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British nationals need a visa to enter Russia - apply well in advance. If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, apply to the Russian Embassy in London (tel: 020 7229 8027). If you live in Scotland, apply to the Russian Consulate General in Edinburgh (tel: 0131 225 7098).
You must have an exit visa to leave Russia. Most entry visas include an exit visa - make sure you’re aware of the terms and conditions attached to your visa before you go.
Visitors must register their visas within three working days of arrival in Russia with the local branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Most major hotels will do this automatically. You don’t need to register your visa if you’re visiting for less than three days.
If your passport has less than six months to run, you may be refused entry to Russia: get a replacement passport before travelling.
You’ll also need to fill in a Migration card. Give part "A" of the card to the Immigration Officer on arrival. Keep part "B" with your passport and show it, along with your passport, to the police if they stop you for an identity check during your stay. Give part "B" to the Immigration Officer on your departure from Russia. You must complete a new migration card each time you enter Russia, even if you have a multiple entry visa. If you lose part "B" of the card you will be fined, and your departure from the country could be delayed.
Russian Visas - A Guide to Red-Tape
by Stef Marianski
Russia is possibly the hardest country in the world to get into. Their visa system hasn't changed really since the cold war. It has become slightly easier with the fall of communism BUT although communism is dead, the officials and authorities that upheld it are not. Policy has changed but the people who enforce it have not. And they are set in their ways. To get into Russia you have 2 options:
1. James Bond-style parachute into the Kremlin at the dead of night from a spy plane. This is probably the easier of the two.
2. Get a Russian visa...
There are several types of visa for Russia but gap year types will need either a tourist visa or a business visa.
TOURIST VISAS:
BUSINESS VISAS:
No one gets into Russia without an INVITATION. Basically this is a bit of paper from a travel agent authorized by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Basically it works like this:
1. You pay a Russian travel company to provide you with a tourist or business invitation. We applied for business invitations because we're staying for over 30 days and got them through www.waytorussia.net, who seem reliable.
2. Once you have sent your payment and details to the company, they send you a letter of invitation, usually it is faxed or emailed.
3. You take your letter of invitation down to the Russian Embassy along with your application form, medical forms if necessary (you need a HIV test if you are staying for over three months), photocopy and original of your passport and 3 passport photos.
4. You pay another fee, this time to the embassy, and they process your visa. You pay more for a shorter processing time.
For the complete rundown go to this site.
Hope it helps!
Comrade Stef
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