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RUSSIAN VISAS
All visitors to Russia require a visa. Have no fear, if you book a GOBUS tour, we can obtain the invitation and visa on your behalf (there are fees involved) and provide the Embassy with the necessary paperwork.
Here’s the deal:
A Russian tourist visa is only issued to travellers who have fully booked and confirmed travel arrangements and a letter of invitation is needed from Russia to obtain a visa.
Applications are accepted only 3 months or less prior to the date of your exit from Russia. We’ll provide the necessary forms and clear instructions for completion. The tourist visa is valid strictly for the specified dates of your itinerary including your chosen trip and any pre or post trip accommodation you may require. The visa lists entry/exit dates (based on the entry/exit dates you inserted on your application) - so please exercise care when completing the entry/exit date section on your visa application form as GOBUS cannot be held responsible for incorrect dates or your passport details.
Processing time can be anything from 10 working days from the time we lodge. The Russian Embassy experiences unprecedented demand, so the sooner you get your application to us, the better. Booking late, need your visa sooner or forgotten to do your visa application on time (less than 3 weeks prior to departure)? You will need to take the RUSH SERVICE. If you reside overseas or are departing the UK more than 3 months prior to arrival in Russia we can provide you with the necessary paperwork in order for you to procure the visa independently from a Russian Embassy in your region. Please note independent applications are your own responsibility.
If you are a student, unemployed or self employed you now need to provide the embassy with 3 banks statements in order to obtain a visa.
Please note that once you have completed the visa application form online, you will need to print it out EXACTLY as stated on the Russian Embassy website and also ensure that your photo EXACTLY fits the photo box on the visa application page - otherwise the Russian Embassy can and will reject your visa application.
Click here for instructions to fill the Russian visa application for worldwide Russian embassies.
Click here for instructions to fill the Russian visa application for British and UK residents travelling from UK.
For visa information, please visit www.ru.vfsglobal.co.uk
* Please note that GOBUS charges a fee for obtaining your visa for you, as well as the Russian embassy fee and the invitation letter fee. This service is provided in the UK only. Please contact us for applicable costs.
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voltage
Standard voltage is 220V, 50Hz AC. Sockets require a Continental or European plug with two round pins. Pack a travel adaptor.
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health advice
You need to contact your local GP or a travel clinic for up to date information regarding vaccinations. Generally it is recommended that you be vaccinated for Diphtheria, Polio and Tetanus. Food and waterborne diseases are more common than in the UK, so Typhoid and Hepatitis A are recommended. Drink bottled waters only, pack some anti-diarrhoea medication and mosquito repellent and sun cream if visiting in summer.
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climate
Summer: Starts from mid-May to early September when the days are warm and very long. At midsummer in St Petersburg there is no real darkness.
Autumn: Autumn is brief and by the end of November winter sets in, bringing with it lots of snow and extremely low temperatures.
Sping: Spring arrives with a vengeance, heralding the great thaw, in late March and April.
Winter: Bring very warm clothes if arriving in winter, as temperatures between end November through end February plummet to well below zero degrees Celsius. You don't know the meaning of cold, until you've experienced a Russian winter!
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time
Russia (European Russia west of the Urals) is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime. From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, summertime is in force in the UK and time reverts to 4 hours ahead of GMT.
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money
CURRENCY GBP 1=Roubles 46 USD 1=Roubles 23 Euro 1=Roubles 37 (subject to fluctuation)
The Rouble is exchangeable only in Russia. US Dollar and Euro are the best currency for exchange. Bureau de Change and ATM machines exist in Moscow and St Petersburg (to a lesser extent in the provinces). Changing travellers cheques is not easy, so avoid if possible. Credit cards are becoming more accepted in Moscow and St Petersburg but cash is still the best bet.
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food glorious food
Russia has a very diverse culinary repertoire in the big cities but out in sticks the choice is far more limited. The Russians excel at hearty meat and vegetable-based soups. The tsar of all soups is borsch and Solyanka is also rather tasty! Well-loved classic mains include - beef Stroganoff (invented in Russia, as was chicken Kiev), pelmeny (Siberian-style dumplings) and spicy Georgian cuisine such as shashlyk. Fish varieties include - omul (similar to salmon and from Lake Baikal) and sturgeon - often poached and served with a sauce or mushrooms. A word on garnishes. Dill reigns supreme in Russia and you’ll find it zealously sprinkled across many dishes. Russia even produces dill-flavoured potato crisps! On a more indulgent note, Russians excel at the art of ice-cream making and on this front St Petersburg rules supreme! Another tasty treat in store for you is Novgorod's world renowned pancakes, yum!
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shopping
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia has embraced the free market. Gone are the days of trading your Levi jeans for vodka, caviar and worthless currency. Today, shops are positively brimming with consumerism. Souvenirs are authentic, inexpensive and usually well-made. The trademark souvenir is the gaily decorated wooden Matryoshka doll, a set of dolls within dolls. Enamelled wooden boxes known as palekh are also popular. Perhaps the most curious hangover of Communist times is the quantity of surplus Red Army and military souvenirs. Everything from badges to important-looking peaked hats, MiG fighter jet dials fashioned into clocks and clothing is available. The ubiquitous fluffy brown hat, a classic Russian trademark, is a must-buy and dodgy examples in faux-fur are available at all tourist sites! The Russians themselves wear similar hats but theirs are often made of real mink, ermine or fox fur. Winter clothing such as coats and boots are often cheap to buy in Russia, as is winter sports equipment. Watches previously made for the Russian military are available in myriad designs. If you are buying any expensive items, be sure to do your research before buying. | |
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