How to travel to Russia | Traveler's Guide, places, and all type of visas

How to travel to Russia | Traveler's Guide, places, and all type of visas

Located Russia east of the continent of Europe and North Asia, an extended state on an area of large, intercourse with her visitors from all over the world for different purposes, and so that visitors can enter Russia, he must get a visa, offering a visitor seeking entry to the state, and required That the application be accompanied by an invitation from a Russian citizen or a licensed worker in the tourism sector, as the types of visas differ and are as follows:

Tourism visa:

it is the easiest and cheapest obtainable visa, as the official purpose of it is tourism, and it may be presented to it for visiting relatives and friends in Russia and the duration does not exceed thirty days, but if the visit is for short business trips or medical consultations it is called The name "tourist visa with special goals", and is valid for seven days only and can be extended in exceptional cases such as the presence of a serious illness, and to obtain this visa must obtain an invitation letter issued by licensed tourism authorities.

Business visa:

 It is a visa intended for businessmen and people visiting Russia on long trips, and its the period extends for up to 3 months in the event of entry for one or two times and may reach from one to 3 years if the entry was more than twice, and to obtain this The visa must be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the Russian state organizations, or the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

Work visa:

 This visa is considered the most costly and complex, and foreigners who work permanently in Russia usually apply for it, as the visa can be taken after obtaining an official work permit, and they are of two types: the first type is a one-time entry visa and is valid for three months and is issued from The Russian consulate, the second type is the multi-entry visa, which is valid for one year and both types can be renewed without leaving the country. 

Visa for competent professionals:

 This visa is given to persons with experience, skills, or accomplishments in a specific field, by submitting a work permit to the concerned authorities, and for a period of up to three years. 

Special visa:

This visa is offered to people who want to visit their relatives in Russia, but it requires a long time to be issued, so most people submit a tourist visa instead, but this visa is distinguished because its period extends to three months, and it can be obtained by submitting a written request from a Russian citizen To introduce foreign persons from his relatives to the state.

Family member visa:

This visa is presented to persons who obtain a work visa, to obtain a permanent or long-term residence permit for a member of his families, such as a wife, children under eighteen years of age, and children with special needs who are over eighteen years old.

 

Transit visa:

This visa is required from people who move from one country to another through Russian territory and its validity extends to three days if the air is traveling, and for ten days if the car is traveling, and it is not imposed only on people who leave the customs area at the airport.

Student visa:

In the event of residency to join universities in Russia, it is necessary to apply for the student visa, as it can be obtained by applying to the Russian consulate branch located in the country of residence after obtaining an invitation from the university, and this visa is valid for only three months, After that, the student must submit a one-year extension request to renew it annually thereafter

Residence in Russia

 Health care in Russia

The Russian health sector is advanced in some cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, as the state provides many medical facilities and hospitals in which health care is provided free of charge to Russian citizens and foreigners must submit a request for private health insurance that is effective throughout their stay,  and The insurance covers medical evacuation outside the country, especially since the costs of treatment in Russia is high compared to most of the Central European countries and foreigners bear the financial consequences of insurance or the employer trusts him to finance it, or their places to discuss the company's health insurance plan with p. I like to work.

Education and schools in Russia

Children in Russia receive compulsory education from the age of six years to sixteen years, as many public schools offer free education for children of citizens and foreigners, in addition to many international schools in some Russian cities,  and after the end of education, The student is obligated to choose one of the two tracks, either vocational training or enrollment in public universities, The percentage of citizens with higher education in Russia has reached more than 50%,  while university education for foreigners is not free, and the state also makes it possible for foreign students to Join a limited number of Disciplines as part of an international plan to make sure to grant priority to education for citizens.

Driving in and moving around in Russia

 Foreigners are allowed to use their driver's license during the first sixty days of their stay in Russia, and after that, they must apply for a Russian driver's license in the nearest office of the Russian Public Traffic Safety Administration and issuing it only requires passing the theoretical test in case the previous driver's license is valid, However, if it is over, the theoretical and practical exam must be chosen to obtain a Russian driving license and roads in Russia are generally described as good in the main cities and citizens use non-car transport vehicles to move around the country, as Russia is distinguished by a variety of options. The transportation is in it, and it is as follows:

Aircraft:

The number of civil airports in Russia reaches 228, and airports are not only used to travel outside the country but are also used by residents to travel between Russian cities due to the vast distances between them.

Trains:

It is an alternative way for planes to travel between Russia at a lower cost, and there is a train in the country with a speed of 40 km/hour.

Ships and boats:

Tourist tours can be taken on board ships and boats, as Russia allows to stay within its water borders for about 72 hours without the need for a visa.

The metro:

The metro lines extend in seven Russian cities, and it is an easy and cheap means of transportation.

Work in Russia

A work visa must be obtained to obtain a job in Russia, and the opportunity for expatriates to obtain employment increases according to their knowledge of the Russian language, usually, expatriates work in international companies and language schools, [11] and they seek to work in the construction and energy sectors, and according to statistics in 2014, expatriate labor In Russia is ranked thirteenth globally in terms of disposable income and total profits achieved, with annual income for a third of ex-pats in Russia reaching about 250 thousand USD.

The cost of living in Russia The main cost of living in Russia is somewhat high, especially in the main cities. According to the Mercer Survey of the Cost of Living in 2020, Moscow ranked 27 among 209 other cities in terms of the high cost of living in it, and Saint PetersburgRank 75, while costs decrease slightly in areas outside the cities, in terms of housing costs, the expatriate may choose to live in apartments inside the city, whose residential rents are high in proportion to their areas, as many old buildings need maintenance, and expatriates may go to live in houses within safe complexes Outside the city, he will, therefore, use the railway stations to move from his home to his work in the city for more than an hour, and be exposed to temperatures less than freezing for six months, as for the cost of food, they vary in price and quality, but in general, they are very expensive. The price of, for example, vegetable prices are changing in shops, according to the seasons. In the winter has implemented local vegetable stock and replace imported vegetables that are high prices dramatically.

The best cities to stay in Russia

 Russia has a diversity of regions and cities, but expatriates usually tend to reside in some of the following Russian cities :

•           Moscow:

it is the largest city in Russia and its the official capital and there are about 12 million people, so it is distinguished by the diversity of places and cultures, as well as the flexibility to move from it to the rest of the country due to its developed transit system and railways.

•           The city of Tyumen:

The city of Tyumen is distinguished by being a city with a high quality of life and comfort, and although it is not a large city and a population of not more than 750 thousand people, it is growing and prospering rapidly, and the advantages of residence in it are away from the hustle, low cost of living, and availability of spaces Big green in it.

•           Saint Petersburg:

It is the second-largest city in Russia, with a population of 5 million people. Among the advantages of residing in it is the availability of a distinct system of public transport, and the reasonable cost of living. Industrial and business centers.

•           Yekaterinburg:

Yekaterinburg is one of the best Russian cities to stay in, as the cost of living is low, and public transportation is available everywhere and easy access to the basics of life is due to its permanent availability in the city center and there are many cultural places It hosts many events and exhibitions.

Travel advise to Russia

A set of tips should be guided when traveling to Russia, as follows:

Knowing common phrases:

It is advisable to have a book with common terms and phrases in the Russian language because many Russians are not able to speak English well, and it is advisable to carry maps that show important places in the country.

Choosing the right clothes:

 Russia has a very cold and frozen climate in the winter, but it is hot and humid in the summer. The climate is also volatile and unpredictable, so different clothes should be packaged in preparation for any weather condition, and the appropriate shoes should be packed because of the possibility of clay that Produced after melting snow in large cities.

Learn about popular foods:

There are many popular dishes in Russia. Knowing the nature of these dishes helps in choosing food, especially in local restaurants where employees do not speak English.

Respect for local customs:

Russian society is considered a traditional society, so we should pay attention to the customs and traditions used in the country, such as bringing a gift when visiting one of them, and choosing an outfit that matches the traditions of the people, and others.

Currency exchange in advance:

To avoid any difficulty that the visitor may encounter when he needs to pay, some services only accept cash in the local currency, while for the credit card, exchange rates may differ, and the card may not be acceptable to Russian banks.

Expect to spend a lot:

Because some Russian cities are known for high prices, Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world, and so is The city of Saint Petersburg.

Avoid drinking tap water:

residents avoid drinking tap water because of it contains substances that can cause many diseases.