• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Russiable

Traveling to Russia and beyond

  • 1. VISA
    • OPTION 1. Electronic Russian visa (e-visa)
    • OPTION 2. Regular Russian visa
    • OPTION 3. Visa-free to Russia
    • INVITATION TO RUSSIA
    • TRAVEL INSURANCE RUSSIA
    • VISA TO CHINA, INDIA AND URSS
  • 2. PREPARATIONS
    • STEP 0. Restrictions
    • STEP 1. Itinerary
    • STEP 2. Flights
    • STEP 3. Russian trains
    • STEP 4. Accommodation
    • STEP 5. Tickets
    • STEP 6. Shows
    • STEP 7. Rubles
    • STEP 8. SIM card
    • STEP 9. Luggage
    • STEP 10. The arrival
  • 3. DESTINATIONS
    • 3.1. MOSCOW
      • 1. Downtown Moscow
      • 2. Sightseeing
      • 3. Museums and parks
      • 4. Churches-Architecture
      • 5. Entertainment
      • 6. Restaurants
      • 7. Shopping Moscow
      • 8. Public transport
      • 9. Tourist info
      • 10. Surroundings Moscow
    • 3.2. ST. PETERSBURG
      • 1. Downtown SP
      • 2. Sightseeing
      • 3. Museums and parks
      • 4. Churches-Architecture
      • 5. Entertainment
      • 6. Restaurants
      • 7. Shopping in SP
      • 8. Public transport
      • 9. Tourist info
      • 10. Surroundings SP
    • 3.3. TRANS-SIBERIAN
  • VISA INVITATION (PDF)
    • GUIDED TOURS
    • RUBLES EXCHANGE
    • SIM CARD
    • TRAVEL INSURANCE
    • RUSSIA GUIDE 2020 (PDF)
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home/1. VISA/OPTION 2. Regular or traditional Russian visa/

Is it possible to change my itinerary or renew my Russian visa?

There are a number of questions about changing or extending the Russian visa that are raised repeatedly by many people traveling to Russia. So I’ve tried to put together the most common ones in this article: Is it possible to change the itinerary? Can I visit other cities not indicated in my visa application? Can I change my hotels? Can I extend or renew my visa? etc.

Check-Russian-visa-data

 

I'm going to talk about ...

1. MODIFYING YOUR ITINERARY in Russia

Can I modify or change my itinerary after I have obtained a Russian visa?

Of course you can. Once you have obtained the Russian visa, you can move freely through Russia within the period stated in your visa, except in those areas where access is limited and to which you surely have no plans to travel, such as border areas in armed conflict or military zones.

Can I visit other cities not indicated in my visa application or in my invitation?

Of course. The visa does not specify which cities you can visit, so once you’ve obtained the visa, you can move freely within Russia.

This means that if in the visa application you indicated Moscow and St. Petersburg, and you later decide to travel to any other city not in your plan, such as Sergei Posad, Suzdal or Kazan, you can do so without any problem.

Similarly, there is no problem if you stated Moscow and St. Petersburg and finally you decide to visit Moscow only.

Can I enter or leave Russia by any means of transport?

Yes. Once you have obtained the visa, you can enter or leave Russia using the means of transport you prefer: plane, train, bus, car, motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, on foot, etc. Of course, you must enter and leave Russia within the validity period of your visa, regardless of the means of transport you may use.

RELATED  How to get a 3-year tourist Russian visa (only for US citizens)

You should also take into account that if you travel in your private vehicle (car or motorcycle) you must carry all the technical documentation and vehicle insurance providing coverage in Russia. In some cases (for example, if you travel in a motor home), you must apply for an auto tourism visa.

2. Staying in DIFFERENT HOTELS OR APARTMENTS

Can I stay in other hotels once I’ve obtained a Russian visa?

You can change the hotels that you indicated in the invitation for other hotels. No problem.

  • If you included random hotels, once you have obtained the visa you can book the hotels you want.
  • If you already had hotels booked, you can cancel them and book others that you like more or that are cheaper. Keep in mind that today, hotel reservation platforms, such as Booking, allow you to cancel most hotel reservations without charge up until the day before your arrival.

Can I stay in apartments our private homes once I’ve obtained the visa?

Yes, in fact you can stay where you want: Airbnb apartments, private apartments of friends or family, etc. The only thing you should keep in mind is that you will need to register your stay  if you are in Russia for more than 7 business days.

3. VALIDITY PERIOD of my visa

Do I have to enter and leave Russia on the exact dates indicated in my visa?

If you have been issued a visa for August 1 -10, this does not mean that you must arrive in Russia on August 1 and leave on August 10.

RELATED  How to get a Russian visa in Canada in an easy way

On the contrary, you can enter and leave Russia within the period stated in your visa. For example, you can enter Russia on August 3 and leave on August 8. What you cannot do is enter Russia before August 1 (on July 31, for example) or leave later than August 10.

Can I apply for a visa for longer than I plan to stay?

Yes, in fact it is something that I’ve done many times in case something unexpected happens.

If you are going to apply for a Russian visa and you do not know the exact dates of your trip, it is a good idea to apply for the visa (and the invitation letter or visa support) for longer than you plan to stay. For example, if you estimate that your trip will be from August 1 to August 10, you can apply for a visa from July 30 to August 12 so you cover possible unforeseen events, such as missing your flight or a flight delay.

Can I renew, extend or lengthen the validity period of my visa?

Unfortunately it is not possible to renew a Russian visa, except in very exceptional circumstances: if you need immediate medical treatment or in case of the death of a close relative or in cases of emergency due to a disaster or attack.

Can I get a new visa without leaving Russia?

It is not possible to obtain a new visa without leaving Russia. This is because the visa is processed through Russian consulates or visa centers in foreign countries.

It is also not a good idea to send your passport from Russia to your country by courier (FedEx, UPS …) for the visa center or a private agency to do the paperwork and send you the passport once the visa has been processed. The problem with this option, apart from the time it may take, is that your new visa will not be valid, since you have not crossed the border with this visa and you will not have the entry stamp on it.

RELATED  Business Visa to Russia: Step by step guide

Therefore, the only option is to leave Russia before your visa expires, return to your country and apply for a new Russian visa through the Russian Consulate or visa center.

 

 

Subscribe to the newsletter
I will send you the most important news about this blog. You can unsubscribe at any time
I accept the Privacy Policy
ShareTweet

Written by:
Irena Domingo
Published on:
June 5, 2019
Thoughts:
No comments yet

Categories: OPTION 2. Regular or traditional Russian visa

About Irena Domingo

Hello, my name is Irena. I was born in Russia in 1974 during the Soviet era. I worked as a Russian teacher and as a translator and interpreter for the past 20 years. One of my main hobbies is traveling. I started this blog with one aim: to create the most comprehensive guide ever written for traveling to Russia and beyond.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Discover more

About me Russia Travel Guide (PDF) Contact

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · Rusalia Travel | Irena Domingo

Hi, I’m Irena Domingo. I was born in Russia in 1974 during the Soviet era. I started this blog with one aim: to create the most comprehensive guide ever written for traveling to Russia and beyond.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions