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| Dear Traveller, |
| Are you eligible for visa free travel to Russia? |
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Russia’s long been one of those countries whose visa reputation has been, not to put too fine a point on it, daunting.
You might have been put off by the expense, or the amount of bureaucracy involved. Of course, many tour companies and travel
agencies will take care of the application for you, but with so many visa-free choices when it comes to destinations, we can
understand why for some people, Russia’s visa requirement has been a sticking point.
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But that’s all changed – at least for some passport holders. Last summer’s World Cup brought a change of heart and helped
break down some of the barriers and misconceptions that had previously existed. Further to this softening of attitudes,
on 1st October 2019, the Russian authorities introduced an
e-visa for St Petersburg for nationals
of 53 countries, including most of the EU and others including Japan, Turkey and India. The full list can be found on our
website.
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Right now, it doesn’t cover the UK, but if you’re the bearer of a British passport, don’t go away – there’s a workaround that
might just be enough which we’ll get to in just a minute. So, this e-visa makes life a whole lot simpler for those eligible.
The process has been designed to reduce traveller stress. There’s an online form to fill in, so no need for a time consuming
trip to the embassy, and no fee to pay. As well as being free, it’s also easy. E-visas are approved within four days – and
that includes weekends and holidays. There are a few stipulations, of course. At the moment this visa isn’t available to those
arriving by rail, but all air, naval, automobile and pedestrian checkpoints located in St Petersburg and the Leningrad region
are covered. It’s very good news for citizens of those 53 countries.
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Brits, if you’re still reading this, don’t be too disheartened. That workaround we mentioned?
Visa-free travel
is possible if you arrive via a cruise ship or ferry and take up an organised tour with a licensed operator, such as Go Russia.
You can stay for up to 72 hours before the requirement to hold a visa kicks in, more than enough to see how magnificent the
place is. The cities where this policy applies are: St Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, Sochi, Vyborg, Korsakov (Sakhalin
Island) and Novorossiysk. In practice, St Petersburg is the most convenient of those for British visitors.
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Go Russia currently offer two
visa-free packages,
one focusing on St Petersburg and the other a combi tour which adds Moscow to the mix. Both tours begin and end in the Finnish
capital Helsinki and include ferry crossings to St Petersburg. You’ll enjoy seeing world-class sights such as the Peter &
Paul’s Fortress and Hermitage in St Petersburg; in the Russian capital you could be standing in Red Square gazing up at the
colourful domes of St Basil’s Cathedral or stepping inside the Kremlin. On the
twin centre trip, the use
of an overnight train journey to and from Moscow means that you don’t waste a moment of your sightseeing time. Meanwhile the
single centre option
gives you more time to enjoy the delights of elegant St Petersburg, including the chance to take a boat trip on its famous
canals. The dates and prices for these confirmed departures are displayed on our website – all you need to do is choose the
one that’s right for you. What could be simpler than that?
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| Celebrate New Year 2020 in Russia! |
It is not too late to book our citybreak tour to St. Petersburg and Moscow departing 26 December 2019.
This eight-day holiday is a very special trip offering you the chance to join the Russians for their unrivalled New Year
celebrations. Combining elegant, romantic St Petersburg with modern, vibrant Moscow, you’ll enjoy the festive spirit in
two of the cities. This unforgettable tour, taken against a charming backdrop of snowy winter cityscapes, includes a full
sightseeing programme and some specially selected seasonal activities such as a magical trip to the ballet and a troika ride.
£1.545 per person incl. flights & visa. And there is still plenty of time to arrange your Russian visa.
Read more
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| The latest from our blog |
Subscribe to our blog and get £25 off your next tour booking.
In case you haven't visited for a while, why not take a fresh look at our
travel blog,
which features articles and news
about Russia: destinations, events, festivals, lifestyle, travel tips, and restaurant and theatre suggestions.
Our amazing team of travel writers will keep you up to date with what's important, and don't forget, we'd love to hear
from you too so we'll be posting reviews and stories from our customers who have visited Russia recently.
Please see the latest stories below:
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Why not visit the Tolstoy Estate Museum?
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Leo Tolstoy was one of Russia’s great writers, the creator of epic works such as War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Snubbed by the Nobel committee despite multiple nominations for the Literature Prize, history has judged him more favourably. Count Lev Nikolaye...
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Have you been to Muzeon Park?
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It’s been almost three decades since the break-up of the Soviet Union, yet our fascination with it shows no sign of going into that same terminal decline. And one way that manifests itself is by visiting the parks that are now home to those statues that once graced the squares and stre...
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Best of Moscow & St. Petersburg Guided Tour (CB-17)
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This is our most popular tour and deservedly so. Combining Russia's two greatest cities, you'll experience the best this country can offer. Offering a full sightseeing programme, this eight day tour encompasses Russia's cultural treasures, iconic archite...
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| Recommend a friend and get a £50 reward per person |
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Recommend a friend to Go Russia and if they book a holiday or any other travel related service with us we will give you both
a £50 discount per person to say "thank you". Read more about our
recommend a friend scheme.
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GO Russia, Boundary House, Boston Road, London W7 2QE, UK
tel.: +44 (0) 20 33 55 77 17
e-mail: info@justgorussia.co.uk
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