a section on visa requirements.

darthvader · WayToRussified Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 378

Be nice to see a comprehensive "list" regarding this issue, generalising the ease of getting a visa to hundreds of different countries.

I heard Cuba, Finland, Singapore, Indonesia were also easy places for Russians to get Tourist Visas to visit.

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

For Americans...some countries are hard to get a visa for. When I went to Turkmenistan...that was hard, Iran was hard,

Kesha · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:59 pm Post subject:

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp

Paul Varjak · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 37

Many thanks again for your replies. Keha's link is very useful.

But I am still searching for info on the supposedly eased visa requirements for visitors to USA. From what I am told, these changes are due to take place next year, but exhaustive searches on Google have revealed precisely NOTHING!

missbehaving · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 20

Paul Varjak · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 37

I just found out that Russians can go to Antigua without and visa requirement, as can UK nationals.

Even better is the fact that it is possible to get married in Antigua almost as soon as you can get off the plane and that marriage is recognised in UK (probably Russia too).

It is also possible to get free flights to Antigua with a mystery shopping company that I work for!

froid · Frequent Guest Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 19

And Morocco as well. No visa required for Russians. Get the visa upon landing.