Crossing the boarders between the countries in the Barents region, often includes a need for visas or at least bringing your passport. Below, we have gathered the main information about what you need to know before crossing the borders to Russia, Finland and Norway.
The majority of non-Russian citizens who wish to visit the Russian Federation are required to apply for a Russian visa. A visa type will depend on nationality, as well as purpose and duration of the stay. Please refer to the website of a Russian embassy in your country for information about visa types, document requirements and procedures.
Russia has introduced e-visas, a much faster and more practical way to obtain a Russian travel authorization. The e-visa regulations and application procedure can be found on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://evisa.kdmid.ru/.
Currently e-visa can be used to travel to and from Russia through a limited number of border crossing points, and the border crossing points in the Barents region are not on the list yet.
When crossing a border to and from Russia it is necessary to observe the customs rules which are available at the website of the Russian Customs Service: http://eng.customs.ru/folder/87070
Information for Norwegian citizens
Norwegian citizens need a visa to travel to Russia. When planning a trip to Russia please check that your passport is valid at least six months after the visa expiry date and has two blank pages.
All information on how to apply for a Russian visa can be found on the website of the Russian Embassy in Norway: https://norway.mid.ru/en/consular-services/viza_v_rossiyu/
Visa application can be submitted personally to the Consular Office of the Russian Embassy in Oslo or Russian General Consulate in Kirkenes. The Embassy has established electronic visa applications system and the application form shall be filled in online (http://visa.kdmid.ru) and printed out before applying for visa.
Another option is to submit visa applications and supporting documents via the Russian Visa Centers in Norway (https://norway.interlinkservice.world/en). The Visa Centers are agencies authorized by the Russian diplomatic missions for submission of documents for a Russian visa. They are located in Oslo and Kirkenes and provide some additional services, like assistance in filling-in the application and submission of documents by post.
The third option is to use services of a tourist agency.
Information for Finnish citizens
Finnish citizens need a visa to travel to Russia. When planning a trip to Russia please check that your passport is valid at least six months after the visa expiry date and has two blank pages.
An applicant having a complete set of documents required for application for a Russian visa, can either submit documents to one of the Russian Visa Application Centers, or at the nearest consular establishment of the Russian Federation.
The visa application procedures and contact details of the Russian consular offices can be found on the website of the Russian Embassy in Finland: https://helsinki.mid.ru/fi_FI/web/helsinki-fi/viisumiasiat.
The Embassy has established electronic visa applications system and the application form shall be filled in online (http://visa.kdmid.ru) and printed out before applying for visa.
The Russian Visa Application Centers are located in Helsinki, Turku and Lappeenranta. Please refer to their website for more information: https://russiavisacentre.com/
The third option is to use services of a tourist agency.
Norway is a part of the Schengen area that comprises 26 European countries. There is normally no passport control on the borders between these countries. If you are a citizen, have a valid visa or residence permit in one of these countries, you can also visit the other Schengen countries.
If citizens of your nationality need a visa to travel to the Schengen countries and Norway is your main destination, apply for a Norwegian visa. A visa type will depend on nationality, as well as purpose and duration of the stay.
Please refer to the website of a Norwegian embassy in your country for information about a need for visa, visa types, document requirements and procedures.
When crossing a border to and from Norway it is necessary to observe the customs rules which are available at the website of the Norwegian Customs Service: https://www.toll.no/en/travelling/
Information for Russian citizens
Russian citizens need a visa to travel to Norway (Schengen visa). If you planning to visit several Schengen countries, please observe the Schengen agreement rules and apply for a visa of the country of your main destination.
Norwegian visas are issued by the Norwegian Embassy in Moscow. Please refer to the website of the Embassy for step-by-step instructions on how to apply and what documents to submit: https://www.norway.no/ru/russia/service-info/visitors-visa-res-permit/visitors-visa/#hand-in-doc
The visa applications shall be submitted to one of the Norway Visa Application Centers. The Centers are located in many Russian cities. The information about the procedures and contact details is given on the website: https://www.norwayvisa-russia.com/English/index.html.
Finland is a part of the Schengen area that comprises 26 European countries. There is normally no passport control on the borders between these countries. If you are a citizen, have a valid visa or residence permit in one of these countries, you can also visit the other Schengen countries.
If citizens of your nationality need a visa to travel to the Schengen countries and Finland is your main destination, apply for a Finnish visa. A visa type will depend on nationality, as well as purpose and duration of the stay.
Please refer to the website of a Finnish embassy in your country for information about a need for visa, visa types, document requirements and procedures.
When crossing a border to and from Finland it is necessary to observe the customs rules which are available at the website of the Finnish Customs Service: https://tulli.fi/en/private-persons/travelling
Information for Russian citizens
Russian citizens need a visa to travel to Finland (Schengen visa). If you planning to visit several Schengen countries, please observe the Schengen agreement rules and apply for a visa of the country of your main destination.
Please refer to the website of the Embassy for step-by-step instructions on how to apply and what documents to submit: https://finlandabroad.fi/web/rus/kak-podat-na-vizu.
A visa application can be submitted in person to the Embassy of Finland in Moscow, Consulate General in St. Petersburg and the offices of the Consulate General in Murmansk and Petrozavodsk, as well as to the Finland Visa Application Centers. The Centers are located in many Russian cities. The information about the procedures and contact details is given on the website: https://visa.finland.eu/Russia/
