Visa entering Russia from Latvia exiting to Ukraine
 

H experienced travelers:
I am a US citizen that will be flying into Latvia and then plan to travel by train to Moscow and then by train again from Moscow to Kiev. Altogether my trip is 19 days.

I am curious if an ordinary 30-day Russian tourist visa will do? I'm also curious if I need to know the exact days of my rail travel to and from Russia. I'm hoping to be a little loose with my travel dates if possible. Is there a prob elm if my entry visa to Russia is for 18 October and I take the train on 19 October; likewise leaving a day or two off the visa date/ Thanks much in advance.

rather than asking anyone of this forum, whose answers i certainly would not take as being accurate just call the Russian Embassy or Consulate - there is no other source that can give the definitive answer to your questions. Or try Intourist - the Russian tourist office.

First try the more consumer friendly perhaps Intourist, the former Soviet and now Russian Tourist Office Abroad.

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Intourist offers a wide variety of hotels, routes and other travel services to make your tour to Russia truly exciting, fabulous and unforgettable. ...

Tours in Russia. Tours - Contacts - Other services - Cosmos Hotel 3
www.intourist.com/

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A single entry Russian tourist visa is fine for your journey. On your application it will ask for the details of the journey. If your Russian visa starts on the 18th October but you do not enter until the 19th or 20th, that is OK. It does not work that way if you (try to)leave Russia after the visa expires, I don't recommend you try that.

I assume you are not going to enter Russia again, if you are you need a double entry tourist visa.

‘Is there a problem if my entry visa to Russia is for 18 October and I take the train on 19 October; likewise leaving a day or two off the visa date’
Since you are planning to spend only 19 days total you can try to estimate when you are entering and leaving Russia. All paperwork will be checked not when you boarding the train but on the border of Russia and Ukraine. You don’t want to be taking off the train in the middle of nowhere.
Try to do all the planning in advance. You can find some helpful information on tripadvisor, also check the posts as some are advertisings.
Try to get to the Armory in Moscow; and if you like art museums visit The State Tretyakov Gallery -Russian Art museum http://www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/
We went to Kiev-Moscow-St Pete in May – June, 2010 for 14 days as a school graduation present for my son. For DH and me it was ‘back to the USSR’ trip as we both grew up there.
We took the train from Kiev to Moscow. It was comfortable; the only disadvantage I see are two security checks at the middle of the night.
If you need more info you can email me ‘my screen name’ at yahoo.com.

There will be no problem if you arrive later or leave earlier. There will be a big problem if you try to enter earlier or leave later! You will need a letter of invitation to get your visa, and confirmed hotel reservations (although you can cancel them later). See http://www.waytorussia.net/ for lots of useful info.