Transit visa or not?
 

Hello!
I will have a 6 hr and 4 hr layover in SVO to PEK and from PEK (after coming from and going back to Oslo) The thing is I wonder about getting a transit visa for Russia. Now I know it is not needed, but is it viable just in case things go wrong? I am flying in June so winter is defiently over. So what do you guys think? Transit visa or not?

As noted in another thread, SU will cover you in case you miss your connection. The visa free rooms at Novotel are meant just for that reason. You should be fine.

You really, really don't want to go through the hassle of getting a Russian visa if you don't need one. It's not a fun process.

Well I have gone through that hassle to get a Russian visa so I know about it. I don't think you need an invitation to get a transit visa, but anyway I don't think I bother about it since it is the same price as the tourist visa (35 euros since I am a Norwegian citizen).

if you are there for less than 24 hours no visa is required. if you have to stay longer you may also be able to get it from their office in svo

Yeah I am staying far less than 24 hrs. Just 5 hrs on outbound and 4hrs on the inbound. Well if it is one country in the world which does not have visa on arrival it is defintly Russia...

as long as you don't leave the transit zone you should be fine. russia will probably never have a "visa on arrival" for citizens of countries that require russian citizens to obtain a visa. there is one exception right now: when on a cruise with a group you can stay in russia for up to 72 hours without a visa

Similar question but different situation
 

I might've been tempting ill fate by doing this, but I have the following booking which was an attempt to break an otherwise boring sector to something a bit longer:

• LH1450 FRA-DME dep 1745 arr 2255
• BD 896 DME-LHR dep 0715 arr 0825

The second flight leaves the next day after the first, giving me a layover time of approximately 8 hours or so.

I'm a citizen of Australia with Australian passport. I will have a checked bag.

Questions (some a little off this topic):

• Will it be possible for me to stay airside and thus avoid any visa trouble? Or will I be forced out (e.g. due to the airport closing)? Both of these flights are booked on the same ticket (BD award)
• If I decide to go landside, I will necessarily need a visa - right? Probably going to be a challenge to get one, unless I stay at a hotel close to the airport and ask them to give me an invitation. From the looks of things, airport hotels are far from cheap in Moscow, and the visa process will be a worthy challenge.
• Anyone know any lounges that'll be open overnight? Or a good place to get some winks whilst airside? I assume it'll be alright to check bags as through-check in FRA going to LHR (or they won't do it since flights are not on the same calendar day)?

Thanks for all your help!

Others chime in please as DME is not my terminal of choice...

The glaring problem I see here is that you'll have a checked bag but no visa. Russian customs law demands that you clear customs with your checked bag upon arrival. I just had two groups in Novosibirsk not do this in Moscow as they transited through and what an expensive headache it was to fix. I do believe that you'll need to pass through immigration before getting to baggage claim at DME so...sounds like you need a visa based simply on the fact that you'll have a checked bag.

All the MRs people were doing last year on UA from IAD to DME were done without checked bags so the turns, while sometimes challenging, were possible. This is a true layover (long one) more than a turn so I'm concerned about the checked bag issue most of all.

Air side comfy places for winks? I think not.

The airport never closes. Flights come and go all night.

Not sure why DME was the point of interest on your Germany to England flight but KBP might have been a better choice due to the visa issue.

Sorry to be so unhopeful. Report back what you decide and experience though. We all stand to learn something.

Does one need a transit visa for SVO D to SVO F transfer? Would be AY HELSVO connecting to SU SVOHKG.

They have an air side transit between terminals.

Thanks for your advice.

There are unusual reasons why I wanted this flight combination, which I won't go into here, but seeing as the risk of being grilled with the fourth degree in Russia is too great I'm cancelling my flights and seeking a more sane travel experience.

Thanks for the heads up on the Russian law.

What are you talking about, what customs? Russia is not America, you don't need to clear immigration and customs if you're just passing through an airport.

Your sample is invalid, because Novosibirsk is in Russia, while London is not.

The only thing anat0l needs to ensure is whether LH and BD have a baggage agreement. If they do, everything will be OK.

No worries mate. You can stay airside. The airport operates 24/7.

Lufthansa has an airside lounge which is also open 24/7. It has showers and is quite comfy.

Your bag will be checked through to LHR, there is no need to claim it in DME. For passengers having their final destination luggage must be cleared through customs at the first port of entry, this does not apply to transit passengers.

Hello all. Hope to get your help on this....

I will be flying to Oslo via Aeroflot, on the following flight:

Wed, Feb 15
Flights: AEROFLOT, SU 0596
From: HONG KONG, HONG KONG S A R (HKG) Departs: 11:35
Departure Terminal: TERMINAL 1
To: MOSCOW SHEREMET, RUSSIA (SVO) Arrives: 18:20
Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL F

Thu, Feb 16
Flights: AEROFLOT, SU 0211
From: MOSCOW SHEREMET, RUSSIA (SVO) Departs: 13:05
Departure Terminal: TERMINAL E
To: OSLO, NORWAY (OSL) Arrives: 12:40

I do believe my 19 hour layover should be enough time for me to nip out of SVO, visit the red square, eat a decent meal, meet some friends for a drink (and hopefully they let me stay over 1 night at their place), then come back the next day for my connecting flight?

My questions are:
1) would i be allowed to exit the airport with a TRANSIT visa (or should i apply for a TOURIST visa)
2) would i be asked to CHECK OUT my bag, take it with me during my very brief city tour, then come back the next day to check in my bag? If yes, then i most likely would just endure 19 hours at the airport!
3) how easy is it to take the train from SVO to the red square? is it as convenient as taking the tube to the central london from LHR?

Much thanks for the reply :)