I needed the visa to transit Russia from Kazakhstan to Mongolia. I would have love to obtain a full Tourist Visa allowing me to really explore at least a larger part of Russia but alas that path was much more difficult requiring invitation letter and help from tour agency to get documentation required for a full Tourist Visa.
The alternative was a Transit Visa. Tourist Visa is relatively possible for Malaysian if applying in KL but then the Single Entry Russian Tourist Visa is valid for three months upon issued, hence for me, even if I got it, the Visa would have expired by the time I had visited Central Asia proper.
The other possibility was a Russian Tourist E-Visa which could be applied online from anywhere in the world. However this E-Visa had a list of borders that would allow its usage and non of the Kazakh – Russia Land border were on the list.
So back in Balykchy I submitted the online form for applying a Russian Transit Visa and booked my appointment slot two days later. The Russian Embassy in Bishkek appointment booking platform for Visa application was only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
https://kyrgyz.mid.ru/ru/visa/visa_issues/
The link above provided the information for Russian Transit Visa (which was in Jun 2024). Filtering the requirement for Malaysian, what I needed was as follows
1. Photocopy of Passport (no less than six months to expiry date)
2. Visa Application Form filled up online at https://visa.kdmid.ru
Note: Fill up all info and print out. The date of entry and exit determined the transit days requested and the maximum is 10 days. Transit type applied TR2
3. One recent photo of applicant (3.5x4.5cm) –
Note: I used the spare photo from China Visa application which was slightly different size and it was accepted
4. Photocopy of Drivers License (International)
5. Photocopy of Vehicle Ownership Certificate
6. Cover Letter indicating the border of entry and exit including route info.
Note: This was self written and no hotel bookings was done along the route. Just a simple write up requesting permission to transit Russia via border xx to border xx via motorcycle in xx days
7. Print out of Mongolian Website indicating Malaysian do not require Visa for entry.
Note: This is for onward journey to after Russia making sure that you have a Visa to continue travel to the next country.
https://visa.kdmid.ru/queue/visitor.aspx
The link above is to get the online appointment for Visa application at the Russian Embassy in Bishkek. Everything is in Russian but a simple google lenses translation works to go through the form.
I arrived in Bishkek a day earlier and next day early morning I took a stroll to the Russian embassy. I was early and took an early brunch but still reaching the gate at 1pm.
The other possibility was a Russian Tourist E-Visa which could be applied online from anywhere in the world. However this E-Visa had a list of borders that would allow its usage and non of the Kazakh – Russia Land border were on the list.
So back in Balykchy I submitted the online form for applying a Russian Transit Visa and booked my appointment slot two days later. The Russian Embassy in Bishkek appointment booking platform for Visa application was only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
https://kyrgyz.mid.ru/ru/visa/visa_issues/
The link above provided the information for Russian Transit Visa (which was in Jun 2024). Filtering the requirement for Malaysian, what I needed was as follows
1. Photocopy of Passport (no less than six months to expiry date)
2. Visa Application Form filled up online at https://visa.kdmid.ru
Note: Fill up all info and print out. The date of entry and exit determined the transit days requested and the maximum is 10 days. Transit type applied TR2
3. One recent photo of applicant (3.5x4.5cm) –
Note: I used the spare photo from China Visa application which was slightly different size and it was accepted
4. Photocopy of Drivers License (International)
5. Photocopy of Vehicle Ownership Certificate
6. Cover Letter indicating the border of entry and exit including route info.
Note: This was self written and no hotel bookings was done along the route. Just a simple write up requesting permission to transit Russia via border xx to border xx via motorcycle in xx days
7. Print out of Mongolian Website indicating Malaysian do not require Visa for entry.
Note: This is for onward journey to after Russia making sure that you have a Visa to continue travel to the next country.
https://visa.kdmid.ru/queue/visitor.aspx
The link above is to get the online appointment for Visa application at the Russian Embassy in Bishkek. Everything is in Russian but a simple google lenses translation works to go through the form.
I arrived in Bishkek a day earlier and next day early morning I took a stroll to the Russian embassy. I was early and took an early brunch but still reaching the gate at 1pm.
My appointment was at 3pm and checking with the guard which had a lock grill door, he checked his list finding my name and made me wait to the appointed time before letting me inside.
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| Russia Embassy side Entrance Gate in Bishkek - Kyrgyzstan |
The application process was straightforward in a sense. Submitted all the document and the officer only asked for medical insurance but I told him I had read online under visa issue that this requirement is only for citizens of EU, China, Iran and Turkey. Malaysian do not require this medical insurance to transit Russia. The officer continue on with his typing and I just stood there patiently.
Officer: Do you want express or normal ??
Me: Express
While I had the time to go the normal service, waiting one week would have made me more nervous everyday thinking if I would get the Visa or not hence I opted for the more expensive Express Visa service hoping to secure that Transit Visa early and have a peace of mind for a secured route.
I paid the visa fee of 14400 Kyrgyz Som for the express service and was told to collect the passport the next day morning. Next day I got a beautiful new transit visa for 10 days, which seal my route for Sep 2024 towards Mongolia
Traveled on: Jun 2024
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