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Transit visa in Moscow

by David
(China)

Sorry to ask this question when you are in St. Petersburg but I have a 16 hour layover in Moscow on the first leg of my trip and another 16 hour layover on my return trip. The dates are April 23 and May 12. Do I need two transit visas or would it be best to get a tourist visa?

David
Canadian in China traveling to Europe

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Feb 16, 2019
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starstarstarstarstar 		Sochi Transit Russia Visa
by: Davide

Hello Warren,

Thank you for posting on our website.

According to Russia law, travelers who have paid their flight tickets, whose stopover in Moscow is less than 24 hours and that don't have to leave the international airport area to take the next flight, don't need to apply for a transit visa.

In brief, you do not need a transit visa if your connecting flight is from the same terminal, but you must be sure to don't leave the airside. What I wrote above works for Moscow, and any airport who host an international transit.

That said I believe that Sochi is like St Petersburg, so they both don't have an international transit area where you can wait for your next flight. Therefore I believe you need to apply for a transit visa.

I am not quite sure as I have never been there. The best way to find out is to ask your airline company. I would recommend that you contact your airline company and ask them to get a reliable answer.
Feb 16, 2019
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by: Warren

I would like to know if my wife and i need a transit visa for flying through Russia from Athens to Tashkent. We leave Athens and arrive in Moscow where we stop for 3 hours then transfer to S7 airlines to Sochi interntl airport then go to Tashkent 4 hours later. We are in Rusdia less than 24 hours but we have been researching and found one comment that Sichi Internatl airport doesnt have a transit area so we need a transit viss. Can someone help with info. We transfer from Aegean airlines to S7 to Uzbekistan airways on the way to Tashkent. Thanks
Mar 10, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Russian Transit Visas
by: Davide

Hi David,

This is Davide's writing from St Petersburg Essential Guide.

First of all nice to see that we have the same name!☺

Regarding to your question, my answer is, NO! You do not need a transfer visa because you are staying in the Russian territory less than 24 hours.

For your information Transit Visas are issued to those traveling through the Russian Federation to an onward destination.

If you are on a transit flight, and you will be spending less than 24 hours in Russia, and do not intend to leave the airport transit area, then you will not need a Russian Visa for your trip.

In all other circumstances, you will need to apply for a Russian Transit Visa, normally valid for up to three days if you are traveling by air or ten days if you are traveling by train.

However, in the event you want to apply to the transit visa, you will need the following documents:

• A passport with at least one blank page, valid for at least six months after the end of your proposed visit to Russia

• A completed and signed visa application form

• One passport sized photo

• Your ticket for onward travel

• A visa for the country you are travelling to (if required)

Hope it helps!

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