Page 112 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - St. Petersburg

110 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Practical Information

Passports and Visas not usually accepted. You for a trip to Russia, it is
are also required to carry advisable to take out an
All visitors from the US, your passport at all times. insurance policy that
Canada, the EU, Australia By law you have to covers cancellation or
and New Zealand need register with the Federal curtailment of your trip,
to obtain a visa from Migration Service within theft or loss of baggage,
Russian Visa Centres 7 days of your arrival in and healthcare.
in their home country Russia. Hotels will handle Health insurance is
before travelling to this for their guests; particularly important as
Russia. Passports must those staying in private the country’s public
be valid for a minimum homes must be registered hospitals are generally
of 6 months after the by their host. Registration not up to Western
visa expiry date. receipts should be kept standards. Private health
While British and with your passport and care is excellent, but it
Danish citizens have immigration card. can be very expensive.
to submit their visa
applications in person Customs Emergency Services
and provide biometric
data, citizens of most If you are carrying cash For emergencies, the
other countries can have or antiques, valuable police, ambulance service
their visa applications jewellery, laptops, or and fire brigade each
submitted by an agent other electrical equipment have a dedicated phone
or by mail. Independent over the value of US$3,000 number, but the operators
travellers must provide upon entry to Russia, you may not speak English.
proof of their hotel will need to fill out a There is an English-
reservation and those customs declaration language Tourist
visitors staying at private form. You will need to Helpline, which should
homes need to produce present it when you leave, also be able to provide
an official invitation so that you can take the assistance. You may wish
from their host. items back with you. to consider contacting
Cruise-ship passengers It is against the law your consulate if you
and passengers on to export objects over have a particularly
ferries from Helsinki 50 years old from Russia, serious problem.
and Tallinn are entitled to so try to avoid buying
stay in St Petersburg for anything that looks Health
up to 72 hours without a remotely antique during
visa. Those on cruise your stay. If you become ill, speak
ships must sleep on board to someone at your hotel
and can only visit the city Travel Safety Advice reception or contact the
in the company of an MEDEM International
official guide; passengers Visitors can get up-to- Clinic or the American
arriving by ferry must date safety information Medical Clinic and
book accommodation from the Foreign and Hospital, which both
in the city. Commonwealth Office specialize in dealing
(FCO) in the UK, the State with foreigners.
Immigration Cards Depart ment in the US Pharmacies (apteka)
and Registration and the Department are very easy to find, and
of Foreign Affairs and many of them are open
All visitors are given an Trade in Australia. 24 hours. However, it is
immigration card upon a good idea to bring
arrival. This has to be Travel Insurance essential medicines and
kept for the entire prescriptions with you, as
duration of the visit and Although it’s not they may be sold under
shown to the police on obligatory to have a different names at the
request. Photocopies are travel insurance policy local pharmacies.

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