From October 1, 2019, Indians and Filipinos will be eligible to apply for a free e-visa to visit the Russian city of St Petersburg. Apart from the city, the e-visa will grant travellers access to the neighbouring Leningrad region.
The visa once applied for is issued within four calender days including weekends and bank holidays. The e-visa website works around the clock which saves you from the hassle of visiting any visa agencies.
You don’t need to show any documents such as proof of accommodation or a travel voucher. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: “Invitations, hotel booking confirmations or any other documents that confirm the purpose of your journey to the Russian Federation are not required for an e-visa.”
If you have the free e-visa for St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, you can only enter Russia by air if you fly to Pulkovo Airport – St. Petersburg’s gateway to the rest of the world. A roundtrip ticket from Dubai to St. Petersburg currently costs around Dh1,300 to Dh2,300.
Once you get the e-visa, it’s only valid for 30 calendar days from the date of its issuance. You’re only permitted to stay inside St. Petersburg and Leningrad region for up to eight days from the date of entry. The e-visa cannot be extended.
While St. Petersburg may appear as a touristy place where majority of people can speak English, learning a few Russian words will go a long way. It will help you communicate effectively. Here’s one useful link to help you get started. If you’re looking for the best bang for buck, eat out at local stolovayas – cafeterias offer buffet style Russian menus. A full course meal will only cost Dh17! Look out for signs that read like these and you’re set. When in St. Petersburg, you must tour the Hermitage Museum, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and the St. Isaac and Kazan Cathedrals along Nevsky Prospekt. If you’ve got an hour to spare, go out of the city and visit the Peterhof and Pushkin Palaces on the outskirts.
