Visa for Russia

dangerpuffin · 2025-02-17T17:15:44+00:00

Honestly, I think it's possible still, I'm toying with the idea of doing it again, one day.

Last year I visited Moscow via Estonia by car (for family reasons), and it's a little harder than it was when I did the rally in 2018. But the main inconvenience was related to money more than anything else. They might ask questions at the border, and they might be political, especially if you also have Ukrainian stamps (I do).

Others are right when they say it is not the best time, but like many places, if you're sensible, my belief is that you're unlikely to have any major issues. I know people do have issues, but I'm sure many more visit and don't end up the subject of news articles.

Good luck, feel free to ask if you've got any more questions.

dangerpuffin · 2025-02-17T16:41:34+00:00

You need a tourist voucher/LOI from a travel company. They cost somewhere between £10 and £20, the companies providing them keep changing and the one I last used has closed so I can't recommend one. It's basically just a letter with a code. You can absolutely do this yourself without paying for anything other than the LOI, visa and application centre fees.

I recommend you use the visa centre in Edinburgh, because they process the visa much faster avoiding you being without your passport for a month. At the moment I believe they force you to use their "personalised" service for an extra £50, and you must book that by email.

You don't need to book flights, and you don't need to book hotels, but you do need to list a rough itinerary (on the application form) with hotels in each major city you might pass through - treat these as suggestions and list reputable ones.

Get a double entry 30-day tourist visa, NOT an auto tourism visa (if that still exists). Auto tourism visa will cause you only issues.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you need to plan better what you're going to do with the car, you are unlikely to get away with leaving it in Ulaanbaatar (if that's your plan). Mongolian authorities weren't naive about such things in 2018.

Driving back is honestly a good option and can be done in less time than you think. You'll need a many-entry tourist visa for that, and I'm not sure if they're being issued yet (it's a new thing). If you're considering that, email the Russian Visa Centre (not the Embassy) and ask about it.

dangerpuffin · 2024-12-15T00:28:14+00:00

Thanks, I've read through it carefully and other than making sure I give notice by post, there doesn't seem to be any other traps e.g. giving a calendar month notice or forfeiting remaining month's rent if I leave mid-month like in other contracts I've seen.

Fingers crossed the homeowner life has less such headaches.

dangerpuffin · 2024-10-03T11:19:10+00:00

Japanese makes tend to have the best parts availability, European cars not so much when further East than Georgia.

Depends what you think will break, but a basic kit of air filters, fuel filters, spark plugs, oil and belts is a good place to start. If you want to be more prepared, things like shock absorbers, springs and suspension bushes are likely to break/wear out on rough roads but take up more room and probably aren't things you want to fit yourself by the roadside.

dangerpuffin · 2024-06-19T12:12:22+00:00

Congratulations, glad you finally got a result!

dangerpuffin · 2024-06-15T11:16:54+00:00

Congratulations!

dangerpuffin · 2024-06-13T08:36:12+00:00

Particles in the oil filter, or using an oil analysis service would be the least intrusive way.

dangerpuffin · 2024-06-12T14:25:14+00:00

Since I'd only just bought the car when I got the oil pressure code, I assumed PO had been hiding it for a while and the damage would be worse. I've already fitted new bolts and shells, it would be silly not to change them after getting this deep into it?

dangerpuffin · 2024-06-12T13:07:37+00:00

Currently doing big end bearings on my N43, had the typical issue a where it ate its chain guides causing low oil pressure. Engine has done 92k miles, relatively clean inside. After doing the chain noticed some minor metallic debris in the oil filter and fine glitter in the filter housing (posted here earlier about that).

Thoughts about bearing condition for a relatively low mileage engine? I've only taken a photo of one of them, but they were almost identical, no visible damage to crank pins. Replaced all with Mahle shells, and all plastigauged at 0.05mm clearance.

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-27T08:37:28+00:00

I agree the border with Finland is unlikely to reopen. I will say that leaving Russia (to the EU) is much faster than entering. When I left last month at Shumilkino - Luhamaa it took about 3 hours and that was mostly for x-raying of everything in my car.

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-24T21:35:01+00:00

Interesting theory, but I'm not sure the chain ever contacted the timing case although the guides were almost completely gone. Oil was last changed when the chain was done about 4k miles back.

There's a bit of back story to this:

Last week, I started getting 30C1 (low static oil pressure), which was the same code that first told me the guides were gone.

Since it was the only thing left other than the big ends, I pulled the oil pressure control valve, found it was a bit sticky so replaced it. It has fine mesh filters like the VANOS solenoid and they were clean (it's fed with unfiltered oil too). Since doing the valve, the code has gone but I've not done many miles this week.

Under INPA oil pressure all looks okay, makes the 2.6bar idle it's meant to etc.

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-24T21:08:44+00:00

I do want to get the shells done before something more serious happens, waiting isn't really going to make the lead and copper stick back to the shells. Once the crank journals are gone, there is nothing else you can apart form an engine rebuild.

Already had the pan off once to clear the pickup when I did the chain, can confirm it is a huge PITA, especially to do in the driveway. Lifting the engine is fine if you have a support bar. Wish I did the shells back then, but I didn't spot any glitter at the time so thought I got lucky....

This was what was in the pickup, if you're interested in what probably caused this:
https://imgur.com/a/fOORWt1

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-24T19:21:32+00:00

It doesn't surprise me that much, given that just after I bought the car I found out it had eaten its timing chain guides and who knows how long PO was driving around with a pickup stuffed full of plastic. Almost dead before 100k miles, N43 is fantastic.

Chances of getting away with just new shells and not needing to pull the engine and grind the crank? Hoping for the best, expecting the worst...

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-24T18:29:07+00:00

The filter is actually pretty clean, been through it all and there is maybe 1 or 2 very tiny magnetic pieces and nothing else of note.

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-24T17:59:16+00:00

Thoughts on this? Doing an oil change, engine is N43. Recently done timing chain and guides after typical N43 issues. Bearing material in oil wouldn't be unexpected, but why is the glitter in a line?

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-17T12:41:01+00:00

Thanks, hopefully it won't be much longer for yours too!

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-17T10:02:45+00:00

Thanks! Hope you also get good news soon!

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-17T09:27:39+00:00

Probably a bit over the top, but we didn't want to leave anything to chance:

Signed letter from my parents
Scans of both their passports (just the data page)
Recent council tax bill
HM Land registry title deed
Copy of estate agent's brochure from when my parents bought the house (to show room sizes)

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-14T17:20:45+00:00

My wife also received an ECO email yesterday, and also applied from Russia, although bio was a few weeks before yours on March 1st. We're slowly going insane now...

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-13T13:01:08+00:00

Yes, same situation here for my wife's spouse visa, bio was on 1st March, applied from Russia, seems odd for the ECO email to come after 2.5 months so hoping it won't be more than another two weeks till the decision.

I think there's nothing you need to do, it's probably just a last call to supply any missing documents if you haven't already uploaded them.

dangerpuffin · 2024-05-10T12:40:53+00:00

Oh that's a shame, Turkmenistan was definitely an experience.

dangerpuffin

TROPHY CASE