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nittentrikken
Traveller
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Posted 7 years ago

I have read on rail.cc blog that I will need an invitation to get a tourist visa for Russia. The Russian Embassy in Oslo is a bit unclear about this. On the webpages of the Russian Embassy in Norway it says that in order to get a tourist visa I will need documentation of my booked trip from a tourist agency registered in Russia that is organizing my trip. Having read several blog posts about train journeys in Russia, I hardly believe that any of these travelers booked their whole trip through an agency -- it seems more like they booked all train journeys and accommodations individually.

Do any of you have first hand experience with this? How did you provide necessary documentation for the visa application?

I will of course ask the Embassy itself, but since the information on their webpages is a bit confusing, due to an extremely formal yet imprecise Norwegian, I would like to ask what other travelers have done first.

FYI, I my train journey would go to Moscow and St Petersburg by train and then take a flight back. I will be entering Russian either with the train that runs to Moscow from Paris via Berlin and Warsaw (I am aware that I will then also need a transit visa for Belarus) or by taking the Allegro train from Helsinki to St Petersburg. I am so looking forward to this trip!

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nittentrikken
Traveller
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replied 7 years ago

Btw, I have seen Pete's post about visa application ([u]https://rail.cc/en/visa-for-train-travel-in-russia/f7819[/u]). I know it's possible to book all the tickets through Real Russia, which I guess would count as a tour organiser and could provide me with the necessary documentation for visa application. But what if I do all the bookings individually? What I am wondering, is if anyone has experience with this.

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 7 years ago

Hi!

I can only tell you from my experience getting the visa in Austria. There seem to be some minor variations between each country (for example unlike in Germany I didnt have to prove that I am willing to return to Austria (I dont know the exact english term) by proving a regular income in Austria or proving immatriculation at a university).

I did everything through a visa agency ([u]http://visum4you.at/[/u]) which made things a lot easier, even though this isnt cheap (but I would have needed to travel Graz - Vienna at once or twice if I would have applied for the visa on my own).
They also offer to get invitations - it seems that such an invitation has to be issued by a registered company offering touristic services. I did not have to book any kind of trip through them neither did I have to provide any tickets.
I just had to state my planned route when applying for the visa but was told that I coudl vary it as I like once I was in Russia.


Flo 8)

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nittentrikken
Traveller
15 comments

replied 7 years ago

Oh, thanks! I will have a look at that webpage.

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 7 years ago

Hm...like I said, I didnt need to show any hotel or train bookings - the visa agency got an invitation for me at that was it.

I had to provide a passport copy to get the invitation, then fill in the visa application form and that was about it.
Although you have to pay a bit extra I was very happy to with the visa agency as the probability for any mistakes or mishaps while applying for the visa is virtually 0 that way.

I'd recommend to look for a visa agency in Norway and ask them for advice - you dont have to book through them but they should give you at least an idea of how it can work. You can then decide if you want to pay that bit extra or not. :)

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 7 years ago

Hi.
It is always a little different from country to country - but in general very relaxed.
Like Flow, I did it as well via a German agency (my country of residence), therefore I also recommend to have a look for a Norwegian visa agency.
As earlier you buy the visa, as cheaper it is.
If you cross Belarus coming from Poland, think as well on your Belarus visa!
By the way, here the blog about travelling to Russia: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/night-train-paris-moscow/[/u]

In fact: I made the hotel bookings for Russia just online, like as well for Spain, Italy or all the other countries - if you like, use the partner link (free for you, but you support rail.cc): [ux]https://rail.shop/bookingcom[/ux]

At the hotels, Flo and I only had to show our passports.

The letter of invitation and the letter willing of return I had to buy and pay at the agency. They forwarded both to the Russian embassy.
So at the border itself, we only had to fill a paper sheet. Destination: Moscow. No address at all to fill in.

I suppose it will get much easier in 2018 then with football Worldcup. :)
Also I heard that several former Russian countries and big cities like Moscow are talking about, making all easier for tourist to come in.

I definitely recommend traveling to Russia, especially by train! :)

Pete :)

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nittentrikken
Traveller
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replied 7 years ago

Thanks both of you! This indeed sounds much easier than the webpages of the embassy makes it sound. I definitely will be going to Russia on my next big train trip, but I'm close to broke at the moment, so it will have to wait a little. But what's better than planning a trip when you can't actually go on one? ;)

Again, thanks!

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Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

replied 7 years ago

Alright, keep us posted about your plans! :)