Can you visit Moscow for several hours without a visa?

Question

I am going to Thailand in August but the flights contain a stop in Moscow where my connecting flight is not for about 14 hours. Will I need a visa to leave the airport?

Answer 1

only 14 hours in Moscow?

STOP!!! Let's think about this sanely for a moment or two.

First of all, Sheremetevo-2 is a longass way outside of Moscow. This has given rise to a group of chain-smoking and fun-loving folks I like to call "The Taxi Mafiya". They basically will charge you at least 50 euros minimum just to take you from S-2 airport to the center of Moscow. If you are well-heeled and have money to burn, then go for it. There is no problem that can't be solved with Money in Russia. But realize that you will be spending no less than 100 euros just to get back and forth to S-2 airport. And traffic can be exceptionally bad on Lenindradskoe Shosse and it can easily take you 3 hours each way to get back and forth.

What the heck? no US dollars? Why do they charge in euros, Schmegicky? (you might ask...) Well, until 10 years ago, every Red blooded Russian had at least 2 thousand in US dollars stashed in a mattress somewhere. Then, once the US dollar started going into the toilet, a lot of Russians lost 30% of the expected value of these US dollars. So many of them get pretty worked up when you start waving dollars around and will try to charge you an 25% "nuisance currency" fee. Also, if you have dollars with bent corners or the slightest bit faded, they will try to give you 10% less for these bills. Don't bring old bills to Russia. They are quite anal about this with foreigners.

If you can speak a few words of Russian and can put your hands on a few rubles before your trip you might take the bus from the airport to the underground station and save about 90 euros. If you are claustrophobic this might not be for you since all of Russian humanity (and various subforms) ride public transit. You will understand this once you make it to Retchnoy vogzal, the underground station. (It definitely puts the "retch" into Retchnoy vogzal).

You should add an extra hour each way for doing public transit. Add more time if you think that there is even a small chance that you might get lost.

I will go out on a limb and say that your 14 hours layover is completely theoretical, as most things in Russia. Let's say more realistically that it becomes 10 hours once you finish with the 2 hour line at passport control. Then, with travel time back and forth you have only 2-4 hours of sightseeing time. This is barely enough time to stroll up and down Red Square. For the time and trouble, you would be better off doing a photoshop of yourselves infront of St. Basil's cathedral and spending the money you saved on a good bottle of vodka.

One final thing to think about....
Russian law says that you have to have your visa registered if you stay at least 3 days. Some people have reported that they have had to pay a "fine" for not registering their previous visas, even though they didn't stay for 3 days. It's something to think about.

Try to arrange an extra day in Moscow. The rule of thumb is (if you come from a normal country) that things take 3 times longer to accomplish in Russia than they do in your home country.

One other "fun" thing about Russia. Let's say that you miss your flight and your visa then expires. In most normal countries, they throw you out if you don't have a current visa; NOT in Russia... In Russia you can't leave until you have resolved the issue of not having a visa (with payment of money, of course).

Visiting Russia is alot like navigating though a University bureaucracy. Once you get through it, you are in for the best party of your life.

If you really decide to go through with this idea on 14 theoretical hours, please post it to a blog somewhere. I would definitely read it.

Answer 2

Don't even attempt to enter Russia without a transit visa. Yes 100% you will need a visa to leave the airport. They have some pretty hard requirements for a visa, which you must have in advance such as letter of sponsorship like a hotel.

Answer 3

No, you cannot visit Moscow without a visa. Yes, you will need a visa to leave an airport

Answer 4

You'll need a transit visa which is pretty easy to get. Just a valid passport, passport size photo, application form (available online), airline tickets clearly showing your onward journey and of course, money (I think it's about $100 for the slowest processing time) presented to your local Russian Embassy or it can be done by post.

Don't be put off by the fuss of getting a visa. Russia's a brilliant place.

EDIT: LMAO at Schmegicky. He paints quite a picture doesn't he? Unfortunately, yeah, it's largely true. I still say do it. My best adventures have been in Russia!!

Answer 5

No you need a visa, and it is a pain in the neck getting one, not to mention expensive. Moscow is a big, Russian New York that doesn't like foreigners and really isnt that great. I've been there as an American, hated it, it was pretty but I hated it. So if I were you I would avoid it.

Answer 6

Most CIS member states permit Russian citizens to visit without a visa. And Belarus has no border formalities for Russian citizens whatsoever as Russia & Belarus have a special "unity" arrangement.

Answer 7

It's Russia, you'll need a visa just to use the loo.
Okay it's not that bad, but yeah you will need a visa.

Answer 8

Yes, definately. Contact them and see how much it will cost - it's got to be worth it, although you may just want to find a place to sleep for a few hours more comfortably than in the airport!

Answer 9

Yep. You need a visa.

Answer 10

no, you will need a transition visa.