Do I need a visa if I'm going on a cruise?
Do I Need a Visa on My Cruise? It depends. For North Americans, many popular cruise destinations -- such as the Eastern and Western Caribbean, Alaska and Western Mediterranean -- do not require visas. But ships that call on more exotic destinations might include visits to a country where you'd need a visa to enter.
How do I get a Russian cruise visa?
Passengers of cruise ships visiting Russian ports are not required to obtain a visa to enter the Russian Federation if ALL of the following conditions are met:You have a valid passport;You travel as a group;You stay in Russia for no longer than 72 hours;You live on board during your stay.
Can Americans travel to Russia on a cruise?
Passengers of Cruise Ships and Ferries at St. Petersburg and Vladivostok are permitted to stay in Russia for 72 hours without a visa when accompanied by a tour operator licensed by Russian authorities.
Who can enter Russia without visa?
Visa-free travel to RussiaGroup 1. Countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine. ... Group 2. Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Israel, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela, South Africa. ... Group 3. ... Group 4.
Is St Petersburg Russia allowing cruise ships?
Cruises were expected to resume calling at the port of St. Petersburg in Russia, with 287 cruise calls estimated in 2022. In 2020, the cruise industry experienced a setback due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which resulted in a drop in cruises in the Baltic Sea region.
Is St Petersburg Russia open for cruise ships?
MSC Cruises has announced that it has suspended all port calls to Saint Petersburg, Russia from the end of May to October. The change affects four ships that are scheduled to sail in the Baltic region this summer: MSC Preziosa, Grandiosa, Poesia, and Virtuosa.
Will cruise ships still go to Russia?
On 1 March we made the decision to cease all operations in Russia in 2022. “Therefore, we have cancelled all 2022 departures of our Russia river itineraries – and will replace scheduled stops in Russia for all 2022 ocean itineraries.”
How long does it take to get a Russian tourist visa?
Submit the invitation, the form, your passport, a passport photograph, and the processing fee (money order or cashier's check only) to the Russian Embassy. Applications are accepted anywhere from 30 to 60 days before departure (figure on two to four weeks for processing from the time your application is received).
Can Americans travel to Russia right now?
Do not travel to Russia due to the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the singling out of U.S. citizens in Russia by Russian government security officials including for detention, the ...
How much is a Russian visa?
$160.00How much does the Russia Tourist Visa Cost? The Russian tourist visa costs $160.00 which does not include the administrative fees or letter of invitation letter fee.
Can you visit St Petersburg without a visa?
You can visit St Petersburg visa-free if you arrive in the city by ferry or by a cruise ship. This gives you 72 hours to stay in town. The 72-hour period begins from the moment of crossing border control.
Can I go to Moscow without a visa?
Applicants planning to stay for more than 90 days in any 180-day period require a visa if they are going to Russia to conduct commercial or work-related activities. Diplomatic or Official passport holders require a visa for the whole period of their stay.
Will cruise ships still go to Russia?
On 1 March we made the decision to cease all operations in Russia in 2022. “Therefore, we have cancelled all 2022 departures of our Russia river itineraries – and will replace scheduled stops in Russia for all 2022 ocean itineraries.”
Will cruises to Russia be canceled?
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings also announced that they would remove Russian and Ukrainian ports from 2022 itineraries across their brands, including Norwegian, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas. The cancellations add to the ripple effect Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused throughout the travel industry.
Will cruise ships stop going to Russia?
Sister-brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises will remove all its planned stops in Russia, which include the Solovetsky Islands, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and St. Petersburg, as well as Odessa, Ukraine. Oceania Cruises confirmed it would also remove Russian and Ukrainian ports from its 2022 itineraries.
Do Russia have cruise ships?
Russian cruise ships. Currently, in Russia is operated a huge fleet of over 200 river cruise ships.
Where to find visa requirements for cruises?
under the " International Travel " tab. Search for each country your ship will visit to see the visa requirements, along with a wealth of other information. The tourist visa requirement is displayed in the " Quick Facts " box at the top of the page. Scroll down a little to the specific section for " Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements, " which will have details, sometimes including additional information specifically for cruise passengers. Canadian citizens can use a similar site:
How long is a Bahrain cruise visa?
Bahrain Cruise Visas. Bahrain requires a two-week tourist visa, with the application available on the government website. Related: How to Apply for a Cruise Visa. Brazil Cruise Visas. As of June 17, 2019, visas are no longer required for American citizens traveling to Brazil. China Cruise Visas.
How much does a tourist visa cost in Sri Lanka?
A 30-day tourist visa to Sri Lanka will cost about $35 USD in advance. Turkey Cruise Visas.
How long can you stay in China on a cruise?
China Cruise Visas. Visas are required in most instances to enter China, with a few exemptions. Transit exemptions allow a stay of up to 144 hours when you enter China at specific airports or cruise ports from one country and exit one of those ports or airports to a third country.
How much is a visa for Ghana?
A visa is required ($60 for a single entry), but ships stopping in Ghana usually arrange for visas for their passengers.
How much does it cost to get a tourist visa?
citizens apply for a three-year multiple-entry tourist visa regardless of the dates of entry/exit, number of entries or period of stay; the cost is $160.
Which cities in China have a visa free policy?
Shanghai. ; Beijing has a 72-hour exemption. Hainan , China's southern province, has also adopted a 15-day visa-free policy for groups traveling to the region by cruise ship. Some river cruise passengers are also exempt, but only if they are traveling with a tour company licensed by the Chinese government.
How long can you stay in Russia without a visa?
According to the Russian Federation law, cruise passengers are the only category of tourists visiting Russia who are allowed to stay on the territory of the Russian Federation without visa for up to 72 hours.
Can you use a cruise ship for a visa?
Cruise passengers are free to use any authorized local travel agencies (not only cruise ship companies) for visa-free shore tours.
How long do you have to register a visa in Russia?
Travelers who spend more than seven days in Russia must register their visa and migration card through their sponsor (at the local Federal Migration Service (FMS)) or landlord (at the local post office or FMS). Travelers staying in a hotel must register their visa and migration card with their hotel within one day.
What are the different types of Russian visas?
There are seven basic types of Russian visas: Commercial, Tourist, Student, Guest, Diplomatic, Transit, and visas for entry into the Russian Federation for the purpose of requesting asylum. Russian visas are issued only upon presentation of the appropriate invitation (tourist vouchers or hotel reservations will often suffice) from a Russian source. Only Russian individuals and agencies (hereafter referred to as sponsors) can invite Americans to visit Russia. In doing so, the sponsor takes full responsibility for both the welfare and actions of their American guests.
How long does it take to get a visa to leave Russia?
A valid visa is necessary to depart Russia. Travelers who overstay their visa’s validity, even for one day , will be prevented from leaving until their sponsor intervenes and requests a visa extension on their behalf. Russian authorities may take up to 20 calendar days to authorize an exit visa, during which time the traveler will be stranded in Russia at his or her own expense. The ability of the Embassy or Consulates General to intervene in these situations is extremely limited.
What is the Russian law?
Under Russian law, every foreign traveler must have a Russian-based sponsor, which could be a hotel, tour company, relative, employer, university, etc. Even if a visa was obtained through a travel agency in the United States, there is always a Russian legal entity whose name is indicated on the visa and who is considered to be the legal sponsor. Russian law requires that the sponsor must apply on the traveler’s behalf for replacement, extension, or changes to a Russian visa. U.S. citizens are strongly advised to ensure that they have contact information for the visa sponsor prior to arrival in Russia, as the sponsor’s assistance will be essential to resolve any visa problems.
Where to go if you are in Moscow but do not know who your visa sponsor is?
If you are in Moscow but you do not know who your visa sponsor is, or if the sponsor is located elsewhere in Russia and you cannot travel to the region, please go to the FMS of Russia, 4 Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya St., Bldg 1., tel. (495) 698-0078, Metro Taganskaya.
What are the quotas for Russian work visas?
Work Visas: There are quotas on invitations to foreigners to enter Russia in order to work. These quotas are established by territorial agencies in the regions and are approved annually by the Russian Government. According to the law, quotas take into account the demographic situation in the relevant region of Russia and its ability to accommodate foreign nationals. This is theoretically based on the principle that priority should be given to the use of domestic labor. The prospective employer must initiate the application process for this type of visa at the FMS. Prospective employers who hire foreigners must also receive permission from the local branch of the FMS. The FMS office then issues the foreigner a document confirming his legal employment. Please note that Russian authorities may require tests for drugs and infectious diseases for holders of work visas.
How many dates are there in a Russian visa?
A Russian entry/exit visa has two dates written in the European style (day/month/year) as opposed to the American style (month/day/year). The first date indicates the earliest day a traveler may enter Russia; the second date indicates the date by which a traveler must leave Russia. A Russian visa is only valid for those exact dates ...
How long does it take to get a visa to leave Russia?
Russian authorities may take up to 20 calendar days to authorize an exit visa, during which time you will have to remain in Russia at your own expense.
What is the phone number for Russia?
See all Alerts and Messages. Emergency Assistance. U.S. Citizens with emergencies, please call + (7) (495) 728-5577. Outside of Office Hours, contact: +7 (495) 728-5000. Outside of Russia: +011- 7-495-7285577.
Do you need a visa to travel to Russia?
If you arrive in Russia by ship or ferry, but want to depart by air , train, or other mode of transportation, you must have a visa. You must present your U.S. passport to Russian immigration officers each time you depart or return to the ship during your port call in Russia.
How long can you stay in Russia on a cruise ship?
Russia has made possible visa-free visits for up to 72 hours for cruise ship and ferry passengers, via several ports. The travelers must spend the night on-board or in accommodation specifically approved by the travel agency, in order to be eligible for this type of visa-free entry.
Can Chinese travel to Russia?
Chinese nationals can enter Russia without a visa and stay here for up to 15 days. The sole condition is that they must be traveling as part of a tour group (from 5 to 50 persons) that is accompanied by a representative of a tour operator registered in both countries.
Does Russia require a visa for a diplomatic passport?
Russia has reached reciprocal agreements with a number of countries, for exemption from the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports. Various categories of service passports have also been exempt from the requirement.
Do I Need a visa for Russia?
When it comes to the nationals of world countries that can enter Russia visa-free, the rules are not the same for all of them. These rules determine the period of stay and the scope of activities that can be performed during the visa-free stay, which differ. Russian authorities have categorized countries based on these rules, in several groups.
Visa free cruise to St Petersburg
The Russia visa free entry program is in place for those docking in St. Petersburg as part of an itinerary with a licensed operator, such as Viking Cruises’ Viking Homelands tour (they also have a longer Russia-only cruise, called Waterways of the Tsars ).
Getting the visa to travel to Russia on a cruise
Once you disembark the ship, you’ll go through immigration at the port to get your passport stamped, and officials will also ask for proof that you’re a passenger on the ship (show them your key card) as well as the tickets for your tour.
Important notes about how to visit Russia
If you want to get a Russian tourist visa so you can explore on your own, you cannot apply for one when you visit Russia and must secure one before leaving home.
