Visa-free travel to Russia during CC 2017 and WC 2018
Apr 19, 2017, 8:24 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,906
Visa-free travel to Russia during CC 2017 and WC 2018
In summary those who buy tickets to Confederations Cup 2017 or World Cup 2018 football games can enter Russia visa free within the window of tournaments (plus minus 10 days). CC is this june, WC is next summer.
CC tix are pretty cheap so it appears to be a great alternative to spending hundreds on visa and with minimal paperwork..
There is an excellent thread on tripadvisor kindly updated by a knowledgeable poster:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...al_Russia.html
Timatic already has this:
CC tix are pretty cheap so it appears to be a great alternative to spending hundreds on visa and with minimal paperwork..
There is an excellent thread on tripadvisor kindly updated by a knowledgeable poster:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...al_Russia.html
Timatic already has this:
Russian Federation - Destination Visa
Visa required.
The following are exempt from holding a visa:
...
Passengers with a laminated FIFA FAN ID card traveling to the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.
Passengers with a printed FIFA FAN ID electronic format card traveling to the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.
...
Visa required.
The following are exempt from holding a visa:
...
Passengers with a laminated FIFA FAN ID card traveling to the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.
Passengers with a printed FIFA FAN ID electronic format card traveling to the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017.
...
Last edited by azepine00; Apr 19, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Apr 21, 2017, 12:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Russia - Israel
Programs: SU Gold, A3 Gold
Posts: 86
While this seems a nice loophole, I would object to someone other than football fans using it. Simply because it would mean football tickets being taken by people not interested in football matches, and thus denying real fans an opportunity to see games.
Apr 21, 2017, 12:52 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Chennai
Programs: Aeroplan, Marriott LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 209
It will bring new fans to watch the beautiful game of Football. I once went to a Ice Hockey with my friend knowing nothing but understood how fast the game is and how tough it is played. My view on that game changed.
Apr 21, 2017, 1:17 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,906
Somehow i seriously doubt that there will be 50000+ hardcore fans in St Peter interested in buying Cameroon-Australia confederations cup game tickets...
Early rounds games at major events always end up with plenty of seats empty...
May 13, 2017, 3:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Moscow
Programs: Delta Skymiles, Miles & More, Aadvantage
Posts: 20
Yeah, they don't really care will people show up to the games or not. All they want is to sell the tickets.
It's a nice way to travel to Russia without a hassle of getting a visa. But on the other hand, accommodation is more expensive at the time of these events.
It's a nice way to travel to Russia without a hassle of getting a visa. But on the other hand, accommodation is more expensive at the time of these events.
May 15, 2017, 5:05 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,906
FAN ID arrived here in US by registered mail 3 weeks after initial request. Ticket to the game was about $50 ish - may even stop by to watch it depending on who advances...
Not having to go through the misery of visa forms, invitations, mailing passport etc etc (while saving $200-300 in agency and visa fees) is absolutely incredible...
Not having to go through the misery of visa forms, invitations, mailing passport etc etc (while saving $200-300 in agency and visa fees) is absolutely incredible...
May 27, 2017, 10:16 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Moscow
Programs: Delta Skymiles, Miles & More, Aadvantage
Posts: 20
FAN ID arrived here in US by registered mail 3 weeks after initial request. Ticket to the game was about $50 ish - may even stop by to watch it depending on who advances...
Not having to go through the misery of visa forms, invitations, mailing passport etc etc (while saving $200-300 in agency and visa fees) is absolutely incredible...
Not having to go through the misery of visa forms, invitations, mailing passport etc etc (while saving $200-300 in agency and visa fees) is absolutely incredible...
May 30, 2017, 3:05 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,906
May 30, 2017, 3:12 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
Jun 2, 2017, 12:27 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Moscow
Programs: Delta Skymiles, Miles & More, Aadvantage
Posts: 20
Jul 11, 2017, 5:13 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,906
We just got back - it was a smooth process all around. If WC tix are reasonably priced and we can secure air/hotel we may try again next year.
Jul 12, 2017, 10:29 am
#13
Suspended
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
you can do anything you want - visa free window opened 10 day before and lasted through 10 days after the tourney. I assume it will be same for WC2018.
We just got back - it was a smooth process all around. If WC tix are reasonably priced and we can secure air/hotel we may try again next year.
We just got back - it was a smooth process all around. If WC tix are reasonably priced and we can secure air/hotel we may try again next year.
Dec 13, 2017, 6:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YYZ, YUL, PEK
Posts: 429
So here's my question. I have WC2018 tickets and plan to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg in July. I then plan to fly to Beijing. I'm thinking - can I leverage the visa-free travel to visit Vladivostok and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk from Beijing, as long as I leave the country prior to 25 July?