Russia visa 3 days?

Hoops1888

Hi

I might be going to the Spartak Moscow V Celtic game with the woman. Just wondering anyone got any info on visa's how long they take, the price, what I need to do etc etc.

Thanks

BuffyBot

http://dublin.rusembassy.org/ should give you the info you need.

The earlier you apply, the better basically.

cailinoBAC

You can get a visa same day if you need to. It cost me €100 2 years ago. Just checked and it's still the same. I'd say at this stage that's your best, bet as 5 days is a bit risky, but you'll have to go to the embassy in Rathgar. The address and opening hours are here -

http://www.ireland.mid.ru/emb_en.html

http://www.ireland.mid.ru/visa_en.html
As you see you need to fill out the application form (on the site). You will also need a tourist voucher and tourist confirmation. I imagine if you're staying in a hotel they will supply this to you (by fax).
If you are going to try and find an apartment or you are staying somewhere that doesn't send an application, or you want to get the ball rolling, you can order the confirmation/voucher from the website below. There are plenty, I don't know if others are cheaper, but I used this one and it was fine.
http://www.visatorussia.com/russianvisa.nsf/tourist_visa_support.html
Basically you get a page confirming that you're staying in a certain hotel (total fabrication) and that will do.

I think I'm making this a lot more complicated than it is. Maybe try to sort out your accommodation this weekend (Www.waytorussia.net seems good for hotels/apartments, I don't know, I was staying with friends) as you won't be able to get to the consulate before Tuesday anyway, and see if they'll send you the voucher Monday/Tuesday and by Tuesday afternoon you might already have your visa! And it'll be worth it!

TT&TO

i am not sure if you want to know this but...
it took me 6 weeks to organise, research, get in contact with, organise faxes, get time off work, & make it to the embassy on time.

this is my story....

1. in july this year, i went to st petersburg for six nights (dont know about moscow but the visa is the same) and we used an apartment agency - just email them to arrange the invitation and voucher - this was both in english and russian - this took 2 weeks so i think you should ring them. it is TEN TIMES EASIER to use a hotel, as they will do everything for you and as far as i know, they give invitations for free. they will register the visa for you when you arrive, so you won't have to worry about that. you will need to think about travel insurance but i don't think it is compulsory - i mention this as it is on the application form.

2. complete the application form for each person, get them to sign it and turn up to the russian embassy (you can get the dundrum luas or the number 14a bus from parnell square - get off just after the luas stop on the left hand side, cross the road, then walk a few minutes, keeping the golf course on the right hand side and then, after a few minutes, the russian embassy on the left hand side - you will see the black railings and security cameras) you will need to get there between 10am and 12.30pm mon-fri - the staff are very friendly but get frustrated if you haven't filled in the visa application form correctly - you will need to bring along the relevant passports also and 100euro fee per application - you will probably have to wait up to one hour, although i was there for only one half hour.

tywy

Well, you can get invitations online, they email them to you the next day. They cost US$30. They work fine as we have our Russian visa for going away next week.

We went to the Russian Embassy in Rathgar with all the requirements (list of these on the embassy website). Queued for a while, then they gave us a receipt telling us to pick up our passports 2 weeks later. Went back 2 weeks later and got them. No hassle whatsoever! I think it cost €60 to get the visa in 10 working days. If you need it quicker you have to pay more but that's about it.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Also the cheapest way to fly to Moscow is via Berlin, you may have to stay in Berlin a night like ourselves but you end up getting to Moscow for about €125 one way including taxes.

Are you planning on going on this trip with a tour operator or what?

Our man in Havana

Who did you get the flights with?

cailinoBAC

So did you decide to go? Let us know how you get on!

Ballyman

It's pretty straightforward to get a visa for russia once you have an invitation. You can get this online as mentioned above or whatever hotel you are staying in will arrange it for you. If you have booked a hotel then ask them for an invitation and they will email it to you.

You need to present yourself to the embassy in ranelagh to apply. Again, as mentioned above it can be done on the day or 5 days. I chose 5 and had it sent back to me as promised.

Moscow is a great spot for partying but you need to understand that it is incredibly corrupt. It can also be very dangerous around the city centre and football stadiums on the day of a game so just have your wits about you.

I was there for an Ireland game a few years back and had great craic with the locals on the days up to the game but on game day the atmosphere changed somewhat as the scumbags from the suburbs arrived into the city for the game. Totally different atmosphere everywhere and the two bars we were in that morning had the windows smashed by a gang of 30-40 skinheads shouting "Ulster British" Not a very pleasant experience let me tell you

Other than the day of the game shenanigans it was a great spot.

Hoops1888

Hey thanks for all the replies.

Havent booked anything I havent even decided yet if to go or not.

Can anyone tell me what they think of this site http://www.expresstorussia.com/visa_11-20/in_euro/tourist_russia_visa.html for the visas.

Also I'd be grateful if anyone could recommend cheap enough flights or that, I found two flights with hotels for about 1,100 but the hotel is miles from Moscow.

Yeah I heard there was trouble with the Ireland match but been honest I heard it was the Irish fans fault.

Just noticed that site is just for the invitation.

Our man in Havana

You will have to do the visas yourself in Dublin, get the invitations from where ever you can get them from, preferably from your hotel in Moscow.

Ballyman

Hoops1888 wrote:

Hey thanks for all the replies.

Havent booked anything I havent even decided yet if to go or not.

Can anyone tell me what they think of this site http://www.expresstorussia.com/visa_11-20/in_euro/tourist_russia_visa.html for the visas.

Also I'd be grateful if anyone could recommend cheap enough flights or that, I found two flights with hotels for about 1,100 but the hotel is miles from Moscow.

Yeah I heard there was trouble with the Ireland match but been honest I heard it was the Irish fans fault.

Just noticed that site is just for the invitation.

Well you heard wrong then. Trust me.

cast_iron

If you do decide to go:
1. Get the visa for a few extra days. The last thing you want is to get delayed in Moscow (accidentally, unavoidably) and be stuck in Russia without the relevant papers.
2. Make sure you find out where you are going BEFORE you leave. You won't get English maps over there easily and Cyrillic can be very difficult to follow. And few people speak English.
3. Never ask a policeman for help.

cailinoBAC

It's strange, and a pity, that www.inyourpocket.com doesn't have a guide for Moscow as I find them the most down to earth and practical guides for everywhere else in Eastern Europe.

Have a look here for hotels
http://ireland.hotels.com/advancedSearchHome.do?showhp=true&destinationId=B13C75CC-EB4C-44B3-8E06-6E95D7848E9E&arrivalDate=17/08/2007&departureDate=20/08/2007&numberOfRooms=1&adultsPerRoom=2&childrenPerRoom=0&childAgesPerRoom=0

The Golden Ring, marriott Tverskaya seem like ok locations, maybe Novotel and Swissotel too. The Maxima Hotels seem to be close to metro stations so could be ok even though they're not in the centre. I'm not even going to comment on reviews, you'll just have to make your own mind up. But this website
http://ie.hoteldiscount.com/index.jsp?pageName=hotAvail&cid=86790&locale=en&currencyCode=EUR&passThrough=true&validateDates=true&showPopUp=true&arrivalMonth=7&arrivalDay=17&departureMonth=7&departureDay=20&x=30&y=8&numberOfRooms=1&room-0-adult-total=2&availability=true&submitted=true&validateCity=true&avail=true&passThrough=true&propertyType=H&mode=2&isAdvancedSearch=false&specials=false&showPopUp=true&hotelID=175311&displayAd=false&showInfo=true&dispCurrencyCode=EUR
seems to have a cheaper price for The Golden Ring at least. Anyway, get a map which shows the metro stops and see if they're close to the metro, that's quite important. The metro is great, they come every 2 or 3 minutes.Anything within the circle would be very city centre, but don't dismiss something outside. If you can get to the city centre in one trip (some of the south east lines are a bit dodgy) and you're staying close to the station, that's fine. As long as you don't have to travel to get to the station n the first place
http://images.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.waytorussia.net/Moscow/images/metro.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.waytorussia.net/Moscow/MetroMap.html&h=782&w=737&sz=127&tbnid=w7TbzK-ONkqCvM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmoscow%2Bmetro%2Bmap%26um%3D1&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1
http://www.waytorussia.net/Moscow/GettingAround.html
The only thing you have to get used to with the Metro is that when you change lines somewhere the stations will have different names. So for example you will get off at Okhotny Rad on the red line and change to Teatralnaya on the Green line. Buy a multijourney ticket because the queues can be quite long.

I don't know about flights, as I've never flown to Moscow. Actually looking on lastminute.ie you can get flights for the 2 of you for €500 which seems ok. (I think it's out with LOT and back with Lufthansa)
Getting from the airport to Moscow
http://www.waytorussia.net/Moscow/ArrivalDeparture.html

Oh, this hotel was the one listed on my visa...I was actually staying nearby, it's not a bad area, the VDNKh is strange and nice. Also close to metro station (VDNKh, 5 stops from end of orange line)
http://www.venere.com/hotel/?htid=228790&lg=en&cityCountry=Moscow,Russia&sd=17&sm=08&sy=2007&ed=20&em=08&ey=2007&rval=1&pval=2&tripref=307509

If you really want to be in the city centre, but not spend as much, maybe you could try one of these places http://hotels.waytorussia.net/moscow/
At your own risk though, as I don't see any reviews
I wonder if you book a hotel on the internet will they send you an invitation? Maybe you could book your hotel, then ring them and ask them to send you an invitation and save you the $60 it will cost on the internet. I mean, they should send you an invitation, I think it's just a question of whether it will get to you on time. I would try looking into that this weekend. You will need to take, say, Tuesday morning off work to go to get your visas.

Oh, I agree, never ask a policeman for directions and if you want to look like a local and avoid being asked by a policeman for your passport, carry a plastic bag (dunnes stores better value seem to be found all over ex USSR!). I brought my passport everywhere but advice you read always tells you to leave it in the hotel and carry a photocopy.

Maybe on your flight over you can have a look at the cyrillic alphabet. No use trying to learn the language in a week but it will be so much easier if you can stumble through the alphabet because a lot of important words are similar once you pronounce them. (Like PECTOPAH being pronounced restoran)

Zebra3

Was in Moscow for the Ireland game in 2002. Couldn't wait to go as I'd been dying to visit Moscow for years and the match was a perfect excuse to get someone to head there with me.....

What a let down!

Moscow is a rip-off and a dangerous kip.

I'd advise you to give it a miss, but if you don't, watch your back while you're there.