{ "meta": { "verified_date": "2026-08-12", "verified_label": "RULES VERIFIED · AUG 2026", "next_review": "2026-08-15", "currency": "USD", "confidence_legend": "high = official source or multiple recent independent sources; medium = single credible source or estimate to calibrate; check = conflicting sources, verify by phone/manual before launch", "license": "Facts may be cited with attribution to taigayaga.com", "canonical_url": "https://taigayaga.com/data/verified-data.json" }, "our_services": { "_note": "ЦЕНЫ СОБСТВЕННЫХ УСЛУГ — красная полоса. Меняет только владелец. Автоматика (biweekly-russia-verify и любые задачи) НЕ трогает это поле никогда. Здесь они лежат, чтобы scripts/check.sh мог сверять цифры на сайте с источником правды.", "loi": { "price_usd": 29, "name": "Invitation letter (LOI)", "turnaround": "24 hours", "page": "/visa/" }, "visa_ready_package": { "price_usd": 119, "name": "Visa-Ready Package", "includes": "application checked line by line, refusal-proofed", "page": "/visa/" }, "owner_set": true, "never_auto_update": true }, "visa": { "us": { "label": "US passport", "route": "consulate", "consular_fee_usd": 185, "visa_centre_service_usd": 365, "total_paperwork_display": "Consulate direct: ~$185 + invitation ~$30. Visa Centre NY mail-in: $550 ($185 consular + $365 centre) + USPS label + invitation ~$30", "loi_usd": 30, "processing_official": "Consulate: 4–10 calendar days standard, 1–3 business days urgent (documentary evidence of urgency required). Visa Centre NY mail-in: UP TO 3–4 WEEKS per the centre's own site, plus mailing both ways. Plan 6–8 weeks; 2–3 months for peak summer.", "same_fee_for_3yr_multi": true, "recommendation": "Get the 3-year multiple-entry — same $185 consular fee as single. Exception: if flying within ~3 weeks, take the single — only it can be expedited.", "where_to_apply": "Consulate direct (Washington DC, New York, or Houston — by appointment via *.kdmid.ru, in person or notarised representative, money order/certified check, ~$185, no service fee) OR Russia Visa Centre NY (in person OR by mail — flat $550 total + shipping; the reliable route if you can't get a consulate appointment). Mail-in is ONLY via the NY Visa Centre; consulates do not accept mailed applications (the NY consulate will return your passport by mail if you enclose a prepaid USPS label + signed consent).", "consulate_status": "Direct consular service by appointment: Washington DC (2641 Tunlaw Rd NW), New York (9 East 91st St), Houston (1333 West Loop South) all operating; San Francisco (closed 2017) & Seattle closed. Appointments via washington/new-york/houston.kdmid.ru — often booked out weeks ahead; no walk-ins, no mail, no phone/email booking.", "visa_centre_status": "Russia Visa Centre NY open (in person + mail-in); DC & Houston offices temporarily closed (redirect to NY); SF & Seattle closed.", "_biweekly_check_2026-08-01": "Fees reconfirmed unchanged ($185 / $365 / $550 total) across russiable.com and russia.visacenter.us. One conflicting signal on in-person vs. mail-only at the NY Visa Centre: some 2026 secondary sources now describe it as mail-only, while the official newyork.mid.ru page (which appears to carry stale COVID-era wording) still references a walk-in submission window. Not clear enough to change visa_centre_status — held, noted for next run.", "fee_change_note": "Visa-centre service fee jumped from ~$38 to $365 across 2025–2026 (relations deterioration); consular fee is now $185. The old $198 total is obsolete. Surcharges on mail-in: +$10 AK/HI/PR, +$20 Saturday delivery.", "expedited": "Consulate: 1–3 business days, only against documentary evidence of urgency. Visa Centre NY: 3–5 business days minimum for urgent.", "insurance_required_for_visa": true, "insurance_requirement": "€30,000 medical coverage, policy must explicitly name Russia", "timeline_offsets_days": { "loi": -55, "file": -52, "passport_back": -14, "buy_flights_after": -13, "pocket_kit": -3 }, "verified_date": "2026-08-08", "confidence": "high — $185 / $365 / $550 confirmed 2026-08-08 directly on the operator's own site (russiavisa-centre.com), which also supplies the exact two-money-order breakdown. This CLOSES the prior TODO on money-order amounts. Payees resolved by owner 2026-08-08: two separate payees ($185 consulate, $365 KRSP). One item updated: the operator states mail-in takes UP TO 3–4 WEEKS, versus the '10 business days min' previously carried here from secondary sources — primary source wins, field updated. Also newly captured: 3-year multi cannot be expedited (corroborated by a second source).", "sources": [ "russiavisa-centre.com — Apply by post + Visa Fees + Postal Application Information Sheet PDF (primary, checked 2026-08-08)", "russiable.com/russian-visa-usa-where-to-apply (updated Apr 27 2026)", "newyork.mid.ru/en/visas/visa_processing_fees", "washington.mid.ru/en/consular-services/citizens-usa/visa-to-russia/visa_fees", "ils-usa.com" ], "multi_entry_facts": { "legal_basis": "2012 US–Russia reciprocal visa facilitation agreement set 3-year multi-entry as the standard tourist visa for both countries' citizens", "legal_basis_confidence": "check", "max_stay_per_visit_days": 180, "max_stay_per_visit_display": "up to six months per visit", "max_stay_confidence": "check", "note": "[VERIFY] both facts from content batch 001 (docs/specs/001-content-batch.md), not yet phone/document verified — see todo_before_launch" }, "three_year_multi_expedite": false, "three_year_multi_note": "3-year multi-entry runs on regular processing only (~7–9 business days at consulate) and cannot be expedited except at consular discretion in documented emergencies. If the flight is close, single-entry is the only one that can be rushed.", "postal_route": { "operator": "KRSP USA Corporation, trading as Russia Visa Centre", "domain": "russia-visacentre.com (canonical, owner-confirmed 2026-08-08). Note: the prepaid-label email on their Apply-by-post page is info.nyc@russiavisa-centre.com — a different hyphenation. Mail domain differing from the site domain is common and not itself a red flag, but use russia-visacentre.com when linking.", "total_usd": 550, "total_note": "$550 per applicant, SMS notification included", "money_orders": "TWO separate money orders or cashier's checks: $185 and $365", "surcharges": "+$10 shipping Alaska/Hawaii/Puerto Rico · +$20 Saturday delivery", "optional_services": "Application precheck & correction $30 (separate money order) · SMS status updates $3", "refundable": false, "no_po_box": "Courier requires signature on delivery — PO Box addresses are rejected outright", "prepaid_label": "Request by email to info.nyc@russiavisa-centre.com; letter must state full name, phone, US postal address, and which Visa Centre the documents go to", "info_sheet": "A separate 'Postal Application Information Sheet' must be filled and enclosed. Fields: full name, contact phone + additional, email + additional, 3-line delivery address, application password, intended date of departure from USA to any country if travelling elsewhere first, optional services, date, signature", "form_rule": "Application form must be completed at visa.kdmid.ru, printed and signed personally. Forms completed any other way are not accepted for consideration", "tracking": "By passport number + date of birth on the centre's tracking page", "verified_date": "2026-08-08", "source": "russiavisa-centre.com — Apply by post (Steps 1–5), Visa Fees page, and the official Postal Application Information Sheet PDF. Primary source: the operator itself", "payees": "TWO separate payees, owner-confirmed 2026-08-08: $185 money order payable to 'Russian Consulate in New York' (the consular fee, passed through) and $365 payable to 'KRSP USA Corporation' (the centre's service fee). Their Apply-by-post step 3 wording ('payable to KRSP USA Corporation for each of the following') is loose and conflicts with their own fees page — the fees page breakdown is the operative one." }, "_biweekly_check_2026-08-08": "Owner-supplied primary-source screenshots + official postal info-sheet PDF. Superseded 'Visa Centre NY: 10 business days min' with the operator's own 'up to 3–4 weeks'. Added three_year_multi_expedite=false. Added full postal_route block. Two unresolved items flagged for owner: payee contradiction, and domain mismatch (russiavisa-centre.com vs russia.visacenter.us).", "timeline_offsets_note": "Widened 2026-08-08. Visa Centre states mail-in takes up to 3–4 weeks; add mailing both ways (~6–10 days) and worst case is 34–38 days from filing to passport back. Old D−42 → D−14 gave only 28 days and could not be met. D−52 → D−14 gives 38. Total 7.9 weeks, inside the '6–8 weeks' stated in prose." }, "uk": { "label": "UK passport", "route": "consulate", "total_paperwork_display": "Standard (up to 20 business days): £70 consular + £60.60 visa-centre service ≈ $176 + ~$30 invitation ≈ $206 total. Expedited (4 business days): £145 consular + £66 service ≈ $284 + invitation ≈ $314 total.", "loi_usd": 30, "processing_official": "Standard: up to 20 business days via the Russian Visa Application Centre (London, Edinburgh or Manchester, by appointment). Expedited: 4 business days for the higher fee.", "insurance_required_for_visa": true, "timeline_offsets_days": { "loi": -45, "file": -42, "passport_back": -14, "buy_flights_after": -13, "pocket_kit": -3 }, "verified_date": "2026-07-17", "confidence": "high — official london.mid.ru consular fee table (£70 standard / £145 expedited) + visa-centre service charge (£60.60 / £66.00 incl. VAT), corroborated by russiable.com and stressfreevisas.co.uk. Converted at GBP/USD ≈1.347 (Jul 17 2026). Replaces the old $190–230 rough guess — owner-approved 2026-07-17.", "sources": [ "london.mid.ru/en/visas_consular_services/", "russiable.com/getting-russian-visa-united-kingdom", "stressfreevisas.co.uk/russian-visa-tourist.html" ] }, "_ca_au_split_note": "The combined 'ca_au' bucket was SPLIT into separate 'ca' and 'au' keys on 2026-08-12 (owner decision). Reason: the two countries diverged on the thing that matters most — Canada's visa centre is closed and Australia's (Sydney) is open — so a single label could no longer be correct for both. Do not reintroduce a combined key. See docs/research/2026-08-12-verify.md.", "ca": { "label": "Canadian passport", "route": "consulate", "route_detail": "consulate_only", "consular_fee_usd": 86, "consular_fee_expedited_usd": 172, "loi_usd": 30, "total_paperwork_display": "Consulate, standard: ~$86 consular (CAD 120) + ~$30 invitation ≈ $116 total. Expedited (3 business days): ~$172 (CAD 240) + invitation ≈ $202.", "processing_official": "Standard: 20 business days minimum. Urgent: 3 business days minimum. Both at consular discretion. By appointment, in person — applications sent by post are NOT accepted.", "visa_centre_status": "TEMPORARILY CLOSED — no announced reopening date. The Russian Visa Application Centre in Canada (Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal) is not accepting applications. Owner clarification 2026-08-12: the closure is described as temporary, but no source gives a date, so plan as if there is no centre. Practical effect today: no visa-centre route in Canada at all — unlike the US, where the NY centre is open and is the mail-in fallback, and unlike Australia, where the Sydney centre is open. This is the single most important structural fact about the Canadian route: there is no backup if you cannot get a consular appointment. Re-check each biweekly run — a reopening would change the route, not just a number.", "consulate_status": "Three consular offices operating, by prior appointment only, in person. Consular Section of the Embassy, Ottawa (52 Range Rd) — jurisdiction: Ottawa & Capital Region (area codes 613/819), BC, NS, NU, NB, NL, PEI, YT, NWT. Consulate General Toronto (60 St Clair Ave East, 5th floor) — jurisdiction: Ontario except the Ottawa region, AB, MB, SK. Consulate General Montreal (3655 Ave du Musée) — Quebec.", "appointment_urls": [ "https://ottawa.kdmid.ru/", "https://toronto.kdmid.ru/queue-en/", "https://montreal.kdmid.ru/" ], "consular_fees_cad": { "single_entry_standard": 120, "single_entry_expedited": 240, "double_entry_standard": 192, "double_entry_expedited": 384, "multiple_entry_standard": 360, "multiple_entry_expedited": 720, "_note": "Consular fees only. The +CAD 50 visa-centre administrative fee that used to apply no longer exists in Canada because the centre is closed." }, "loi_cad": 24, "total_display_cad": "Single entry, standard: CAD 120 consular + ~CAD 24 invitation ≈ CAD 144. Expedited: CAD 240 + invitation ≈ CAD 264.", "fx_rate_used": "CAD/USD 0.7184, checked 2026-08-12. Re-convert whenever the CAD figures are re-verified — the USD numbers above are derived, not quoted by any consulate.", "private_agency_option": "Private Canadian agencies (e.g. visacenter.ca, Toronto/Ottawa/Markham/Vancouver) still courier documents to the consulate. Convenience only, and expensive: CAD 510 + tax for a 25-day tourist single without visa support, CAD 750 + tax for 7-day — 3.5–5x the consular fee. Worth naming as an option, never as the recommendation.", "insurance_required_for_visa": true, "insurance_note": "OWNER DECISION 2026-08-12: we treat insurance as required. Recorded conflict, kept deliberately: two sources checked 2026-08-12 say the Russian consulate does NOT strictly require medical insurance from Canadian citizens for the visa itself (russiable states this outright; visacenter.ca asks for the €30,000 policy only 'if you are not a Canadian or US citizen'). We still require it, because Western 'worldwide' policies mostly exclude Russia (see the insurance block) and an uninsured traveller pays hospital bills in cash. Phrase it on-page as our requirement, NOT as 'the consulate requires it' — that second claim is not supported.", "timeline_offsets_days": { "loi": -45, "file": -42, "passport_back": -14, "buy_flights_after": -13, "pocket_kit": -3 }, "timeline_offsets_note": "20 business days ≈ 28 calendar days, which is exactly what D−42 → D−14 gives. Unlike the US there is no postal leg to add, because post is not accepted — but there is also no fallback, so the real risk in Canada is appointment availability, not processing time.", "verified_date": "2026-08-12", "confidence": "high for visa-centre closure, consulate list, jurisdictions, appointment-only/no-post rule and the CAD consular fee table — two independent sources agree and the fee table is itemised. Medium for the CAD 24 invitation figure (single source, and a market price rather than a fixed fee). USD figures are derived from a dated FX rate, not quoted.", "sources": [ "russiable.com/russian-visa-canada/ — updated 2026-02-28, states 'Russian Visa Center (CURRENTLY CLOSED)' twice and carries the itemised CAD consular fee table + consulate jurisdictions (checked 2026-08-12)", "russia.visacenter.ca — private Canadian agency, self-describes as 'fully independent from the Russian government'; supplies current agency pricing and confirms consulate-only submission (checked 2026-08-12)", "ottawa.kdmid.ru / toronto.kdmid.ru / montreal.kdmid.ru — official appointment systems" ], "owner_trigger": "Owner flagged 2026-08-12: 'нужно обновить по канаде данные что закрыт сейчас визовый центр и там только через консульства'. Confirmed and applied." }, "au": { "label": "Australian passport", "route": "consulate", "consular_fee_usd": 85, "consular_fee_expedited_usd": 169, "loi_usd": 30, "total_paperwork_display": "Consulate, standard: ~$85 consular (AUD 120) + ~$30 invitation ≈ $115 total. Via the Sydney visa centre add ~$106 (AUD 150) service fee. Expedited (3 business days): ~$169 (AUD 240) + invitation.", "processing_official": "Standard: 10 business days. Urgent: 3 business days. Note this is HALF the standard wait in Canada — the two countries are not interchangeable.", "visa_centre_status": "OPEN — Russian Visa Centre in Sydney, subcontracted by the Russian Embassy, adds ~AUD 150 administrative fee. Explicitly NOT affected by Canada's closure; the two are separate operators and were checked separately.", "consulate_status": "Embassy of the Russian Federation, Canberra (78 Canberra Avenue, Griffith ACT 2603) and Consulate General in Sydney. Applying direct at a consulate is cheaper than via the Sydney visa centre.", "consular_fees_aud": { "single_entry_standard": 120, "single_entry_expedited": 240, "visa_centre_service": 150 }, "fx_rate_used": "AUD/USD 0.7055, checked 2026-08-12. Re-convert whenever the AUD figures are re-verified — the USD numbers above are derived, not quoted.", "insurance_required_for_visa": true, "timeline_offsets_days": { "loi": -45, "file": -42, "passport_back": -14, "buy_flights_after": -13, "pocket_kit": -3 }, "verified_date": "2026-08-12", "confidence": "medium — single secondary source (russiable) for the AUD fee table, centre status and processing times. Consistent with the AUD 120 / AUD 240 candidate figures carried since 2026-07-17, which is corroboration of a sort but not a second independent check. Promote to high only against a primary australia.mid.ru fee table. USD figures are derived from a dated FX rate.", "sources": [ "russiable.com/getting-russian-visa-australia/ — AUD consular fees, Sydney visa centre status and +AUD 150 service fee, Canberra & Sydney consulates (checked 2026-08-12)" ], "todo": "Open australia.mid.ru directly and confirm the fee table and centre status from the primary source; then raise confidence to high." }, "eu": { "label": "EU passport", "route": "evisa", "fee_usd": 52, "total_paperwork_display": "$52 e-visa", "processing": "4 calendar days, weekends included", "stay_days": 30, "validity_days": 120, "single_entry": true, "apply_window": "no earlier than 86 days, no later than 4 days before entry", "apply_url": "https://evisa.kdmid.ru/", "payment": "foreign Visa/Mastercard accepted on official MFA site", "insurance_required": true, "insurance_note": "OFFICIAL requirement: medical insurance valid in Russia for entire stay (kdmid). Fix prototype which said 'recommended'", "no_loi_needed": true, "kids_under_6_fee_exempt": true, "timeline_offsets_days": { "apply": -12, "approved": -7, "buy_flights_after": -7, "pocket_kit": -3 }, "warning": "Do not pay third-party e-visa 'agencies' 2–3x — official site is $52 and simple", "confidence": "high (official evisa.kdmid.ru)", "sources": [ "evisa.kdmid.ru", "kremlin.ru/acts/news/77531", "russiable.com/e-visa-russian-electronic-visa" ] }, "other": { "label": "Other passport", "route": "evisa_or_visafree", "fee_display": "$0 (60+ visa-free countries) or $52 e-visa (64 countries)", "visafree_examples": "Brazil, Argentina, Mexico(evisa), UAE, Serbia, South Africa, most of Latin America & CIS", "ruid_required": true, "ruid_note": "VISA-FREE entrants must pre-register in the Gosuslugi RuID app ≥72h before entry (QR code at border; biometrics at border). Does NOT apply to visa or e-visa holders. Status as of Jul 2026: mandatory per Jul-1-2026 rule per multiple sources; one official clarification says voluntary during experiment till end-2027 — tool says 'register, takes 15 min, do not risk boarding denial'", "timeline_offsets_days": { "ruid": -5, "buy_flights_after": -60, "pocket_kit": -3 }, "confidence": "check — RuID mandatory-vs-voluntary is the single most volatile rule; re-verify monthly", "sources": [ "russiable.com/electronic-travel-authorization-russia-visa-free (May 2026)", "ivisa.hse.ru (May 2026)", "gosuslugi.ru/landing/new_entry_rules" ] } }, "flights": { "strategy_verdict": "Two separate bookings: home→hub (western airline), hub→Russia (Turkish/Pegasus/Southwind/AJet/Aeroflot etc). 4h+ buffer, bags do NOT auto-transfer.", "through_fare_option": "Single Turkish Airlines through-ticket exists (JFK→IST→VKO): +$300–700 vs two tickets, but bags check through and missed-connection protection. Offer as 'comfort' toggle.", "hub_leg_ist_moscow": { "oneway_low_usd": 143, "rt_typical_usd": "294–420", "airlines": "Turkish, Pegasus, Southwind, AJet, Ural, Pobeda, Aeroflot", "monthly_note": "Dec avg cheapest (~$84 ow), June peak" }, "origins_revision_note": "Revised 2026-07-15 (content batch 2): honest web research + owner live spot-check (East Coast ~$1500 now, ~$1200 in September). Origins merged — 'east' covers US East + Canada East, 'west' covers US West + Canada West, 'hawaii' covers Hawaii + Australia — same hub-routing profile per pair.", "origins": { "hawaii": { "label": "Hawaii / Australia", "hub": "Istanbul", "rt_total_low": 1600, "rt_total_high": 2400 }, "west": { "label": "US West / Canada West", "hub": "Istanbul", "rt_total_low": 1400, "rt_total_high": 2000 }, "east": { "label": "US East / Canada East", "hub": "Istanbul", "rt_total_low": 1300, "rt_total_high": 1900 }, "europe": { "hub": "Belgrade or Istanbul", "rt_total_low": 400, "rt_total_high": 800 }, "other": { "hub": "Dubai or Istanbul", "rt_total_low": 1200, "rt_total_high": 2000 } }, "season_coeff_by_month": { "1": 0.85, "2": 0.8, "3": 0.8, "4": 0.95, "5": 1.0, "6": 1.25, "7": 1.25, "8": 1.1, "9": 0.85, "10": 0.85, "11": 0.85, "12": 0.9 }, "season_exceptions": [ "Late Dec (20th)–Jan 8: +20% diaspora peak, override coeff to 1.2" ], "smart_tip_rule": "If chosen month coeff ≥1.1, show savings tip: shift to Sep/Oct → save $ (delta = mid*(coeff-0.85))", "calibration": "Anchors re-verified 2026-07-15 (web): Turkish through-fares NYC–MOW $1,817 Jul / $1,523 Aug; LAX–MOW $2,572 Jun / $2,523 Jul / $1,812 Aug; IST–MOW rt from ~$294 (Pegasus rt ~$341 Sep; one-way from $143–175). Two-ticket totals run below the single through-fare. Ranges below re-confirmed accurate — no change. Re-spot-check quarterly. Spot-checked again 2026-07-17: NYC–MOW $1,817 Jul / $1,523 Aug exact match; LAX–MOW through-fare quotes varied $1,881–2,523 Jul depending on source (normal quote-to-quote variance) — displayed two-ticket ranges unaffected either way, no change.", "verified_date": "2026-07-17", "confidence": "high for ranges (re-verified 2026-07-15, spot-checked again 2026-07-17), medium for monthly coefficients", "sources": [ "turkishairlines.com fare calendar (NYC-MOW, LAX-MOW, checked Jul 2026)", "trip.com / kayak IST-MOW & NYC-IST stats (2026)", "google flights" ], "asia_hub_verified": { "status": "verified 2026-07-11", "beijing_irkutsk": "S7 direct (S7 6312/6314), ~3h05m, several flights/week, one-way from ~10,000-12,000 RUB (~$110-140); Aeroflot and Ural Airlines also serve the route", "other_beijing_routes": "S7 direct Beijing->Ulan-Ude ('Baikal' airport), Vladivostok, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk", "china_transit": "240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit, 55 countries incl US/UK/EU (official NIA), 65 ports incl Beijing/Shanghai, requires onward ticket to a third country (US->China->Russia and Russia->China->US both qualify), passport 3+ months validity, valid through Dec 31 2026 — re-verify at year end", "ui_state": "advisory tip shown for origin west/hawaii + cities baikal; full route swap with own fare range = v2 after through-fare calibration (LAX/SFO->PEK RT ~$700-1,100 to confirm)", "sources": [ "en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c183412", "uniticket.ru S7 Beijing schedules", "tutu.ru IKT-BJS", "chinatransitvisa.com/240-hour-guide" ] }, "us_wide_rt_usd": { "low": 1300, "high": 2000, "display": "$1,300–2,000", "_note": "Общеамериканская вилка для страниц, которые говорят «из США» без уточнения побережья. Считается ТОЛЬКО из east и west (континентальные штаты). Гавайи намеренно ИСКЛЮЧЕНЫ: решение владельца 2026-07-26 — они особняком и задирают верх вилки, искажая картину. Гавайи показываются отдельной строкой в гайде перелётов.", "excludes": [ "hawaii", "europe", "other" ], "recompute": "low=min(east.low,west.low), high=max(east.high,west.high) — пересчитывать при каждой ре-верификации flights.origins" } }, "hotels": { "booking_verdict": "Booking.com & Airbnb left Russia. Use Ostrovok.ru or ZenHotels.com — both accept foreign cards. (Affiliate potential: both have partner programs.)", "nightly_mid_usd": { "moscow": 80, "spb": 70, "golden_ring": 55, "irkutsk_baikal": 65 }, "style_multiplier": { "backpack": 0.5, "mid": 1.0, "comfort": 2.1 }, "season_coeff_by_month": { "1": 0.9, "2": 0.85, "3": 0.9, "4": 0.95, "5": 1.05, "6": 1.15, "7": 1.1, "8": 1.05, "9": 1.0, "10": 0.9, "11": 0.85, "12": 1.0 }, "white_nights_rule": "St. Petersburg, ~May 25–Jul 15: SPb nightly ×1.35 (overrides monthly coeff for SPb nights)", "confidence": "medium — spot-check 3 dates on Ostrovok before launch (1 evening)", "sources": [ { "name": "Gateway to Russia — How to book a hotel in Russia in 2026", "url": "https://www.gw2ru.com/plan-your-trip/244965-how-to-book-a-hotel-in-russia-in-2026", "primary": false }, { "name": "assistances.info — How to book and pay for hotels in Russia in 2026", "url": "https://assistances.info/how-book-hotel-russia/", "primary": false } ], "_biweekly_note_2026-08-01": "Re-checked 2026-08-01: newer sources (assistances.info, updated Jun 2026) say Ostrovok foreign-card acceptance is now conditional (often Mastercard, hit-or-miss by hotel/gateway, pay-at-check-in fallback), and one source (russiable) claims ZenHotels stopped showing Russia listings to EU/UK visitors since Oct 2025 over the 19th EU sanctions package — while gw2ru.com (Feb 2026) still lists ZenHotels as a normal foreign-card option with no such caveat. Sources disagree on ZenHotels; booking_verdict is not in the biweekly auto-whitelist (visa/vpn/esim/flights/RuID/e-visa/tourism_stats only) — held for owner review, not auto-changed. See docs/research/2026-08-01-verify.md." }, "money_on_ground": { "cards_fact": "Visa/Mastercard/Amex issued outside Russia have not worked in Russia since March 2022 — not at POS, not at ATMs.", "cash_verdict": "Bring USD or EUR in crisp, unmarked, post-2009 bills; exchange at bank branches (not airport kiosks for large sums).", "cash_per_day_usd": { "backpack": 45, "mid": 85, "comfort": 160 }, "alt_option": "Foreigners can open a Russian bank card in ~40–60 min with passport + migration card (e.g., major banks in Moscow/SPb); worth it for stays 10+ days. Mention as advanced option only.", "union_pay_note": "Some foreign UnionPay cards work partially — unreliable, do not promise.", "confidence": "high", "sources": [ { "name": "russiable.com — How to Pay in Russia in 2026", "url": "https://russiable.com/how-to-pay-in-russia/", "primary": false } ] }, "ground_transport": { "sapsan_moscow_spb_usd": "40–70 one way, ~4h, book on official RZD site or via hotel/host", "rzd_payment_trap": "RZD site does not accept foreign cards — book via intermediary with markup, via Russian contact, or pay cash at station", "internal_flight_moscow_irkutsk_rt_usd": 290, "confidence": "high" }, "insurance": { "trap_fact": "Most Western 'worldwide' policies exclude Russia via sanctions clauses (Allianz, AXA, Zurich, AIG, IATI, Heymondo...). A worldwide policy without 'Russia' named = rejected at consulate + uncovered on the ground.", "verdicts": { "visa_compliant_cheap": { "names": [ "Solidarity (Солидарность)", "Ingosstrakh" ], "note": "Russian insurers, buyable online in English with foreign cards, ~$1.1–2/day, €30–35k coverage, consulate-accepted. Ingosstrakh bills hospitals directly.", "est_10day_usd": "15–30" }, "western_style": { "names": [ "SafetyWing Nomad", "World Nomads" ], "note": "Cover Russia (verify underwriter at purchase); better evacuation coverage; pricier.", "est_10day_usd": "50–110" } }, "requirement_by_route": { "consulate": "mandatory €30k, Russia named", "evisa": "mandatory (official kdmid)", "visafree": "recommended (mandatory for some nationalities)" }, "confidence": "high (multiple recent sources)", "sources": [ { "name": "russiable.com — Best Travel Insurance for Russia", "url": "https://russiable.com/best-travel-insurance-russia/", "primary": false }, { "name": "novika.info — Travel Insurance Russia", "url": "https://www.novika.info/en/guides/voyages/travel-insurance-russia-practical-guide", "primary": false }, { "name": "goingrus.com insurance guide", "url": null, "primary": false } ] }, "connectivity": { "esim_verdict_budget": { "names": [ "OVOSIM", "Yesim" ], "note": "from ~$3; OVOSIM dual-network Tele2+Beeline", "est_trip_usd": "5–20" }, "esim_verdict_coverage": { "name": "Holafly", "note": "MTS network (best rural/Trans-Sib coverage), unlimited, ~$7.9/day — for Baikal/Golden Ring branches", "est_trip_usd": "55–110" }, "esim_dead": [ "Airalo", "Saily", "Jetpac" ], "local_sim_fact": "Local SIM effectively unavailable to tourists since Jan 1, 2025 (Gosuslugi + SNILS + biometrics registration required).", "data_block_24h_trap": "Since Oct 6, 2025: ALL foreign SIMs/eSIMs get mobile data blocked ~24h on first connect to a Russian network (anti-drone 'cooling-off' rule). Applies to everyone, no end date announced. Update (since Nov 21, 2025): some carriers (e.g., Beeline) let you clear the block in minutes by verifying identity via a link sent by SMS / a captcha page. Plan anyway: install eSIM at home, expect a day-1 block, lean on hotel Wi-Fi, download offline maps BEFORE flying.", "blocked_apps": "Instagram & Facebook (Meta) blocked since Mar 2022; Signal blocked Aug 2024; WhatsApp FULLY blocked since Feb 12, 2026; YouTube throttled through 2025, then had its domains pulled from Russia's DNS in Feb 2026 alongside WhatsApp — now blocked outright, not just throttled; Telegram throttled from Feb 2026 and officially 'blocked' from Apr 1, 2026 — still used by ~65M/day via its built-in traffic-disguising (Apr 11 2026 update) + VPN/proxy, but voice/video calls are blocked and it is no longer a reliable default. Bottom line: assume NO Western app works without a VPN; install VPN(s) BEFORE arrival.", "apps_status": { "instagram": "blocked since Mar 2022 (Meta ruled 'extremist')", "facebook": "blocked since Mar 2022", "signal": "blocked since Aug 2024", "whatsapp": "FULLY blocked since Feb 12, 2026 (domains pulled from Russian DNS)", "youtube": "throttled through 2025; domains pulled from Russia's DNS in Feb 2026 alongside WhatsApp — now blocked outright, unusable without a VPN", "telegram": "throttled Feb 2026, officially blocked Apr 1 2026; still widely used (~65M/day) via the app's traffic-disguising + VPN/proxy; voice/video calls blocked since Aug 2025", "state_messenger_max": "Government pushes MAX (Max) as the domestic replacement — shares user data with authorities on request, no end-to-end encryption. Tourists should avoid; it is not needed." }, "vpn": { "verdict": "Install a VPN — ideally two — BEFORE you arrive. You cannot reliably download or activate one once inside Russia. Bring one easy + one backup, and be ready to switch protocol (Stealth / AmneziaWG / VLESS) and server if one stops connecting.", "working_jul_2026": [ "Proton VPN (free tier, no data cap)", "NordVPN (obfuscated/stealth, stable in tests)", "ExpressVPN", "Surfshark", "Windscribe (free 10GB, Stealth + AmneziaWG)", "Amnezia VPN (self-hosted, AmneziaWG protocol)" ], "context": "Roskomnadzor has blocked 400+ VPN services and keeps adding to the list; VPNs using obfuscation/stealth protocols (AmneziaWG, VLESS) survive best. Advertising VPNs is banned in Russia and enforcement is tightening, but using one as a tourist is not itself a criminal act — the practical risk is that any given VPN simply stops working, not legal trouble.", "context_confidence": "check — VPN legal nuance is tightening; re-verify wording before launch", "confidence": "high that the listed VPNs work as of Jul 2026, but volatile — re-verify list monthly" }, "yandex_apps": "Yandex Maps and Yandex Go (taxi + food/grocery delivery) are the essential on-the-ground apps and work normally — both have a full English interface (in-app Settings → language). Yandex Maps offers offline maps, live metro/bus schedules and in-app taxi; download it before flying or on hotel Wi-Fi during the day-1 data block.", "airport_wifi_trap": "Airport Wi-Fi requires a Russian phone number to authenticate — another reason eSIM + offline maps must be pre-installed", "verified_date": "2026-07-17", "confidence": "high for app-block & VPN status (re-verified 2026-07-17 across multiple sources, incl. confirming YouTube's Feb-2026 DNS delisting alongside WhatsApp); volatile — re-verify apps, VPN list and eSIM availability monthly", "sources": [ { "name": "en.zona.media — Russian internet censorship 2026", "url": "https://en.zona.media/article/2026/04/07/russian_internet_censorship_2026", "primary": false }, { "name": "NBC News — Russia WhatsApp blocked (Feb 2026)", "url": null, "primary": false }, { "name": "The Moscow Times — Telegram outages (Mar 2026)", "url": null, "primary": false }, { "name": "russiable.com — Telegram in Russia / VPN in Russia", "url": "https://russiable.com/telegram-russia/", "primary": false }, { "name": "vpnmentor.com — Best VPNs for Russia", "url": "https://www.vpnmentor.com/bestvpns/russia/", "primary": false }, { "name": "russiable.com — Best eSIM for Russia 2026", "url": "https://russiable.com/best-esim-russia/", "primary": false }, { "name": "russiable.com — apps for travel in Russia; Yandex taxi language support", "url": null, "primary": false }, { "name": "babel.ua — WhatsApp+YouTube blocked (2026)", "url": null, "primary": false }, { "name": "united24media.com — YouTube/WhatsApp removed from Russian DNS (2026)", "url": null, "primary": false } ], "_biweekly_check_2026-08-01": "Re-verified: app blocks, 24h SIM block, VPN volatility and MAX messenger push all reconfirmed unchanged (multiple 2026 sources agree). One mixed signal on NordVPN reliability inside Russia (one source says servers pulled/inconsistent, others still list it among stealth-mode survivors) — not clear enough to change the working_jul_2026 list; noted for next run. New context (not a fact change): MAX now also being pushed for bank transaction verification and hotel check-in — doesn't affect tourist guidance, no site change needed." }, "traps_for_ui": [ { "id": "cards", "title": "Your card is plastic", "text": "Visa & Mastercard issued outside Russia don't work there — not in shops, not in ATMs. Carry cash (crisp USD/EUR); your amount is in the budget above." }, { "id": "two_tickets", "title": "Two separate tickets", "text": "No direct flights. Book home→hub and hub→Russia separately (cheaper), leave 4h+, re-check bags. Or pay ~$300+ more for one through-ticket with bags checked through." }, { "id": "booking", "title": "Booking.com is gone", "text": "It left Russia. Hotels live on Ostrovok and ZenHotels — both take your foreign card just fine." }, { "id": "insurance", "title": "Insurance fine print", "text": "Most 'worldwide' policies quietly exclude Russia. The consulate will reject them and so will the hospital. The emailed plan names two that work." }, { "id": "data_block", "title": "Your first 24 hours offline", "text": "Since Oct 2025 every foreign SIM gets mobile data blocked ~24h after first connecting in Russia. Install your eSIM at home, download offline maps, and plan on hotel Wi-Fi for day one. And install a VPN (bring two) before you land — Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube are all blocked now, and Telegram is throttled. Yandex Maps and Yandex Go still work fine in English." } ], "safety_law": { "border_refusal": "Since 2022 security checks on foreign visitors have intensified; most tourists clear passport control in 20–90 minutes, a minority face longer questioning or occasionally refusal on the spot even with a valid visa. Risk factors: documented Ukraine support, certain social-media history, inconsistent trip answers.", "wrongful_detention": "Rare and unevenly distributed. Publicized cases (Griner, Fogel, Karelina) each involved an alleged violation of Russian law — prohibited items across the border, or Russian citizenship + Ukraine-related financial transfers. Not random.", "cannabis_import": "Possession inside Russia of a small amount is an administrative fine; carrying it ACROSS the border is reclassified as narcotics smuggling — years in prison. No exception for foreign medical-cannabis prescriptions (Griner had one; no effect).", "cbd_status": "Treated as controlled at the Russian border regardless of THC content or home-country legality.", "cbd_status_confidence": "check", "weapons_import": "Undeclared weapons/ammunition, including items legal to own at home, are a serious criminal matter (arms smuggling), not a paperwork slip.", "weapons_case_confidence": "check", "weapons_case_note": "[VERIFY] American boat case (undeclared firearm found by customs) — name/year/vessel not yet confirmed, cited generically in G4 pending verification", "medications_controlled": "Some drugs containing codeine, amphetamine-based ADHD stimulants, or strong opioids are controlled at the border. Advice given: check specific medication with a Russian consulate before flying, carry in original packaging with prescription, declare through red channel if advised.", "medications_confidence": "check", "medications_note": "[VERIFY] exact controlled-substance list and declaration rules not yet confirmed against an official source", "conscription_dual_nationals": "Largely a myth in practice for dual nationals living abroad — no round-ups of arriving visitors reported. Conscription exists in Russian law but is not enforced by detaining tourists at entry.", "ukraine_money_red_line": "For a Russian citizen (incl. dual nationals), transferring money to Ukraine — even a small personal donation — is treated as aiding the enemy and prosecuted as a crime. Does not apply to a foreigner without Russian citizenship. Basis of the Ksenia Karelina case.", "conviction_rate_note": "~99% conviction rate cited for criminal cases generally — used as context for border/import severity, not tourist-specific.", "airport_comparison_confidence": "check", "airport_comparison_note": "[VERIFY] Sheremetyevo/Vnukovo/Pulkovo wait-time and ease-of-entry comparison — needs owner's personal data points + research, currently generic in G5", "confidence": "medium — safety/law cluster reviewed by owner for tone (conscription de-emphasized as myth, Ukraine-money is the one real red line for dual nationals); several sub-facts marked check pending verification", "sources": [ "state.gov Russia travel advisory", "docs/specs/content-batch-2.md (owner-reviewed calibration pass)" ] }, "email_series_hooks": { "consulate": [ "D-50 LOI window", "D-42 file at centre/consulate (NY accepts mail-in)", "D-16 passport back → buy flights (prefilled route)", "D-7 hotels + pocket kit (insurance/eSIM/cash/VPN/offline maps)", "D-2 final checklist incl. 24h-data-block warning", "D+14 how was it" ], "evisa": [ "D-14 apply ($52 official, don't pay agencies)", "D-7 approved → flights + hotels", "D-2 pocket kit + 24h-block warning", "D+14 how was it" ], "visafree": [ "D-7 RuID registration walk-through", "D-4 flights/hotels", "D-2 pocket kit", "D+14 how was it" ] }, "todo_before_launch": [ "Confirm exact money-order amounts on official mid.ru pages ($185 consular + $365 visa-centre = $550 mail-in confirmed via russiable Apr-2026 + multiple sources; old VFS $38/$160 figures now obsolete)", "Cousin: which federal-registry tour operator number is on her LOIs + confirmed US-consulate acceptance cases", "Spot-check Ostrovok: Moscow & SPb 3-4★ for 3 sample dates (incl. white nights)", "DONE 2026-08-12 — CA/AU fee tables and the ca_au split. Owner unparked Canada, and the split he flagged as a possibility on 2026-07-17 is now applied: separate visa.ca (high confidence) and visa.au (medium) keys, quiz buttons, /visa/ table rows and the check.sh $215 suspect entry all updated. The old CAD150–210 / AUD270–415 candidate estimates are superseded. ONE THING STILL OPEN: visa.au is a single-source figure — open australia.mid.ru directly and confirm the AUD fee table and Sydney centre status, then raise visa.au.confidence to high.", "Pick ONE eSIM affiliate (OVOSIM vs Yesim) and ONE insurance link (Solidarity flow) and test checkout", "Monthly re-verify: RuID status, eSIM list, visa fees → update verified_date", "Calibrate West Coast->Beijing through-fares (LAX/SFO->PEK on Air China/CA, China Southern) to enable full 'via Beijing' fare range in v2; re-verify China 240h transit validity after Dec 31 2026", "[VERIFY] Confirm 2012 US-Russia visa facilitation agreement as legal basis for 3-year multi-entry standard (visa.us.multi_entry_facts.legal_basis) — used in /guides/3-year-multi-entry-russian-visa/", "[VERIFY] Confirm up-to-6-months max stay per visit on US multi-entry tourist visa (visa.us.multi_entry_facts.max_stay_per_visit_days) — used in /guides/3-year-multi-entry-russian-visa/", "[VERIFY] Controlled-medications list + declaration rules at Russian border (safety_law.medications_controlled) — used in /guides/what-you-cannot-bring-to-russia/", "[VERIFY] American boat/undeclared-firearm case — confirm name/year/vessel (safety_law.weapons_case_note) — used in /guides/what-you-cannot-bring-to-russia/", "[VERIFY] CBD legal status at Russian border, exact wording (safety_law.cbd_status) — used in /guides/what-you-cannot-bring-to-russia/", "[VERIFY] Sheremetyevo/Vnukovo/Pulkovo entry-experience comparison — owner's personal data points + research (safety_law.airport_comparison_note) — used in /guides/russia-border-control/" ], "tourism_stats": { "meta": { "status": "PARTIAL — 6 of 35 western countries confirmed so far; see docs/specs/007-tourism-stats-counter.md §7 for the running log", "source": "FSB border service statistics (Погранслужба ФСБ) via EMISS/fedstat.ru indicator 38479; figures below are as reported by Kommersant and Interfax (not yet cross-checked against the raw fedstat.ru table)", "metrics_tracked": { "all_purposes": "all entry purposes combined (business + private + tourism + other), as FSB/EMISS publishes it", "tourism_purpose": "entries where 'tourism' was the declared purpose at the border — a different, usually much smaller, number than all_purposes" }, "owner_decision_2026-07-20": "track both metrics side by side, do not collapse to one — see docs/specs/007-tourism-stats-counter.md §2 amendment", "precision": "exact, as published in secondary sources for 2025 full-year", "verified_date": "2026-08-01", "quarters_included_2026": [ "Q1" ], "update_cadence": "quarterly (target) — Q1 2026 published mid-May 2026 (Interfax, sourced to FSB Border Service), added 2026-08-01; Q2 2026 expected ~Sept 2026 (~2-month publication lag)", "quarterly_note": "Q1 2026 country-level data covers only that quarter's own top-10 by tourism-purpose entries, which is a NARROWER cutoff than the annual top-30 used for the 2025 by_country/floor figures — only Germany from our 6-country floor set appears in the Q1 2026 top-10; the other five (EE, LV, IT, FR, US) fall below the quarterly cutoff. So quarterly and annual numbers are not directly comparable and the annual 2025 western_tourism_floor is NOT recomputed from quarterly data — see by_country.DE.quarterly_2026 for the one country we do have.", "western_definition": { "note": "canonical list — rollups (once computed) are the sum of exactly these; agents can re-verify per-country", "eu27": [ "AT", "BE", "BG", "HR", "CY", "CZ", "DK", "EE", "FI", "FR", "DE", "GR", "HU", "IE", "IT", "LV", "LT", "LU", "MT", "NL", "PL", "PT", "RO", "SK", "SI", "ES", "SE" ], "non_eu_europe": [ "UK", "NO", "CH", "IS" ], "anglosphere": [ "US", "CA", "AU", "NZ" ] } }, "by_country": { "DE": { "all_purposes_2025": 117410, "all_purposes_2025_yoy": "-1.8%", "tourism_purpose_2025": 66000, "tourism_purpose_2025_yoy": "+0.4%", "quarterly_2026": { "Q1": { "tourism_purpose": 6850, "tourism_purpose_yoy": "-6.2%", "precision": "exact", "note": "6th place in Russia's Q1 2026 top-10 by tourism-purpose entries — not comparable to the annual 2025 figure above (different period, narrower top-10 cutoff vs. annual top-30)", "sources": [ "interfax.ru/world/1088983 (12 May 2026, sourced to FSB Border Service)" ] } }, "sources": [ "interfax.ru/russia/1071495", "kommersant.ru/doc/8419981" ] }, "EE": { "all_purposes_2025": null, "tourism_purpose_2025": 18700, "tourism_purpose_2025_yoy": "+9%", "sources": [ "interfax.ru/russia/1071495" ] }, "LV": { "all_purposes_2025": null, "tourism_purpose_2025": 12520, "tourism_purpose_2025_yoy": "-11%", "sources": [ "interfax.ru/russia/1071495" ] }, "IT": { "all_purposes_2025": null, "tourism_purpose_2025": 10680, "tourism_purpose_2025_yoy": "+33.6%", "sources": [ "interfax.ru/russia/1071495" ] }, "FR": { "all_purposes_2025": null, "tourism_purpose_2025": 8000, "tourism_purpose_2025_yoy": "+23.5%", "sources": [ "interfax.ru/russia/1071495" ] }, "US": { "all_purposes_2025": null, "tourism_purpose_2025": 7490, "tourism_purpose_2025_yoy": "+7.6%", "sources": [ "interfax.ru/russia/1071495" ], "note": "Owner decision 2026-07-22: the old unsourced '~30,000 Americans yearly' is REMOVED from the site (no confirmation, ~4x off this figure). Replaced everywhere with the sourced 7,490 tourism-purpose 2025 (+7.6% YoY), always labelled 'on tourist visas' and framed with the 6-country floor + national totals so it doesn't read as 'almost nobody goes'. all_purposes for the US stays null (US not in the public all-purposes top-20; known ceiling < 74,620)." }, "AT": null, "BE": null, "BG": null, "HR": null, "CY": null, "CZ": null, "DK": null, "FI": null, "GR": null, "HU": null, "IE": null, "LT": null, "LU": null, "MT": null, "NL": null, "PL": null, "PT": null, "RO": null, "SK": null, "SI": null, "ES": null, "SE": null, "UK": null, "NO": null, "CH": null, "IS": null, "CA": null, "AU": null, "NZ": null, "_pending_note": "all null entries above (29 of 35): not in the top-20 (all_purposes) / top-30 (tourism_purpose) country lists that Kommersant/Interfax published for full-year 2025, so no public secondary-source figure exists yet. Confirmed ceilings from the published lists: all_purposes < 74,620 (Iran, #20 all-purposes); tourism_purpose < 6,420 (Azerbaijan, #30 tourism-purpose). Getting exact figures (UK and Canada/Australia especially) needs the primary fedstat.ru/indicator/38479 table — deliberately paused 2026-07-20 per owner, needs Claude in Chrome connected. See docs/specs/007-tourism-stats-counter.md §7." }, "national_totals_2025": { "all_foreign_entries": 15591531, "all_foreign_entries_yoy": "-6.9%", "tourism_entries": 1642565, "tourism_entries_yoy": "+4.5%", "sources": [ "interfax.ru/russia/1071495", "kommersant.ru/doc/8419981" ], "note": "Russia-wide FSB border totals for full-year 2025, all nationalities. Used on-site only as a scale/context line, never as the western-specific number." }, "national_totals_2026_q1": { "tourism_entries": 293180, "tourism_entries_yoy": "+28%", "all_purposes_entries": 3320472, "all_purposes_entries_yoy": "-7.6%", "top10_tourism_purpose": [ { "country": "China", "entries": 154210, "yoy": "+44.4%" }, { "country": "Turkmenistan", "entries": 20500, "yoy": "+120.7%" }, { "country": "Turkey", "entries": 16800, "yoy": "+28.1%" }, { "country": "Saudi Arabia", "entries": 14830, "yoy": "+49.7%" }, { "country": "India", "entries": 6950, "yoy": "+55.9%" }, { "country": "Germany", "entries": 6850, "yoy": "-6.2%" }, { "country": "UAE", "entries": 3850, "yoy": "-43%" }, { "country": "Kazakhstan", "entries": 3620, "yoy": "+1.9%" }, { "country": "Cuba", "entries": 3320, "yoy": "+31%" } ], "note": "Not directly comparable to the 2025 annual figures above — different period and only 9 of the 10 top-country slots reported by name (10th not given in source). Not used on-site; kept here as the raw quarterly data point per docs/specs/007 §7 (informational, not surfaced in copy).", "sources": [ "interfax.ru/world/1088983 (12 May 2026, sourced to Погранслужба ФСБ РФ)" ] }, "rollups": { "western_total_2025": null, "western_total_note": "Full 35-country western TOTAL stays null on purpose — 29 of 35 have no public figure. Never publish a 'western total'.", "western_tourism_floor_2025": 123390, "countries_in_floor": [ "DE", "EE", "LV", "IT", "FR", "US" ], "floor_display": "more than 120,000", "floor_note": "Owner-approved 2026-07-22 (ТЗ 007 §0.1). This is a documented FLOOR = the sum of ONLY the 6 western countries that HAVE a published 2025 tourism_purpose figure (DE+EE+LV+IT+FR+US = 123,390). It is explicitly NOT a western total — always presented as 'more than 120,000 from these six countries', rounded down, with the six named. Composition auditable via countries_in_floor + by_country. Safe to publish; the real western number is higher, not lower." } } }