Travel instructions

When travelling to Russia by train you should take into consideration some practical issues. On this page you find information on e.g. what kinds of travel documents you need. It might also be worthwhile to check the instructions for travellers on the web site of Finnish Customs.

Customs instructions for travellers

Before the journey check the instructions for travellers on the web site of Finnish and Russian Customs: www.tulli.fi and www.customs.ru.

Russian customs notification to travellers [pdf]

Russian Federation Security Service notification to groups [pdf]

Travel agencies are ready to assist

Travel agencies will be happy to help you with practical issues concerning the trip. Read more on travel agencies' visa sites.

Helsinki railway station (to the right from the ticket office main door) houses travel agency Matkatoimisto Lähialuematkat, which is one of the biggest travel agencies specialising in trips to Russia and countries of the former Sovier Union. Ask for advice, buy travel packages to Russia and get a visa via Lähialuematkat. You can order just the visa which takes 7-8 days.

Travel documents

When travelling to Russia you must have a passport and a visa. In addition, you must fill in an entry form which you can get onboard the train. Fill in two copies of the entry form. One copy stamped by Russian border guards shall be kept on your person during your stay in Russia.

Further information: www.rusembassy.fi

Visas

You must have a valid visa when travelling to Russia. The visa application procedure takes slightly over a week. The most convenient way to obtain a visa is through a travel agency where you can also book accommodation. At the travel agency you can also get more details on the application procedure and visa application form. Your passport's period of validity must extend for at least six months after the end of the validity of the visa. A child under the age of 15 can be marked on the person having the care and custody of the child.

Please note! Always remember to check before the journey that the information on your visa is correct. If you travel on Tolstoi to Moscow note in particular that your visa shall be in effect already from the day the train crosses the border. On the return journey from Moscow the visa shall be valid during the whole train journey, i.e. also on the day following the train's departure. The train crosses the border only after midnight.

Please note! Passengers travelling with a group visa must know the name of the group leader and the group leader's seat on the train and they must travel in the same car. If there aren't enough seats in the same car for all passengers travelling with a group visa there must be a copy of the group visa in each car. The group visa can also be applied for the passengers per car.

Passport

Your passport's period of validity must extend for at least six months after the end of the validity of the trip. The passport is required already when booking a seat.

It is worthwhile to take photocopies of the data and visa page of your passport. If you lose your travel documents the photocopies make it considerably easier to acquire new ones. In addition, Russian border authorities sometimes ask for photocopies of your travel documents.

Finnish diplomatic missions in Russia

If case of a lost passport or other emergency contact Finnish diplomatic missions in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Petroskoi or Murmansk.

For contact information of Finnish diplomatic missions go to: www.finland.org.ru/fi. On the web site you can view addresses and contact information of consular personnel on duty during office hours, at other times of the day and holidays.

For more information on travel abroad go to the web site of the Ministry for Foreigh Affairs.

Currency exchange

Safar Oy changes currency onboard trains between Kouvola and Vainikkala. Only cash is exchanged onboard the train.