To travel to Russia you have to carry out several procedures in advance. Therefore, in this article, we tell you everything you need to know before starting the trip, such as what documents are needed to enter the country or what are the immigration requirements for each person.

Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.

Required Documentation

Depending on your nationality and the reason for the trip, you may need a visa to enter Russia:



Passport Number

Passport is a mandatory document for anyone who wants to visit Russia. Likewise, all tourists must register with the authorities during the first seven days, a task that hotels are usually responsible for.

There are some countries that are exempt visa if traveling for tourist reasons:

  • A: Abkhazia, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan
  • B: Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil
  • C: Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba
  • E: Ecuador, El Salvador
  • G: Guatemala, Guiana
  • H: Honduras, Hong Kong
  • I:Israel
  • K: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
  • M: Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro
  • N: Nicaraguan
  • O: South Ossetia
  • P: Panama, Paraguay, Peru
  • S: Serbian
  • T: Thailand, Tajikistan
  • U: Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan
  • V: Venezuela

Citizens of these countries can travel to Russia without a visa for a maximum of 90 days during a 180-day period, with the exception of Cuba, Montenegro, Serbia and Thailand, which have a 30-day permit; and Hong Kong, which is 14. Likewise, people from Serbia must have a biometric passport.

On the other hand, if you are traveling on a cruise ship and one of the stops is Russia, you can stay in the country for a maximum of 72 hours without the need for a visa. However, you must go in a tourist group, have a valid passport and the people of the Schengen area and Israel must have travel insurance.

Visa

People from other countries, including Spain, Mexico or Costa Rica, need to apply for a visa to enter Russia. To do this, you must make an appointment at the consulate or embassy. In the case of the tourist visa, which generally allows you to stay in the country until 90 days within 180, the following documents must be submitted:

  • Confirmation of receipt of foreign tourist or visa support. It must be in Russian and have a registration number, stamp of the issuing establishment, signature of the person in charge and the establishment's registration number with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It can be provided by the hotel (it is not the reservation), but there are also online companies that carry out this procedure.
  • Original passport with two continuous blank pages and with a minimum validity of six months at the time of the end of the trip.
  • Questionnaire completed and printed. You can access it by clicking at this link.
  • Passport size photo glued or stapled to the questionnaire.
  • The people of Australia, Canada, the United States, Georgia, and the United Kingdom must fill out another form by hand. You can find it at this link.
  • Citizens of a country in the Schengen zone or Israel must have travel insurance.
  • In some countries, booking of roundtrip flights.

Travel insurance must be from a Russian company or one of the following:

  • Compañía Europea de Seguros SA
  • MAPFRE Assistance
  • Previase (DKV)
  • Schwarzmeer und Ostsee Versicherungs - Aktiengesellschaft SOVAG
  • Winterthur Assistance SA
  • AXA Aurora
  • Global Voyager Assistance (Cyprus) - GVA
  • AIA International (CIS) Ltd. - International SOS
  • Coris - Spain
  • Europ Assistance

If the insurance that is contracted is not from any of the above companies, you must have an official document from the Russian company with which the company has an agreement.

To apply for a visa to a minor, the Family Book must be presented.

Furthermore, Russia has an agreement with most of the countries of the European Union to expedite the approval of short-stay visas. For people from these states, the normal processing time is 10 days and the visa costs € 35. If it is urgent (it must be justified), the term is 3 days or less and costs € 70. The beneficiary countries are the following:

  • A: Austria, Germany
  • B: Belgium, Bulgaria
  • C: Cyprus
  • E: Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia
  • F: Finland, France
  • G: Greece
  • H: Hungary
  • I: Italy
  • L: Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg
  • M: Malta
  • P: Netherlands, Poland, Portugal
  • R: Czech Republic, Romania
  • S: Sweden

In the event that you travel to work, study, for business or visit friends and family and, therefore, the stay is longer than 90 days, you must present a certificate of an AIDS or HIV test carried out in the last three months .

In Spain, the consular offices to apply for the visa are at Madrid (Calle Principe de Vergara, 126) and in Barcelona (avenue Rome.

Soccer World Cup 2018

People who travel to Russia to attend a 2018 World Cup match are exempt from applying for a visa, as long as their trip takes place between June 14 and July 15, 2018.

To do this, you must have a ticket for at least one World Cup soccer match, as well as the FAN ID, an identification card that is requested online and sent home free of charge. You can order it by clicking at this link.

Keep in mind that due to the influx of tourists, security measures may be tightened and, for example, less time is allowed to register as a traveler. Therefore, it is advisable to inquire at the Russian Embassy or Consulate before starting the trip.

Travel with dog

If you want to travel to Russia with your pet, it must comply with several requirements. Dogs must undergo a clinical examination during the five days prior to travel. After this, you must have a passport or international certificate validated by the Government.

The dog must be identified with a microchip and have been vaccinated against the following diseases between one year and twenty days in advance:



  • Rage
  • Distemper
  • Canine hepatitis
  • leptospirosis
  • Canine parvovirus

Also, you must have lived in a rabies-free zone in the last six months. It cannot be a puppy less than three months old and all documentation must be translated into Russian.

To enter by air, you will need to travel to either Domodedovo Airport in Moscow or Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. If you have more than two animals, you may need an import permit. Once you arrive at the airport, you will need to register your pet at the veterinary office.

Recommendations

Before traveling to Russia, it is important that you take into account these requirements and tips:

Sanitary requirements

There is no mandatory vaccination to enter Russia. However, it is advisable to get vaccinated against the following diseases:

  • Central European encephalitis (for rural areas)
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Tetanus-diphtheria
  • Poliomyelitis
  • MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)

If you need any medicine, you better travel with him. If it carries any psychotropic or narcotic substance, a medical report translated into Russian must be carried, so you should consult your doctor if your medications contain any of these substances.

If they do not carry any of those mentioned, you will have to carry a prescription translated into Russian in which the active principle of the drug appears, its generic name, the dose and the frequency of consumption.

Likewise, it is highly recommended (and, in the case of Spaniards, mandatory) to have medical insurance with high coverage.

Security

As indicated by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, it is advisable not to participate in demonstrations and rallies, not to use unlicensed taxis, to take precautions on night trains and to avoid peripheral neighborhoods at night.

Areas of the country and annexed territories that should be avoided due to peligro that it means to visit them are the following:

  • Crimea
  • North Caucasus Federal District
  • Krasnodar
  • Republics of Lugansk and Donetsk
  • Republics of Abkhazia and Ossetia
  • Sevastopol
  • Stavropol
  • Rural areas of Siberia and the Far East

As for homosexuality, it is not a very tolerant country. In addition, there is a law that prohibits the propaganda of this fact. Therefore, it is one of the little recommended countries for LGBT people. You can learn more about this aspect in the following article: The 10 worst destinations for the LGBT community.

It is also not a surrogacy destination for gay people, a treatment commonly known as rent belly, for the reasons stated in the following article: Surrogacy for homosexual couples in Russia.

Questions from users

What is the best date to travel to Russia?

The most recommended time is summer, since the weather is more favorable. If you decide to travel in winter, for example at Christmas, remember to wear thermal clothing prepared for low temperatures.

What is the language and currency of Russia?

The official language of Russia is Russian, although in tourist areas they know some English. As for the currency, the ruble is used.

What is better, go to Russia on your own or with an organized trip?

Going to Russia involves carrying out various procedures. Therefore, to go more comfortably, an organized trip is better, but it is totally possible to go alone or on your own.

Can you travel to Russia in your own vehicle?

Yes, it is possible if all the requirements are met. However, keep in mind that from Belarus you cannot enter by road or train, so you will not be able to use your car, motorbike or motorhome.

Can Dominicans travel to Russia without a visa?

Although it is possible to reach an agreement in the future, in principle people from the Dominican Republic do need a visa to travel to Russia, unless they have a diplomatic or official passport.

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