Russian Visa, can  it really be this hard?

The biggest challenge we faced before we left was the Russian Visa. The process is unclear and there was little point planning our transit out of Vancouver to South Korea until we were clear if the Russian Visa was indeed possible!

So here are the facts as I understand them!

A Tourist Visa is only possible up to 30 days.

Most Adventure Traveller’s go for a “Business Visa” with a authorised letter of invitation. This makes no sense as we are not on business but there seems no other option as we needed 60 days and multiple entry.

So we applied for a dual entry 60 day Visa, currently the standard lead time (After the Salisbury incident) is 20 working days. This changed 6 days before we planned to apply.

The expedited process takes 4 working days and is £475. We had no option but to go for the expedited approach!!

Before you visit you need to fill out a on-line form at the consular department website. This is quite long and you will need to gather information about yourself, parents, children, employment, travel history and even old passport numbers.

Once complete you print and sign a copy and head to the Tourist Office, no appointment needed but we arrived early just in case!

Where do you go then?

We planned to go to the Russian tourist office in London at 202 Kensington Church Street (although there are other offices in Manchester and Edinburgh).

Head around on the circle line to Notting Hill and your there…

We were expecting a grand building, with flags, cars with blacked out windows and guys in suits talking into their cuffs! (we lead sheltered lives in Bristol) the reality is an plain doorway with a row door entry buzzers. beyond this were stairs to a busy 1st floor office.

The queue was short and after some initial admin issues we were making progress. The passport picture I had with me was rejected (same as in passport) and I was sent to the Post Office in the next building for a new picture.

OK so back at the office and the new photo seems OK, we move on to the next desk for finger and thumb scans…..

And that’s it….even with the admin wobble and new pictures we were in and out in 30 minutes!!! 475 pounds lighter and no Passport….

Now we wait anxiously for four days….

………and four days later theres a knock on the front door from the postman and as promised they arrive on time…..no drama here!

Was that a little too easy?