Timeline for Is it possible at present to get by rail from the EU into Russia?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
19 events
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| Feb 22, 2023 at 11:39 | comment | added | gerrit | @Johnnyjanko It has always worked for direct trains from the EU to Russia, and the linked gov.uk page says "contact your train or tour operator"; at the time I received a Belarus transit visa and Russian tourist visa from the same tour operator, who confirmed this is allowed for direct tains. There are no such trains at the moment, so the question is moot. I also wonder how the Russia-Belarus visa union affects things — the gov.uk page does not seem to consider this information yet. | |
| Feb 22, 2023 at 9:40 | comment | added | Johnnyjanko | @gerrit I've read many stories about foreigners who successfully entered Russia from Belarus overland, especially by train, but I can't find any official source stating that this is allowed. On the other hand, I found several official sources stating that this is not allowed and that perpetrators could face punishment: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/russia/entry-requirements | |
| Feb 21, 2023 at 16:22 | comment | added | gerrit | I travelled via Belarus in 2019 and it was no problem at all, and a popular route too. Also, since 2020, Russia and Belarus recognise each others visas, so you should be able to cross into Belarus and Russia with a Russian visa. Probably it will change again soon after Russia annexes Belarus and Belarus ceases to exist… | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 17:33 | history | became hot network question | |||
| Dec 16, 2022 at 15:00 | history | tweeted | twitter.com/StackTravel/status/1603766929398824960 | ||
| Dec 16, 2022 at 13:32 | comment | added | Johnnyjanko | @jcaron No I don't. Just asking. Thx for the suggestion. | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 13:18 | comment | added | jcaron | Do you specifically need rail? There are busses from Tallinn to Saint Petersburg. | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 12:01 | vote | accept | Johnnyjanko | ||
| Dec 16, 2022 at 12:01 | comment | added | Johnnyjanko | @Xnero IMO that's not going to help me. By boarding a Russia-bound train in Kaliningrad (or even in Vilnius, Lithuania - to make it easier for a Westerner), I'd face the same issues while crossing the Belarus-Russia border... | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 11:57 | answer | added | Tor-Einar Jarnbjo | timeline score: 7 | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 11:56 | comment | added | Xnero | Have you considered getting a train from Kalingrad? | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 11:36 | history | edited | Xnero | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Dec 16, 2022 at 10:26 | comment | added | Johnnyjanko | Yes, crossing into BLR is reportedly less of a problem, Belarusian officials are more lenient. Regarding entering Russia, travellers report that by car or bus it's not possible at all, by train it could be done, but the risk of fine or detention is not what an ordinary traveller would want to experience. | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 10:22 | history | edited | Johnnyjanko | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Dec 16, 2022 at 10:19 | comment | added | xngtng | Aha, russianrail.com/news/crossing-russia---belarus-border-by-train it did change after 2016/7. Although I guess in practice the checks are random and migration cards by Belarus is usually recognized in Russia, but indeed technically illegal. It is legal in the other direction with trains (but not cars), as Belarus registration authorities usually accept rail tickets as proof of entry. | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 9:53 | comment | added | Johnnyjanko | Here's another source: tripadvisor.com/… If you have opposite information, please go ahead! I'd be very happy to hear that this weird situation has been resolved. | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 9:46 | comment | added | Johnnyjanko | @xngtng Unfortunately it's very true and confirmed by multiple sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belarus%E2%80%93Russia_border In short, the Union State of Russia and Belarus is like a Schengen Area, in which only its citizens can move freely, foreigners are confined to one single member country... | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 9:40 | comment | added | xngtng | " 3rd party nationals are not allowed to cross the Belarus-Russia land border." That's not true... at least before Covid and the war (I cannot find anything that says this has been changed). You may need a transit visa and must ask for a migration card though. But at the present there is no direct rail connection way. | |
| Dec 16, 2022 at 9:31 | history | asked | Johnnyjanko | CC BY-SA 4.0 |