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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Important Note: For entry into Russia AND departure from Russia, foreign citizens including those who enter on a visa-free basis and persons without citizenship, must obtain and fill in a MIGRATION CARD upon arrival in Russia. The migration card with marks of entry into Russia made by a border control unit, should be produced when the foreign citizen registers with a territorial section of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or a hotel. The migration card is to be returned at the Russian Federation’s Frontier check point when the foreigner leaves the country.
The main purpose of the migration card is to establish control over entry, stay and departure of foreigners from Russia as well as accumulation and subsequent analysis of statistical data.
VISA INFORMATION
WEATHER
In general, the climate of Russia can be described as highly continental influenced climate with warm to hot dry summers and (very) cold winters with temperatures of -30°C and lower and sometimes heavy snowfall.
GENERAL INFORMATION
| Country: | Russian Federation |
| Capital City: | Moscow |
| International Airports: | Sevastopol International Airport (Belbek) Gagarinsky International Airport Vladivostok International Airport (Knevichi) Baikal International Airport (Mukhino) Irkutsk International Airport Koltsovo International Airport Roshchino International Airport Surgut International Airport Sabetta International Airport Magnitogorsk International Airport Volgograd International Airport (Gumrak) Sochi International Airport Simferopol International Airport Platov International Airport Krasnodar International Airport (Pashkovsky) Ufa International Airport Kurumoch International Airport Perm International Airport (Bolshoye Savino) Strigino International Airport Kazan International Airport Cheboksary International Airport Voronezh International Airport (Chertovitskoye) Ostafyevo International Business Airport Zhukovsky International Airport (Ramenskoye) Vnukovo International Airport Sheremetyevo International Airport Bryansk International Airport Belgorod International Airport |
| Area: | 17,075,400 km² |
| Population: | 143 Million (approx) |
| Time Zone: | Moscow is GMT + 04.00 however to the extreme east of Russia you have (UTC +12:00) |
| Religion: | Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism |
| Language: | Of all the languages of Russia, Russian is the only official language at national level. There are 35 different languages which are considered official languages in various regions of Russia, along with Russian. There are over 100 minority languages spoken in Russia today. |
| Currency: | Rouble (RUB) = 100 kopeks. Notes are in denominations of RUB1000, 500, 100, 50 and 10. Coins are in denominations of RUB10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 10, 5 and 1 kopeks…The import and export of local currency is prohibited. |
| Exchange Rate: | Please consult your local bank as exchange rates fluctuate. |
| Credit Card Payment Availability: | Most cards are widely accepted. |
| ATM Accessibility: | ATM’s are readily available. |
| Dialling Code: | +7 |
TRAVEL TIPS
| Electricity: | Russia has a voltage of 220 V, an electrical frequency of 50 Hz |
| Water: | It is advisable to drink only bottled or distilled water. |
| Business Hours: | Offices and Banks 08:00 or 09:00-17:00 or 18:00 Mon-Fri. Shopping Hours Mon-Sat 0900-1900. Most food shops are also open on Sundays. Department stores and supermarkets are open throughout lunchtime. Stores which are open 24 hours a day are becoming more common. |
| Banking Hours: | Mon – Fri – 08:00 /09:00 – 17:00 / 18:00 |
| Photography Restrictions: | No restrictions |
| Tipping: | No tipping required, however most appreciated. If tipping; give it directly to the intended person. |
| Vaccination Requirements: | No Vaccinations required, but always consult with your medical practitioner or travel clinic. |
| Dress Code Restrictions: | No Dress Code restrictions |
| Peculiar Customs to Observe: | When meeting someone at the front door, never shake hands over a threshold, wait until you are inside to do so. |
FESTIVALS
- Russian Orthodox Christmas – 7 January
- Maslenitsa Festival – pre-Lenten carnival
- International Women’s Day – March
- Russian Orthodox Easter Week – March / April
- Stars of White Nights Festival – May – July
- St Petersburg Beer Festival – June
- International Moscow Film Festival – June – July
- St John the Baptist’s Day – July
- Den’ Goroda – September
- Russian Winter Festival – mid December
MAP
“Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”
– Winston Churhill