sgsg

I heard from various postings that the Russian police frequently and randomly stops tourists on the streets and check their passports. Can we just show them a copy of the passport (like in other places of the world) or do we have to show the original? We would rather leave the original in the hotel safe and just bring a copy with us. Appreciate your info and thanks in advance.

sgsg

julies

I really don't know the answer, but I have to pass this on. I have a new daughter-in-law from Lithuania. She came to the US on a fiancee visa (which is a fancy hologram type thing stamped inside your passport). They had several weeks in LIthuania after she got the visa and before their flight to the US. My son, who has never been to Russia, wanted to go visit before they came to the US. My D-I-L, who has traveled in Russia a number of times, refused because she was afraid the Russian police would steal her Lithuanian passport because of its visa for the US. Just thought I'd pass this along.

P_M

This never happened to me or anyone else I know who's been to Russia. However I have heard of a scam in Eastern Europe where a thief posing as a police officer will ask for your passport then steal it or extort money before giving it back to you. So if someone stopped me on the street and asked for my passport, there's no way I would show it to them. I would just leave it in the safe and carry a copy with you.

nytraveler

Have never seen or heard of this - but I suppose anything is possible. Have been three times - Moscow and St Pet - 2 of them independently - so we wandered eveywhere at all hours - and were obviously americans.

katya_NY

I think the problem may lie in whether you look like you come from the Caucasus region. My rather dark-skinned, dark haired friend from Moscow gets stopped frequently, but is able to show the ID and walk away. Also, the only student from my group who was asked to show ID was born in Egypt. Once they found out he was an American, all problems ended.

So to answer your question- I carry a laminated copy of my passport & visa page with me at all times in Russia. I often have this, as well as my actual passport on me. I never go without several copies, just out of my own fears of losing it. I have my travel partner(s) carry a copy of mine, as well.

Odin

Unfortunately there are several myths about visiting Russia; one is that police frequently stop tourists to check their papers and another one is that if you look like you come from the Central Asian Republics you get picked on.

I know it is possible to be asked for your documents by the police but I've never been asked, and I spent every weekend for a year in Moscow, neither did any of my friends who visited me (one of which was African-American and another was Pakistani).

Keep a photocopy of passport and visa on you (your passport without visa is not much use) and the original documents in the hotel safe.

MNP

I actually was stopped once. (I am as white as they come too) He just asked to see my passport and VISA, looked it over, and I was on my way. Funny thing is, when it happened, I was with my Russian friend who was in his military uniform and he had to show them his stuff as well. I kept my originals on me just for the slight chance, the copies wouldn't be "good enough" Have a fun and great trip!

enroute

My friends, naturalized US citizens from Russia went back to visit last August. In Moscow their two white American-born teenagers happened to lie down on the grass to rest. They were stopped by the police for lying on the grass and asked for documents. Upon producing American passports, they were asked to go to the police station OR pay a $50/1500 roubles fine per person, standing or lying down. They paid cash on the spot, $350, to the policeman who was reportedly smiling ear-to-ear, no receipt, no questions, and were let go. They reported their nostalgia was successfully cured.

Just be forwarned...

-e

P_M

When I vistited Russia our tour guide told us countless stories about police corruption in Russia. She has been the victim of situations like this, and she is Russian!! Of course, it's possible the person who approached your friends wasn't actually a police officer, just one of those thieves I mentioned, posing as a cop. But in any case, it's a shame that happened to your friends.

kasperdoggie

I had a similar experience (am naturalized US citizen, but born in USSR who went to visit family after a few years of absence) - we were stopped by cops (drunk and armed, mind you) as we were getting in a car in the evening. I was staying with my cousin and her husband in Moscow. Upon discovering that I speak Russian AND have a US passport, the cops started inventing new legal codes - allegedly the law about getting your visa stamped within 3 days was changed that very evening, and it was now 24 hour limit. The idea was that I would be joining them at the local station or paying the bribe. Interestingly, they left my non-Russian speaking hubby alone, even though his passport was sporting the same lack of stamp that was my alleged problem.

I left Russia in my late teens and never really learned the art of the properly applied bribe - my parents handled it while we lived there So even though I was fully aware that with an application of some cash, the drunk goons waving their guns in my face would go away (I had no intention of getting in the milita jeep with them, as you can imagine), I just didn't know how exactly to offer the money? Luckily, my cousin, a lifelong resident of Moscow, had all the skills necessary and I think an equivalent of 10 bucks was paid for my freedom

This episode (and getting stopped and asked for passport on other occasions) would not deter me from visiting Russia again, but I am always aware of the potential cop encounters and try to blend in a bit better...

geneven

I lived in Moscow for a few years not that long ago. I was only stopped by the Militia one time, not counting entering and leaving the country.

Still, I got into the habit of always carrying my passport with me, so much so that I do it now, in Southern California.

I think that you could get by with a copy of your passport, though to be 100% safe, carry the original. Part of the adventure in Moscow is that the law depends on the mood of the person you encounter at the moment, so stated policies might or might not be enforced in a given situation. I never had any problems with them, and I felt secure because there were so darned many militia everywhere in the center.

If you are non-white, on the other hand, expect to be stopped quite frequently.

The story of the bribe seems unbelievable to me. If I was asked for a bribe, I would not understand ANY language that I was asked for it in. Eventually, the miliatia would leave me alone as too much trouble.

You can use your Visa and Mastercard in Moscow or St Petersberg and thus carrying large amounts of cash is unnecessary and unwise, so you couldn't pay much of a bribe, anyway. Be careful to use a high-visibility ATM, though, like one in a supermarket. Rigged ATMs are not unknown, though I never saw one for sure.

goingwithbaby

We lived in Moscow in 2005. We have a small child and we were never asked for papers. Many of our friends - tall, english speaking, white guys were stopped on multiple occassions and provided their passports and visas and were checked and on their way. No fines or bribes needed.

Rich

I lived in Moscow for three years in the mid 90's and was only asked by miliatia for "Papers!" one time . . I waved him off with a "Poof!" and walked away .. although I had my passport, I was not about to be scammed.

My Russian friends had a great laugh over my reaction . . it's exactly the way they react if approached.

Rich

WildRussia

The police checks the papers mostly in Moscow. In St. Petersburg they do not really care. A copy would do. Also I would recommend to keep the papers and cash in a safe place, since there've been a large number of pickpockets in the tourist places.