The Expensive Reality of Russia’s Tourist Visas

Unfortunately, Russia still requires a visa for tourists. It’s expensive ($250), you have to answer a slew of probing questions, and you’re essentially required to use a pricey visa service. Cruise ship passengers are welcome to tour the city without a visa, but only on a guided shore excursion from the ship. Also, some local guides are licensed to take cruisers who don’t have visas on day trips from the boat. (While this can be expensive and is rarely done, it’s a workable option — and I found several good guides to recommend for this service.) Only a few passengers actually go through the hoops to get a tourist visa (as we did), which allows them to come and go freely using the boat as a hotel.

The only port in Northern Europe where cruise ships routinely spend two (or sometimes three) nights is St. Petersburg. That’s because there’s so much to see and (I figure, cynically) there’s so much money to be made off the fact that in order to go ashore, thousands of passengers buy excursions. I understand that one big company has a lock on the cruise business in St. Petersburg, and the cruise lines make more money at this stop by far than at any other. That’s why the big players have no problem with Russia’s ornery visa requirements, and most local insiders anticipate no change in the near future.

It’s loosening up for some nationalities (for example, most Latin Americans don’t need a visa for Russia). But the world of visas is one of reciprocity, and until the US allows Russians in without visas, Russia will keep the same requirement of American travelers. It’s only logical in the sandbox of international relations.

Comments

7 Replies to “The Expensive Reality of Russia’s Tourist Visas”

  1. One of my colleagues visited and claimed there were sights but also poverty and the police were unfriendly. But I believe in the capitalist business model you can buy anything, including friendliness – at least until you criticize the leaders.

  2. I used SPB tours-based in St Petersburg and run by an astute English friendly woman named Viktoria-great guides and the price was competitive with the cruise ship tour prices BUT only had 16 people on our Mercedes bus and our guide listened to everyone’s requests and tried to help them fulfilled-it was better than great!

  3. We used TJ tours, small group, Mercedes van, better than cruise price. Visited there office at the end with souvenir shopping- not required but convenient and standard pricing. We were very happy with our experience and no visa requirements. They rebuilt Catherine’s Palace from ruins. Amazing visit.

  4. I had no idea. The only issue when we traveled to China on our own was driving to San Francisco twice for the Visa. Otherwise was inexpensive and as long as we were either a tourist or in our case visiting my friends college student it was very easy.

  5. Rick, it’s simply NOT TRUE that taking a private guide isn’t a well used option. Go onto Cruise Critic and there are many people doing this. Our tour in St. P was the same price as the cruise excursions, and we saw more. Moreover, we saw WHAT we wanted to see, and for as long as we wanted. As for not seeing the “real” St. Petersburg, we ate at a local pie shop and saw the countryside between Catherine’s Palace and the city. I would say both were very real.

    By not highlighting this option, or by calling it “rare and expensive,” it appears that you’re shilling for the cruise lines, and it certainly isn’t keeping with the Back Door Philosophy. I’m surprised you haven’t given the line of “cruise ship tours have to leave the ship first,” which also isn’t true.

  6. Yes, with Russia the visa situation is very “tit for tat.” But this has always been the situation for all countries or at all times. When there was still a Yugoslavia, my old guidebooks indicate that US citizens could get visas for free at the border for short tourist visits. This was definitely NOT because Yugoslavians could get free visas upon arrival at the US, but was because Yugoslavia wanted visitors and tourist dollars, and realized that the vast majority of US visitors were just going to spend money and leave (they were unlikely to overstay or otherwise cause “trouble”).

    And I agree with the poster above that Rick is very much minimizing the option of going on a private tour with an authorized company, which gives you the best of both worlds. You don’t need to apply for a visa, but can get a customized program. The only difference is that you must be accompanied by the tourguide at all times (no wandering on your own). Contrary to what Rick says, LOTS of people on Cruise Critic seem to avail themselves of this option.

  7. My second sentence should have read, “But this has NOT always been the situation for all countries or at all times.”

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