Flying through Moscow

[ECOCKS]

Quick travel question.

Does an American flying through need a transit visa if you're only flying in, switching planes and flying right out? If a switch between the two airports is necessary does that change things?

Thanks!

[Daveman]

Quick travel question.

Does an American flying through need a transit visa if you're only flying in, switching planes and flying right out?

You do not need a transit visa if you do not leave the airport.  Took this route on my last visit -- no transfer visa, no problems...

If a switch between the two airports is necessary does that change things?

Thanks!

Can't answer this one for absolute certain, as I haven't personally done this, but, as far as I understand it.. if the traveler leaves the secured area of the airport for transfer to another airport, a visa is then needed. 

[Anotherkiwi]

You do not need a transit visa if you do not leave the airport.  Took this route on my last visit -- no transfer visa, no problems...

I'm a bit surprised - with the way Russian bureaucracy works I would have thought that you wouldn't be able to get through Immigration without a visa.  I haven't flown internationally into SVO, but at DME it's not physically possible to enter the terminal area from airside without going through Immigration and baggage collection first, so you can't actually go directly from Arrivals to Departures.

[Gator]

If you are connecting to an international flight, I believe you would not need a visitor's visa (entry visa).


http://www.aeroflot.ru/cms/en/before_and_after_fly/transit
 
I have never done this.  Upon disembarking,  I have always seen  signs pointing transit in a different direction than passport control.
 
Of course, if you are connecting to a domestic flight, you would need a visitor's visa.
 
Going to Belarus?