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Acquiring a Russian Tourist Visa while abroad

Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian Visa Forum

Author	Message
darthvader WayToRussified Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 427	Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:15 pm    Post subject: Acquiring a Russian Tourist Visa while abroad How problematic is it for an Australian, soon to be in the EU for substantial time, to acquire a Russian Tourist Visa (ie. acquire from a Russian Embassy while s/he is within a EU nation)? Can this be done effectively? Example: Australian, in Germany, sends his passport + Russian Tourist Visa Invitation Letter + Tourist Visa application form to the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Then, waits for the approval and eventual mail back of passport/visa back to hotel in Germany. Will this work? Any thoughts? Thanks
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polarrrbear Frequent Guest Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 53	Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 2:17 pm    Post subject: I don't think you can even apply for a visa without having residency status of some kind, like work there, study there or such. So if your 'substantial time' comes with residency permit of some kind, you should be ok. I'm not sure if they do mail-in application. Probably others know. As for being an Australian shouldn't make it any more difficult than people from other developed countries.
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darthvader WayToRussified Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 427	Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 2:40 pm    Post subject: Thanks for reply. My 2 months in UK and Europe has no EU visa requirement for me, being an Australian. I will attend some work-related functions (but, not officially work) and also holiday in this period. I have had numerous Russian Tourist Visas granted to me in the past. However, I have always acquired them within my home country. So, why wouldn't a Russian Embassy official, after examing my legitimate application documents (and, even previous Russian Tourist Visas) approve me a Russian Tourist Visa, even if I'm abroad? I wonder, if an application for this visa would be more likely processed, if I visited the Russian Embassy - in person - within any EU nation? And, later to collect passport/visa - person - from such Embassy.... All seems a bit dicey.
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polarrrbear Frequent Guest Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 53	Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:16 pm    Post subject: You probably won't be able to apply for a visa there. For you to go to EU territory, your status is simply a short term visitor. Requirement is that you are a citizen or legal resident of that country (except for citizens of one of the EU countries if applying inside of EU) where you are applying for a visa at. While it is inconvenient, we still have it far easier than Russians trying to get a visa for other countries, though. If they wanted to be really tough, they could, because our countries do to their citizens. Of course, that'll obliterate tourism industry there. But you get the idea.
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darthvader WayToRussified Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Posts: 427	Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:03 am    Post subject: Thanks for advice again. I surmised from previous reading ages ago that this type of visa request would be unlikely to succeed. However, right now I'm currently in the UK and may query the Russian Embassy here at some stage............
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romdur Lounge Lizard Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Posts: 189	Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:24 am    Post subject: Hey darth, This topic has come up before... In most cases, you cannot get a visa to Russia in country other than your home (passport) country, UNLESS you have official long-term (90+ days status) in the third country. However, the Russian consulates in the UK seem to make a limited exception. If you look the official website of the Russian consulate in the UK: http://www.rusemblon.org/ShowArticleAsPage.aspx?ID=32 it says that visa processing has been outsourced to a private company. If you then follow the link to that company, you can navigate to this page: http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk/generalrequirements.aspx which says, "For citizens of the following countries a special visa processing time limit is set, provided they do not have UK leave to remain or UK residence permit for a term exceeding 90 days," followed by a table that includes Australia, and gives a processing time of 10 to 14 days. Logic suggests to me that they wouldn't list a processing time for short-term visitors from Australia ... unless such visitors can apply for a visa! So unless I'm missing or misunderstanding something, the web pages say you can do it, if you can wait up to 3 weeks. If you apply for a visa in the UK, PLEASE write us a follow-up post! With Russian travel, actual experiences are extremely valuable.
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BELS Lounge Lizard Joined: 30 Mar 2005 Posts: 117	Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:59 pm    Post subject: I find it very amusing on how the Russian visa systems can work out different rules for different member nationalities of the EU. France and Italy in one box, Germany in another and yet Britain in another. What's next Texas in one section, and Colarado in another set of rules? And what about Australia and USA together with same rules, and Newzealad has another set of rules. What's going on with this mentality. http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk/checklists.aspx Even so an Australian or American should not have any problem in processing their visas anywhere in Europe, as the rules are virtually the same all over. But check the countries Russian consulate beforehand just incase. So yes Russian consulate in London is ok for Australians and USA Americans as you allow for 10-14 days processing. CONFIRMED
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