Visas To Arrange Before A Trans-Siberian Railway Trip

Visas To Arrange Before A Trans-Siberian Railway Trip

Visas To Arrange Before A Trans-Siberian Railway Trip

If you’re planning a Trans-Siberian holiday, there are several visas you may need to get ahead of time, depending on your chosen routes. Be sure to always check the latest information as it does change from time to time. Here is a run-down of the visas you may need to apply for in advance.

Visas To Arrange Before A Trans-Siberian Railway Trip

Russian Visa
  • A tourist visa lasts for 30 days and is usually what you will need for your Trans-Siberian trip.
  • These visas are issued about 3 months before your intended date of entry. Try to allow about a month for the visa to be processed.
  • You will need supporting documentation, or visa support. It’s an invitation from your travel agency that sets down your confirmed travel and accommodation arrangements for your stay in Russia.
Belarus Transit Visa
  • You’re going to need a Belarus transit visa if you’re planning to travel between London and Moscow using the direct London-Cologne-Berlin-Warsaw route. All direct trains from these locations, including Moscow, pass through Belarus. You’ll need to apply for a tourist visa if you plan on spending some time in Belarus. Make sure you check the Trans-Siberian rail route maps ahead of time to see what you might needs.
  • Get a Russian visa first and then apply for the Belarus visa.
A Mongolian Visa
  • Many EU and UK citizens did not require a visa at one point, but they do now if they are to enter Mongolia.
  • United States citizens have been allowed to enter Mongolia without a visa since 2001 for stays of up to three months, or 90 days.
  • Canadian citizens are also able to enter Mongolia without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
  • Singaporean citizens can enter without a visa for stays of up to 14 days.
  • Australian citizens do need a visa if they wish to enter Mongolia.
A Chinese Visa
  • If you plan on visiting China, you’re going to need a visa.
  • Apply for a Chinese visa a month before you head off on your trip, but less than three months before you are due to enter China.
  • You will need confirmed tickets into and out of China along with confirmed hotel bookings for each night you plan to spend in the country. The rules tend to change every now and then, do check the current requirements with your local embassy.
  • Don’t plan on getting your Chinese visa in Moscow since the embassy in Moscow reportedly only issues Chinese visas to citizens of Russia.
  • The period for which a visa is valid for China once is issued has been reduced to just a few months. It’s better not to plan on months upon months of travel before you reach China as you risk the visa expiring before then.

These are the main visas you will need to arrange in advance if you are planning a Trans-Siberian trip. Make sure you have everything you need to avoid complications during your special journey. Talk to local embassies and plan your route ahead of time to make sure you are well prepared.

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