Entry and exit requirements

[LostFarmboy]

Does anyone know what the entry and exit requirements for Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan are?? Is it even possible for the average person to be allowed into these countries?? From what i've heard and read Russia can be particularly difficult to be allowed into. Does anyone know of a website with this sort of info on it for Aussies??


Cheers

[Echo Of Reason]

Don't know exactly how I found this site (probably here) but I found it when I was thinking about going to russia (still haven't decided). Anyway, it has a bunch of good info on getting into russia as well as help on getting a visa.

http://www.waytorussia.net/

[Esterina]

LFB, sky is the limit ! Of course, you can enter all those countries, but yes, you might have to sweat to get in ! I have a friend who is currently in Russia, doing the Siberian ride up to China. He's loving it !

Russia and Kazakhstan requires invitation letters from locals to allow you in. This comes from the "old times", when the sovietic government was in power. Now, any hostel/hotel will produce this letter, for about $50. In principle, you are supposed to have booked all of your days in all of the cities you'll be visiting, but in real life, you just need to book the first days. You will have to provide an itinerary, but I've heard they don't control. Write a rough itineray.

As for Mongolia, I read the visa can be delivered upon arrival, unless you come by train. No invitation letter whatsovever. The typical documents + photos. Here you 'll find the Mongolian Embassy in Australia .

• Visit this : Embassy of Russia in Australia.
• A link about traveling in Russia, all infos visa etc. + culture etc. Geographica.com.
• There are Kazakhstan consulates in Moscow and Ulaan Bataan (Mongolia).
• There are Mongolian consulates/embassies also in Moscow and U.B. Their addresses on this link.

Have you noticed that Mongolia and Kazakhstan's frontiers do not touch ? This means you will have to purchase a double/multiple entry visa in Russia, were you to visit both countries.

I'm going to Moscow next year for a semester in a university ! But I guess you'll be long gone by then...

[LostFarmboy]

Awsome, thanks for the info guys, looks like Russia is possible after all, in fact it doesn't seem too difficult at all, now i'm starting to get excited.

Just one more query, what about China?? And where are you finding all these useful webpages from??

As for when i'll be there, i'm not too sure yet, the earliest will be around the end of next year, the latest will be a year after that. I'm in the route planning phase at the moment, just trying to determine which countries i can get through and how easy/hard it is to do so.

Thanks again for the help

[LostFarmboy]

Ok, i answered my own question about China, it's amazing how you can find information when you actually look. If anyone's interested, here's a bit of info about China visas:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/passport.htm

[worldwidemike]

Hey...spill the beans on this trip you're planning, LFB!

One of these days, I'm going to do the Silk Road trip...Samarkand, Mongolia, wide open skies, staying in yurts...

worldwidemike

[Esterina]

Originally posted by LostFarmboy@Apr 25 2006, 09:12 PM
And where are you finding all these useful webpages from??

I guessed you've learned to google !

I'll be in Moscow around late April to July 2007. Maybe we'll have a tpunk meet-up at the Kremlin !

[LostFarmboy]

Originally posted by worldwidemike@Apr 27 2006, 08:30 AM
Hey...spill the beans on this trip you're planning, LFB!*

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hehehe, i'm taking your approach this time and not telling you guys anything until i'm actually there....nah, i honestly don't know exactly where i'll be going, i have a rough idea, but i still have A LOT of research to do. But, i can tell you that if it all goes as planned it's going to be BIG, i'm talking massive!!