Visa for daytime stopover?
Jun 13, 2012 | 1:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany
Programs: LH FTL, BA Bronze
Posts: 850
Visa for daytime stopover?
I read that in order to get a visa for Russia you need to show proof of the accommodation booked. How does this work when I have a 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. stopover in Moscow? I wouldn't need to book a hotel for a daytime stay, but would I still get a visa? (I'm an EU citizen.) I'd hate to sit around the airport transit area when I could be enjoying the sights of Moscow instead.
Jun 19, 2012 | 4:17 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany
Programs: LH FTL, BA Bronze
Posts: 850
Thanks! Would a transit visa work? Strictly speaking I do not need a visa for transit as I will be arriving to and departing from the same airport.
Jun 20, 2012 | 3:50 am
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Location: ATL/MOO (Many Others Often)
Programs: DL GM (2MM), Lifetime Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,456
Yes, it'll work. You need a visa to leave the airport and this is the easiest kind to get. It's for 72 hours IIRC. I did in 2006 just to have a meeting at Novotel in front of SVO and it worked great.
Jun 20, 2012 | 4:24 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Luxembourg
Programs: KLM/AF Platinum for life, IHG Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,027
EU Citizens do not need a visa when in transit for less than 24hrs, without leaving the airport.
That said, I would not want to spend 7am to 10pm in SVO. Get a transit visa. Berlin, Bonn, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich or use a visa service. Remember that you can no longer get a visa from a country your are not a citizen or a resident. I think London and Madrid are still exceptions to this general rule and using an agency will get you around this annoying rule, but don't plan on getting one at an embassy while you are in Country X on a trip.
That said, I would not want to spend 7am to 10pm in SVO. Get a transit visa. Berlin, Bonn, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich or use a visa service. Remember that you can no longer get a visa from a country your are not a citizen or a resident. I think London and Madrid are still exceptions to this general rule and using an agency will get you around this annoying rule, but don't plan on getting one at an embassy while you are in Country X on a trip.
Jun 21, 2012 | 9:37 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Germany
Programs: LH FTL, BA Bronze
Posts: 850
Jul 10, 2012 | 7:05 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: USA
Programs: AA2, DL2, Amtrak2, US2, SPG1, MAR2
Posts: 2,566
Need help; transiting in and out of Russia
Im two weeks out from flying to DME to stay one night and then connect on the return and I just booked it.
We're staying one night at the start of our trip in Moscow and then connecting for 8 hours on the return two weeks later. So a total of two entries that, typically, a tourist visa could cover.
But our hotel (the Ritz Carlton Moscow) says they can only sponsor us for the night we stay there, but not the connection on the way home?
So now what the heck do we do? Please help! Appointment with Russian embassy's service is tomorrow!
We're staying one night at the start of our trip in Moscow and then connecting for 8 hours on the return two weeks later. So a total of two entries that, typically, a tourist visa could cover.
But our hotel (the Ritz Carlton Moscow) says they can only sponsor us for the night we stay there, but not the connection on the way home?
So now what the heck do we do? Please help! Appointment with Russian embassy's service is tomorrow!
Jul 10, 2012 | 12:14 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ZRH
Programs: LH SEN, BAEC Bronze, S7 Приоритет, TrueBlue
Posts: 164
They do have a same day processing option (not sure if this will help because it's already 10 p.m. in Russia, but I guess worth a try).
Jul 10, 2012 | 3:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: USA
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Posts: 2,566
Sep 16, 2012 | 12:38 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: AA, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 243
anyone know if U.S. citizens need a transit visa in SVO for a 7 hour layover:
JFK-SVO-AGP (Malaga, Spain)
there are some cheap aeroflot fares that may make it worth this somewhat silly routing
JFK-SVO-AGP (Malaga, Spain)
there are some cheap aeroflot fares that may make it worth this somewhat silly routing
Sep 16, 2012 | 10:29 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond AMB
Posts: 1,830
If you won't leave the airport, then you don't need a visa. Spending 7 hours in SVO might be boring, but there is free Wi-Fi, some cafes.. anyway, not the worst option if you're on a budget
Sep 16, 2012 | 11:56 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: AA, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 243
I wonder if i'm able to find any pay-for lounges (maybe even to take a shower) during this SVO transit? Might be tough as you can't exit some areas or terminals?
I believe I would arrive in Terminal D and leave at Terminal E
I believe I would arrive in Terminal D and leave at Terminal E
Sep 16, 2012 | 1:42 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Moscow
Programs: Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond AMB
Posts: 1,830
According to SVO website, you can buy access to Galaxy lounge in Terminal E for 1500 roubles (approx. 49 USD). There are also lounges in Terminal D, however, the website does not mention a pay-to-enter option (which does not mean that such option is not available). All of these lounges are airside and (except one local lounge in D) in the international area.
I haven't been to all SVO lounges, but the ones I visited were pretty mediocre at best.
I haven't been to all SVO lounges, but the ones I visited were pretty mediocre at best.