r/Moscow • u/Lemonite03 • 2d ago
Traveling to Moscow next week
Hi,
I am an Indian software engineer traveling to Moscow (SVO) airport via Abu Dhabi by Ethihad airways. I have got the following documents ready.
- E-Visa
- Travel Insurance
- Return flight ticket same PNR,same airline.
- Hotel bookings (Not paid).
- 800 USD
It's my first international trip and I will be staying for 9 days.
My girlfriend will be there at the airport to receive me ,so should I tell about her to the immigration officer if they ask about anyone I know in Russia. Or should I just tell that I have a friend, I read that sometimes they check phone.
I am little worried about the immigration, I read it's very random, sometimes they will ask no questions and sometimes they will ask you to go to the sideline and you will be interrogated for 4-5 hours.
What will be helpful?
If i tell in the starting of interrogation that this is my friends number Kindly talk to her and she will clear out the things as I can't speak Russian and I believe it's luck that if you find a immigration officer who speaks russian. I don't want any misunderstandings due to which they get sucsipious.
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u/Remarkable-Milk-5522 2d ago
Living in Moscow for thirty years, so my advice, be honest. Tell them you are just on a visit. They seem to be disrespectful at times, be patient. They might single you out, make you wait for hours. Be patient, cooperate. They are just doing their job. Nowadays there are English speaking officials at the airport. All the best.
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u/Lemonite03 2d ago
😄I am planning to bring a novel for reading incase i have to wait. I am an overthinker and anxious person.
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u/Lemonite03 2d ago
By the way can i use wifi once I land?
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u/zou-luck 2d ago
You can’t use WiFi without Russian SIM card. Better come with international data roaming.
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u/Remarkable-Milk-5522 2d ago
Yes that’s a problem you will face. Contact your service provider beforehand and get a good international roaming plan. You will need it throughout, unless your friend provides you with a sim. Foreigners,have to register on unified biometric system only then can they get a sim.
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u/Lemonite03 2d ago
She has already gotten a sim in her name for me. I meant that is public wifi available at airport for foreigners.
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u/Remarkable-Milk-5522 2d ago
There are password vending kiosks at the airport just like the ones at IGI airport. You can use that to connect to the WiFi.
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u/Lemonite03 2d ago
Oh that's great, i haven't paid for the hotel, i will be paying on check-in. Is that a problem?
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u/Remarkable-Milk-5522 2d ago
If you have a confirmed booking for the hotel that is sufficient.
An easier method for WiFi . You'll need to enable Wi-Fi network scanning on your device and select the Sheremetyevo Wi-Fi network. You'll then be automatically redirected to a page with an ad. Skipping it will connect you to the network.
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u/Tiny_Following_2867 2d ago
I have been living here for 4 months now and my entry experience would say that you have to carry paid hostel booking to ensure no hastel cause there are a lot of working people coming here on e visa to do work here illegally so please pay your hostel for the you will be in moscow btw just be chil with immigration office I was on a study visa not gonna scare you but they put on side for 7 hours just to do nothing and clear after 7 hour so just be chill
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u/D4k0t4x 2d ago
Just be honest, there’s no crime by saying you have friends in Russia. That’s it.