Russian immigration information

[bakery]

I know we have to go through Russian immigration when we land in St. Petersburg, and give them a copy of the photo page of our passport. But will we pass through immigration each of the mornings we go ashore in St. Petersburg? And will we have to give them a different copy each day?

[Maianthemum]

I know we have to go through Russian immigration when we land in St. Petersburg, and give them a copy of the photo page of our passport. But will we pass through immigration each of the mornings we go ashore in St. Petersburg? And will we have to give them a different copy each day?

 

Yes we have to pass through immigration each day.

 

No we only give them a passport copy the first day.

 

You will also need to fill in and hand over an immigration form which you can get from the ship.

[Stelladoro]

When we were in St. Petersburg last May, a copy of our Passport page was not required. We had to produce 3 pieces of ID - our Passport, the completed immigration form for both days (Russian Customs will keep the immigration form for both days on the first day), and the tour form.

[EOS-User]

When we were in St. Petersburg last May, a copy of our Passport page was not required. We had to produce 3 pieces of ID - our Passport, the completed immigration form for both days (Russian Customs will keep the immigration form for both days on the first day), and the tour form.

 

That was our experience also...

 

Your tour company will give you the up to the minute details of what's required, and there will be information made available onboard just before you arrive; but beware; the ship's wording will be made to look as if your only option is the ship's tours. That's not the case! Trust your tour company!

[bakery]

This is so helpful. One more question: will we carry our actual passports with us (while we're in St. Petersburg) or do we leave them aboard?

[EOS-User]

This is so helpful. One more question: will we carry our actual passports with us (while we're in St. Petersburg) or do we leave them aboard?

 

Immigration will return your passports after they've been stamped & validated; you carry them with you while you're out & about.

 

You'll need to present the passport again on day 2 (assuming you're on a 2-day stop), but it's only a cursory glance then to ensure you've been stamped...

 

Hope you enjoy; it's a great stop-over!

[marco_polo11]

That was our experience also...

 

Your tour company will give you the up to the minute details of what's required, and there will be information made available onboard just before you arrive; but beware; the ship's wording will be made to look as if your only option is the ship's tours. That's not the case! Trust your tour company!

 

This was the case on our cruise with the NCL Sun a couple of years ago. Not only that, they tried to delay passengers leaving the ship for their independent tours. They announced that these passengers should wait in the various lounges until the ship's tour passengers left. We ignored that and left the ship as soon as the ship got clearance from Russian immigration. The ship cannot hold you back from leaving the ship after official clearance. Even as we lined up to leave the ship, staff were telling us that immigration only accepted colour copies of our passport. Some people left the lineup in a panic. My group members ignored the announcement and our b & w copies were not an issue with immigration. So beware the dirty tricks of your cruiseship to discourage you from taking tours other than theirs.

[marco_polo11]

This was the case on our cruise with the NCL Sun a couple of years ago. Not only that, they tried to delay passengers leaving the ship for their independent tours. They announced that these passengers should wait in the various lounges until the ship's tour passengers left. We ignored that and left the ship as soon as the ship got clearance from Russian immigration. The ship cannot hold you back from leaving the ship after official clearance. Even as we lined up to leave the ship, staff were telling us that immigration only accepted colour copies of our passport. Some people left the lineup in a panic. My group members ignored the announcement and our b & w copies were not an issue with immigration. So beware the dirty tricks of your cruiseship to discourage you from taking tours other than theirs.

 

Sorry, terrible mistake... the cruiseship in question was Crown Princess, not NCL Sun. Apologies to NCL. I confused the Baltic cruise with a South American one.

[CintiPam]

Just there last month: simply need to present (1) actual passport, (2) immigration card which ship provides and (3) tour ticket. No copies were kept by immigration.

[bakery]

This is really helpful, and I appreciate all of your comments. Too bad the cruise lines complicate the issue for those not taking the ship's tour!

[EOS-User]

This is really helpful, and I appreciate all of your comments. Too bad the cruise lines complicate the issue for those not taking the ship's tour!

 

They don't really 'complicate' issues; but they are somewhat 'economical with the truth'.

 

They do have their own revenue generation to protect, but they also certainly appear to make big on 'concerns' that Russia is still the big 'bogey-man' :eek: .