Way to Russia Talk Lounge

ashton · Lounge Lizard Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 80 Location: US

I have a question regarding registering your visa or passport in Russia. I apologize if this was already covered, but I am confused.

I have been to Russia several times using a tourist visa. I understand that the hotel can register your visa upon arrival. For some reason I was always under the impression that the hotel will register your visa for the length of your stay at that hotel only. I don't know why I thought this. For this reason, I felt that I had to book a hotel for each night, even if I didn't use the hotel.

Here is my question. When a hotel registers your visa is it for a specific number of days or does it meet all of the laws to have the visa registered for the length of your stay? To clarify, if I plan on being in Moscow for 10-days, do I need to have my visa registered for that 10-day period by the hotel or once it is registered on the first day, is it good for the duration of my stay regardless of me staying at the hotel or not? It would be easier for me to make one night's reservation just to get the visa registered and then decide what I want to do as I have friends in various places and travel without much advance planning.

Thanks for any advice. I tried to consulate and they were not able to answer my question.

greg222 · VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 534

The hotel will only register you for the length of your stay at the hotel, unfortunately. Occasionally people talk about hotels that will register you for your whole stay, even if you only stay one night, but I don't know of any. Probably all such hotels are gone by now.