Russian Hotels no longer allowed to Register visas?

[Turboguy]

A subject that came up somewhere else is that it is now illegal for hotels or agenices in Russia to register visas.   That you now have to go to a government office of some sort to do it.  Does anyone know if this is for real or is it a case that whoever was saying that has thier head screwed on backwards??? 

Since I will be flying into Moscow in 2 weeks it would be nice to know what the situation is.  Anyone hear anything about this?

[catzenmouse]

TG,

 I had my visa registered at a hotel my second day in Omsk two weeks ago for about $35.

Ken

[Turboguy]

Thanks Ken.   Hopefully the person who said that was wrong.  I will find out first hand in two weeks.

[George_123]

You're right, you do need to reg at the police station. I was in Moscow 3 months and i did pay in advance to a travel agent but it doesn't do me any good. I still have to re register. Good luck!!

[Rvrwind]

TG-this is correct!!!
As of November first last year it became illegal for hotels to register you unless you are actually staying at the hotel. However as in all things Russian there are a couple of local hotels that we have worked with in the past that have found a way around the law & still regiter our clients even though they are staying in our flats & not the hotel. It has made the registration process a little more costly but if you have ever experienced the day long line-up at the OVIR to register, you would gladly pay the few extra roubles to get the hotel to do it in 20 minutes.
I'm in a state of confusion over this myself as I really don't understand the logic of the Russian government. I mean like is their any logic. They want the tourist & buisness people to come here but they continually make the process harder & harder. Like for Christ sake grab a brain!!!
I think these new rules will cost them big time in the tourist industry. When I inquired why the tightening of the rules I was told it was to curb terrorism. My reply was remember Beslan, remember Nord Ost, remember the Moscow subway, hows that workin' for ya'?
In my opinion its just another form of control, control over something they can never control!!! The other reason of course as always is money!! I only hope its hurts them so badly they soon realize the folly of it & change direction. It sure doesn't make living here any easier either.

[Turboguy]

Thank you.   That makes sense totally.  To make every tourist and business visitor go to the OVIR to register would be a nightmare.   

Yes, I have used hotels I was not staying at to register.  To be honest the one in N. Novgorod charged me a nights stay to register my visa.   I was likely a guest there even though I never got a key or a room.

That is a little like prostitution.   You sell you product and still have it.  Of course if you accomplish what you need to you walk away with a smile and think that is one less thing to worry about.

For me Richard, you have given me one less thing to worry about too.   The Russian part of my trip is all hotels.

[Bruce]

I just came back from a horror of a trip to Tver.  I payed the hotel for one nights stay in late June, I believe 600 rubles or so and they registered me for the length of my stay ie. just got back July 7 on a very late flight 31 from Moscow to JFK on Delta. 

[Turboguy]

Gosh, I thought I was the only one who had trips like that.   You will have to post a trip report on it. Glad to hear the hotel registered you.

[chivo]

there are places around Moscow that will register a tourist visa very simply for 600 ru. its a one day process if youre staying in a flat. if youre staying at a hotel and have a tourist or business visa the hotel will do the same.

you shouldnt have a problem with stays of less than a month, its the business visas that plan to stay longer that will be more trouble, but really only in terms of extra money for the registration. remember this is Russia and money is the "law" and at any rate a visa (6 mo.-1 yr.business) can be registered for no more than 1300 ru. should you hit any wall.

what you never want to do is deal with OVIR like Rvrwind stated, believe me. also if youre an American, it will be less of a problem than if youre from the caucauses or one of the former regions of the USSR like the "Stans". what you also dont want to do is think its a big problem, because its not. good luck and peace out. 

chivo