Saudi carrier flynas has issued a set of important advisories for travelers to Russia, covering the required procedures and the restrictions on using bank cards and transferring money inside the country.
In a post on its LinkedIn account, flynas stressed the need to follow these instructions to ensure a safe and smooth travel experience. The main advisories are as follows:
A tourist visa is required: travelers must apply for a visa through the Russian embassy's website, or through the Russian embassy in Riyadh or the Russian consulate in Jeddah.
Watch your visa's validity: under Russian law, a visa issued on an old passport becomes invalid once a new passport is issued.
Foreign bank cards are not accepted: credit or debit cards issued outside Russia, including Saudi Arabia, cannot be used at ATMs, in shops or anywhere else in the country.
Apple Pay is not supported: Apple Pay cannot be used inside Russia.
Exchange currency at exchange offices: travelers must exchange their currency at authorized exchange offices in city centers.
Opening a bank account in Russia: tourists can open a bank account in Russia for deposits only; transfers from outside the country cannot be received.
Bring cash from your country of residence: travelers should bring the full amount of cash they need before arriving in Russia.
Cash limit: carrying more than US$10,000 or the equivalent in euros without declaring it on entry is not allowed, and the receipt must be kept until departure to present to customs on request.
Saudi riyals are not accepted: Saudi riyals cannot be exchanged inside Russia.
Passport registration with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: passports must be officially registered inside Russia.
Keep the migration card (the "white card"): the migration card must be presented on departure and handed to customs officers; losing it may lead to legal consequences on exit.
If the migration card is lost: go to the nearest police station to report the loss, then visit the migration department to issue a replacement using your passport and the police report.
flynas urged its customers to follow these guidelines fully to avoid any delays or problems on arrival in or departure from Russia.
To view the post on flynas' LinkedIn account, click here.
