By train
You can get to Kaliningrad by train, but do you need a visa? According to the established rules, choosing this type of transport to visit the city implies the mandatory registration of a foreign passport and visa .
Documentation
A citizen of the Russian Federation who wants to visit Kaliningrad by train needs not only tickets, but also an international passport and a simplified travel document (STD Railway).
A simplified document is issued when purchasing a ticket. But it does not yet guarantee that transit through Lithuania is open to the owner.
You can find out about the opening of transit one day after receiving a simplified travel document.
Issuance of UPD Railway
When choosing the Moscow-Kaliningrad train and knowing whether a foreign passport is needed, all that remains is to find out about the provision of transit:
- Since information about a tourist is transferred to the Lithuanian embassy only after purchasing a ticket, you need to wait at least 26 hours.
- It may take another day to make a decision.
You can find out about the decision at the box office or on the Russian Railways website if the purchase was made online.
If a transit visa is not provided, you can return the ticket and receive its full cost.
Border crossing
If a citizen of the Russian Federation has been granted permission to travel through Lithuania, he must comply with the established rules.
A train transit visa to Kaliningrad is only valid if:
- the owner does not leave the train;
- does not use other transport visas;
- stays on the territory of Lithuania for no more than 6 hours .
While on the train, the tourist is also required to fill out a special form, which should then be given to a representative of the Lithuanian embassy (he is on the train during the entire trip).
When traveling by train
The region's relative proximity to Moscow and St. Petersburg makes rail transportation a popular option for moving between the European part of the country and the enclave. But, since the region is surrounded by foreign countries that are members of the EU, visiting it without entering the territory of the European Union (and, accordingly, without a foreign passport) is impossible.
Thus, purchasing a train ticket and the subsequent trip have a number of features.
Purchasing a ticket and registering a railway traffic ticket
Purchasing a train ticket obliges the citizen to have a foreign passport (for travel through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania).
If a citizen has previously applied for a Schengen visa (or Lithuanian visa) and it will be valid at the time of travel, no additional documents will be required. The absence of a visa makes it necessary to register for a railway traffic document.
UPD Railway is a special permit that allows a Russian citizen to cross the territory of Lithuania in transit. There is no need to visit the consulate of the Republic of Lithuania: a transit visa is issued when purchasing a train ticket.
With a simplified railway travel document, a Russian has the right to travel to Kaliningrad via Lithuania without applying for a national visa of the Republic or a Schengen visa.
How to find out about a refusal
Registration of the railway UTD is not carried out immediately: information from the railway ticket office is transferred to the consular service of the Republic of Lithuania, and a decision is made there. It is possible to find out whether a passenger will be able to cross the border of Lithuania by train within 24 hours after purchasing a ticket.
If a negative decision is made, it is communicated by telephone. A citizen can independently find out about the status of an application at the ticket office, the Russian Railways information desk and at the Express system terminals. If a refusal is received, the citizen has the right to a refund of the money paid for the ticket.
Boarding the train and receiving the railway traffic control
Boarding the train is carried out on the basis of a travel ticket and a receipt (it confirms payment of the service fee). The citizen will need to present the passport with which the travel document was issued.
Receipt of the Railway UPD occurs after boarding the train: it is issued by a representative of the Lithuanian consular service. To receive the Railway UPD, the passenger needs to fill out a Personal Data Sheet.
The transit visa is valid for three months. On its basis, a Russian can travel to Kaliningrad and return through Lithuania to the Russian Federation. Marks on crossing the border of the Republic of Lithuania are made on the railway traffic control system. During transit through Lithuania, the passenger has no right to leave the carriage.
The Railway Traffic Regulations apply only to railway transport. It will take 20-24 hours to get to the region by train from Moscow or the Northern capital.
Do you need a passport to Kaliningrad by train from Moscow?
To purchase a train ticket from Moscow (as well as from other Russian cities), you will need to present a foreign passport. This document is presented when boarding the train and when crossing the border with Lithuania.
Therefore, having a foreign passport is one of the mandatory conditions for those who plan to visit Kaliningrad resorts, meet with family and friends and go on a business trip to Kaliningrad by train.
By car
Many Russian tourists prefer to travel by private car. But in this case, it is important to know whether you need a foreign passport to Kaliningrad.
Besides. There are many other nuances that should not be forgotten.
Route
The question of how to get to Kaliningrad by car worries many motorists. It all depends on which locality the tourist is going to travel from.
If this is Moscow , then you can choose one of two routes:
- M1 – Belarus and Lithuania;
- M9 – Latvia and Lithuania.
Tourists from St. Petersburg most often choose the Estonia-Latvia-Lithuania route.
Documentation
A trip by car to Kaliningrad requires the tourist to have certain documents. He must have a passport and one of the following documents:
- Schengen visa;
- UPD Railway.
It is more convenient to have a Schengen visa, since with it a traveler can visit any country in the European Union.
A simplified travel document is issued faster. UPD Railway is chosen when there is no need to visit other countries besides Lithuania and Latvia.
Green map
Before driving a car to Kaliningrad, you need to take out insurance (Green Card).
The contract is mandatory, since the absence of a policy while traveling by car is a serious violation of European law. And even moreover, without it it will be impossible to cross the border.
The period for which insurance is issued ranges from 15 days to 1 year.
The cost of the policy varies, as it depends on the validity period and type of transport:
- on average, 15 days for a passenger car will cost 2,500 rubles ;
- a policy for 1 month will cost 4,600 rubles .
But if in addition to the vehicle there is also a trailer, then the amount will increase - 3,200 rubles (15 days) and 6 thousand rubles (1 month).
Video: Traveling to Kaliningrad by car - crossing borders, visas, insurance
Only two transit trains will go to Kaliningrad through Lithuania
“Transit non-stop running of only two transit trains to the Kaliningrad region is maintained. These are trains No. 29/30 “Yantar” Moscow - Kaliningrad and No. 79/80 St. Petersburg - Kaliningrad,” the message says.
Otherwise, in accordance with the information of the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Kaliningrad, from 0:00 on March 23, 2021, temporary restrictions on the movement of passengers of Russian trains across the state border of Lithuania will come into force, the company clarified.
At the same time, transit travel is permitted only if you have a simplified transit document for railway transport. Transit travel through the territory of Lithuania with a Schengen visa or simplified transit document is prohibited.
“At the request of the Lithuanian side, passengers must fill out an electronic form on the website, print out the form and sign,” noted Russian Railways.
You will need to give the completed form to the train staff. When filling out the form, you must provide an email address to which a copy of the simplified transit document for railway transport will be sent. It will need to be presented in printed form along with your foreign passport when crossing the state border of Lithuania.
If railway tickets were purchased before the new requirements came into force, you must send scanned copies of the title page of your foreign passport and railway ticket to [email protected] If the decision is positive, a copy of the simplified transit document for railway transport will be sent back.
Additional information can be obtained on the website of the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Kaliningrad or during business hours by calling: +7 4012 959482, +7 4012 957688, indicate Russian Railways.
At the same time, to ensure the interests of Russian passengers, Russian Railways, together with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are exploring the possibility of lifting a number of new restrictions, taking into account the non-stop transit order of trains passing through the territory of Lithuania, Russian Railways added.
Earlier, on March 19, Russian Railways announced the cancellation of the Adler-Kaliningrad passenger train passing through the territory of Lithuania. From March 20, all flights of train No. 360 Kaliningrad - Adler are canceled, and from March 23, train No. 359/360 will run on the Adler - Smolensk route. The movement of trains No. 29/30 Moscow - Kaliningrad and No. 79/80 St. Petersburg - Kaliningrad is maintained.
By plane
Knowing whether you need a foreign passport to travel to Kaliningrad, you can choose the appropriate transport. But in this case, a plane is more convenient than a train or a personal car. And this applies not only to the duration of the flight (travel from Moscow takes 2 hours, and from St. Petersburg – 1.5 hours).
Citizens of the Russian Federation who fly to Kaliningrad from any city in Russia are exempt from the need to take a foreign passport with them and apply for a visa (Schengen or transit).
Despite the fact that the plane flies over other states, formally the flight is carried out from one Russian city to another . Therefore, there is no customs inspection or provision of additional documents.
All a tourist needs is a ticket and an internal passport.
Rules for traveling to Kaliningrad by train
Documents required for Russian citizens to travel to the Kaliningrad region in transit through the territory of Lithuania
1. Travel document (ticket).
2. An identification document of the passenger, the details of which are indicated in the travel document (ticket). These include: - diplomatic passport; - service passport; — foreign passport of the Russian Federation; — seafarer’s passport (if there is an entry in the ship’s role or a duly certified extract from it); — certificate of return (for a one-time return to the Russian Federation).
3. A document giving the right to transit through the territory of Lithuania. These include: - visa of the Republic of Lithuania; — residence permit of the Republic of Lithuania; — accreditation card of category “A” or “B” of the Republic of Lithuania; — simplified transit document (STD); — simplified railway travel document (UPD-ZhD*).
The validity period of the identity document of a citizen of the Russian Federation must exceed the validity period of the document valid for transit travel through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania.
UPTD-ZhD (simplified railway travel document) is a special document for one-time transit travel through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania to the Kaliningrad region and back. It is valid for no more than three months and is issued free of charge by competent Lithuanian representatives on transit trains before crossing the state border of the Republic of Lithuania. The decision to issue a UTD-Railway is made by the diplomatic and consular institutions of the Republic of Lithuania in the Russian Federation based on information transmitted through the railway ticket offices on the territory of the Russian Federation.
UPTD-ZhD can only be used when traveling on regular transit trains on the following routes: - Moscow - Kaliningrad (train No. 29); — Moscow — Kaliningrad (train No. 147); — St. Petersburg — Kaliningrad (train No. 79); — Chelyabinsk — Kaliningrad (train No. 425); — Adler — Kaliningrad (train No. 360С); — Murmansk — Kaliningrad (direct carriage); — Kaliningrad — Moscow (train No. 30); — Kaliningrad — Moscow (train No. 148); — Kaliningrad — St. Petersburg (train No. 80); — Kaliningrad — Chelyabinsk (train No. 426); — Kaliningrad — Adler (train No. 360Ч); — Kaliningrad — Murmansk (direct carriage).
Preparation of documents for travel to the Kaliningrad region in transit through the territory of Lithuania
1. Purchasing a ticket in the absence of a document giving the right to transit through the territory of Lithuania.
The passenger applies to specialized ticket offices in the Kaliningrad direction. When issuing a travel document, his personal data, train number and departure date are communicated to the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania. After 26 hours from the moment of issuing the travel document, the passenger can obtain information about whether he is allowed to transit through the territory of Lithuania at any information or ticket office of the Russian railways equipped with the Express system.
In this regard, the following deadlines for ticket sales have been established: - from 90 days and no later than 28 hours before the departure of the train from the point of formation or turnover of the train; - at an intermediate station from 3 days and no later than 28 hours before the train departs from the point of formation or train turnover.
If a decision is made to refuse to issue a UPTD, the passenger can return the travel document to the return office and receive the full cost of the travel document.
2. Purchasing a ticket if you have a document giving the right to transit through the territory of Lithuania.
The following deadlines for ticket sales have been established: - from 90 days until the train departs from the point of formation or turnover of the train; - from 3 days until the train departs from the intermediate station.
Travel of children to the Kaliningrad region in transit through the territory of Lithuania
Travel documents (tickets) for children under 14 years of age are sold to accompanying persons. For a child under 5 years of age, if he does not occupy a separate seat, a separate travel document (ticket) is issued without indicating the seat number and without paying the fare.
To issue a ticket for a child under 14 years of age, you must provide: - a foreign passport of the accompanying parent in which the child is registered; - or any other document identifying the parent and necessary for transit through the territory of Lithuania, as well as a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation in which the child is registered; - or the child’s foreign passport.
Transporting medicines through the territory of Lithuania
Since September 2005, the customs service of the Republic of Lithuania has tightened the procedure for transporting medicines through the territory of the country.
In this regard, JSC Russian Railways recommends that Russian citizens traveling in transit through the territory of Lithuania pay attention to the new list of medicines permitted for transportation through the territory of the republic. At all points of sale of railway tickets, stands with background information about the new procedure for transporting medicines have been installed, and explanatory work is being carried out.
This restriction does not contain a ban on the use of Valocordin and Corvalol for personal purposes when transiting through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania. Even in cases where it is necessary to transport these drugs in transit in quantities exceeding personal needs, difficulties should not arise for those citizens who properly declare these drugs when entering and leaving the country.
For detailed information, please contact the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Lithuania.
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On a ferryboat
If it is not possible to travel to Kaliningrad by car, train or plane, you can use the ferry.
This option is especially convenient for residents of St. Petersburg, since you can only get to Kaliningrad by water from the port of Ust-Luga. For this purpose, tourists are provided with “Baltiysk” and “Ambal”.
The ferry runs once every 4 days, so your trip should be planned in advance.
But it should be understood that the destination port is Baltiysk. This city is located 45 kilometers from Kaliningrad . Therefore, travelers forced to use the ferry then transfer to regular buses.
This is not the only inconvenience, as you have to undergo lengthy customs inspection .
There is information that in the near future another new ferry will be launched on the Ust-Luga – Baltiysk line. More details in the following report:
Traveling with children
It is also important to know whether Russians need a visa to Kaliningrad if the whole family goes on a trip. Young tourists may also require additional documents.
You should find out in advance what documents are needed for traveling to Kaliningrad for minors . In this case, parents have two options:
- they can issue a separate passport for a young child;
- enter all information about it into your documents.
The first option is often used when the child travels with third parties. In addition, in case of traveling by land, a minor passenger will also need a Schengen visa or a simplified travel document.
When flying or using a ferry, children, like adults, do not need to apply for a visa. But upon reaching 14 years of age, the child must have an internal civil passport.
If he is traveling with one of the parents, the second must issue a notarized consent to take the child out of the country.
If the accompanying person is a third person, consent is provided by the mother and father. In the event of the death of one of them, confirmation is required using an appropriate certificate. In the absence of such a document, taking a child abroad (if this is by land transport) will be considered illegal .
Since Kaliningrad has been part of Russia since 1946, our citizens have enough reasons to visit it. And even the geographical location does not prevent you from visiting this city if necessary.
Having found out whether you need a foreign passport to Kaliningrad, you can easily choose transport for your trip. For example, those who know whether they need a foreign passport to Kaliningrad by plane choose this option.
What documents are needed to travel to the Kaliningrad region?
From July 1, 2021, passenger trains No. 29/30 "Yantar" Moscow - Kaliningrad and No. 79/80 St. Petersburg - Kaliningrad were resumed, traveling to the Kaliningrad region and back in transit through the territory of the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Lithuania, without the possibility of boarding or disembarkation of passengers on the territory of foreign countries.
At the same time, new conditions for simplified rail transit through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania came into force. Thus, transit travel is possible only if you have a simplified travel document for railway transport (UPD-ZhD). Travel through the country with a Schengen visa or simplified transit document (FTD) is prohibited. Electronic tickets are issued 28 hours before train departure.
What souvenirs should I bring from Kaliningrad? More details
At the request of the Lithuanian side, passengers must fill out the electronic form of the UPTD-Railway form, print the form and sign it. This document will need to be given to the train staff. When crossing the state border of Lithuania, passengers, along with their international passport, must provide a printed copy of the TD-ZhD, which they will receive from the conductor.
