Russia - Tourist Confirmation Letter

[Karen329]

Hi there. I am an Australian planning to travel to Russia in May and I understand that I need to provide a tourist confirmation letter as part of the visa application process. My questions are...

1. How did you obtain this document when booking with AirBnb?
2. Is this something that the AirBnb team can provide?
3. If you booked an apartment via AirBnb, were you able to use the tourist confirmation letter from an airline, train, or day trip tour company instead?

Thanks, Karen

[Parthasarathi0]

Hi Elena,

The information you have provided is really helpful! Thanks for all of this.

Just for clarity, wanted to ask you again - we are arriving in Russia (St. Petersburg) on 10th July 2018 by train from Helsinki, will be traveling to Moscow on 14th/15th and flying out of Russia from Moscow on 17th July. So practically we will be staying in Russia for 8 calendar days and 6 working days (taking out the weekend of 14th-15th July). So I understand we DO NOT need to register our visas?

Also, if i am traveling with my wife and 1.5 yr old son, do we need separate invitation letters for all three or just one letter would suffice? In the websites that you have shared, they have options for entering the details of only one traveller at a time. Your response will be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Elena87]

@Parthasarathi0

You would likely need separate invitation letters in your case. There are group issued visas from certain consulates for larger travelling parties of seven and upwards - it's always an idea to check with the consulate you are applying in regarding this.

Ok, registration - normally you wouldn't need registration as your trip is short - but there are special conditions during the FIFA World Cup period of May 25 to July 25 - you can see my reply about this on this forum topic.

[Parthasarathi0]

@Elena87

Thanks a ton for your prompt response!

Yes, after I posted, I did see your recent posts about special conditions for the World Cup. But I also saw your responses saying that the registrations is the host's responsibility and we need not worry! Hope things work out smoothly.

[Prasanna4]

Hello Elena,

I have obtained my Visa using invitation letter that mentioned hotel booking in St. Petersburg and Msocow .

Now I want to book an Airbnb apartment in St. Petersburg.

Can I cancel hotel and book apartment on Airbnb. 

Does it matter what my invitation letter mentions. 

I will travelling in russia for 7 days (5 working days).

Thanks.

[Elena87]

Hi Parsanna Congratulations on obtaining your visa. Once you have your visa, you are free to stay wherever you choose. It's possible to cancel any existing hotel bookings and re-book on airbnb. It doesn't matter what was on your invitation letter - this is treated as a provisional itinerary only. Customs are only concerned that you have a valid visa, not about where you are staying.

[Elena87]

@Prasanna4

Hi Parsanna 

Congratulations on obtaining your visa. Once you have your visa, you are free to stay wherever you choose. It's possible to cancel any existing hotel bookings and re-book on airbnb. It doesn't matter what was on your invitation letter - this is treated as a provisional itinerary only. Customs are only concerned that you have a valid visa, not about where you are staying.

[Anubhav1]

So I do not need to make a confirmed hotel booking or cancel the hotel booking after entering Russia? - I live in India and is an Indian passport holder.

[Queen1]

@Anubhav1Thanks for this advice. Very popular nowadays.

[Anubhav1]

Not sure if I explained myself correctly but my earlier response was a query. Would you know if hotel cancelation is fine and there are no issues during immigration.

[Antonia72]

@Anubhav0 short answer is yes, you can cancel or change your hotel booking after you get the invitation. At the same time you can use services like [Link hidden] with your airbnb confirmation

[Sidharth2]

Hi Anubhav

I've been reading up about the whole 'Russian Visa Registration' process/requirement and that it is essential if you stay in Russia for more than 7 days... did you manage to get it done through your Airbnb host? Or was there any other way you did it?

Will help. Please do let me know! Thanks.

[Elena87]

@Sidharth2 

Registration is required only if you are staying more than 7 working days as a tourist in Russia..these days exclude your arrival day, weekend days and official holiday days.

You can't register yourself but a host may be able to complete registration for you, they would need photocopies of your passport, landing card issued at entry point by customs and your visa , then they need to take a trip to a post office. It can be time consuming and there is a fee payable for doing this, so if you are staying for more than 7 working days it is best to commuicate with your host in advance to confirm they are able to register you.

If a host cannot register you (there can be various reasons why they cannot), some on-line companies offer a service to register visitors and the link I gave in an earlier reply regarding invitation vouchers also offers this service for a higher fee.

[Sidharth2]

Thank you, @Elena87.

I arrive in Moscow on a Saturday - and stay there till Monday. (2 days)

Monday I arrive in St. Petersburg - and stay in a airbnb apartment for 5 nights (till Friday). During this time we will visit Veliky Novgorod + Peterhof. (5 days)

On Saturday I again reach Moscow - and stay for one night. (2 days)

Sunday evening we leave Russia.

So while the trip is a total of 9 days, but if i remove arrival day and weekends, it is a total of 5 days.

Plus I am not staying in either Moscow or St. Petersburg for more than 7 days at a stretch.

Sorry, I am at the risk of sounding stupid. But it is better to be informed!

Thank you so much for your help!

[Elena87]

@Sidharth2

Enjoy your trip, no requirement for registration.

Do keep your landing card/immigration card from customs safe.

[Sidharth2]

@Elena87, thank you so much for your help!