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Visa Saint Petersburg

Anyone seen any info on if we will need visa's for Saint Petersburg like we did for the world cup? Not sure how they would turn them around in time as we are obviously not confirmed to play there until a few days before.

85 Replies

  • David Lilley
    See here

    englandsupporters.thefa.com/.../15189

    I have still not heard back from the Fan-ID help desk over whether we can obtain a Fan-ID on the basis of a conditional quarter final ticket. I sent them a reminder earlier today. When (or if) I receive a reply, I will post it on the above thread.
  • Damian Mcalister

    In reply to David Lilley:

    Thanks pal
  • Anthony Simpson

    In reply to David Lilley:

    David .Have you heard anything back about fan-ID for st Petersburg my son is on 32 caps and I’m on 24 so if he gets a quarter final ticket and I don’t does that mean I cannot apply for a fan ID too enter Russia as we are still planning on traveling together him with a ticket and me without if that’s the case
  • David Lilley

    In reply to Anthony Simpson:

    It is definitely the case that you cannot get a Fan-ID unless you have a ticket to a match in St Petersburg. If you miss out on a quarter final ticket then you will have to get a normal tourist visa in order to accompany your son.

    There is an alternative : to get a ferry from Helsinki or Tallinn and take advantage of the 72 hour visa-free scheme. This only applies for ferries of the St Peter Line, although the scheme applies to all cruise ships, and you must book one of their approved hotels on shore. I have not checked whether the cost of 2 return trips on the St Peter Line ferry would be more or less expensive than buying 1 normal tourist visa.

    My query to the Fan-ID help desk was whether we could get a Fan-ID on the basis of a conditional quarter final ticket or whether we have to wait until it becomes an unconditional ticket for the St Petersburg quarter final. It is disappointing and worrying that I have not received a reply. Surely, the Russian authorities have a stance on this issue so why won't they tell ?

    If they will not issue a Fan-ID until the ticket becomes unconditional then we need to know how the process works :-

    1. Will the Russian authorities pre-approve an application so that the Fan-ID can be authorised and issued as soon as we win in Copenhagen ?

    2. Will this not happen until UEFA update our ticket status in our UEFA.com ticketing account ?

    3. When will UEFA update our ticket status ? There is no incentive for them to do this promptly. They only need to ensure the quarter final ticket is on our phone before the match in St Petersburg takes place. Is there any liaison between Russia and UEFA over this matter ?

    4. Has any consideration been given to the fact that fans will be in Copenhagen so it might be problematical to apply for a Fan-ID or get a pre-approved PDF Fan-ID printed off ?

    For those members who have already booked flights to St Petersburg using the Opodo 'cancel for any reason' guarantee, there is the additional worry about whether the Fan-ID would be authorised and issued before their flight departs. The guarantee has to be invoked at least 24 hours before the flight is due to depart so it is useless if the fan waits, hoping for the Fan-ID to come through in time.

  • Russell Duffin

    In reply to David Lilley:

    Hi David, as you say, it's disappointing that the Fan-ID Help Desk hasn't replied to your queries. As I am a fluent Russian speaker, through my education and job, I am happy to write to them in Russian, if it will be helpful. I can translate the four questions above and send them if you can provide me with an email address or link to the Help Desk. Thanks very much and best wishes. Russell
  • David Lilley

    In reply to Russell Duffin:

    Hi Russell, thank you very much for your offer. That would be extremely helpful. This is the link to the Fan-ID Help Desk.

    www.fan-id.ru/contacts.html

    The primary question is whether a fan can obtain a Fan-ID in advance on the basis of a conditional quarter final ticket. If we can, then problem solved. If not, then #1 and #2 above are questions which can only be answered by the Russian authorities. So, those are the 3 questions for the Fan-ID Help Desk.

    I assume that the Russians will be using a computer subroutine linked to the UEFA ticketing database to check whether Fan-ID applicants have a match in St Petersburg in their ticket portfolio. If so, the QF ticket status would have to be changed before a Fan-ID application would be authorised. Re #3 above, this would be more a matter for UEFA.

    Even if it's not England, there are going to be 2 foreign teams in the St Petersburg QF and some of their fans will have conditional QF tickets. So the question is of general interest. However, on 1 October 2019, a free e-visa scheme was introduced specifically for short duration visits to St Petersburg. The Russian authorities might therefore consider that the advance issue of a Fan-ID to act as a visa substitute is not important. Unfortunately, the free e-visa scheme is available to every country which has qualified for Euro 2020 or could qualify via the play-offs except the UK. So, fans of England, Wales and potentially Scotland / N. Ireland do need a satisfactory answer to this question of obtaining a Fan-ID in a timely manner.

    Feel free to re-word my questions in order to make the issues as clear as possible to the Help Desk.

    Thanks again, and good luck !
  • David Lilley

    In reply to David Lilley:

    This is the free e-visa scheme for which the UK is not eligible. See the list of 53 eligible countries.

    electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/spb_home_en.html
  • Anthony Simpson

    In reply to David Lilley:

    Thanks David I will keep an eye out on threads on here
  • Russell Duffin

    In reply to David Lilley:

    Thanks, David, for your reply, which I have just read, even though you wrote it yesterday.
    I'll send our questions in Russian to the Fan-ID help desk, in the hope that they send us a reply. All the best. Russell
  • Russell Duffin

    In reply to Russell Duffin:

    Similarly, if we do play in Saint Petersburg, I intend to be there, so anyone can contact me via this site, if they need any help with linguistic matters!
  • Peter Titmus

    In reply to Russell Duffin:

    Now I have my ‘conditional’ QF ticket, I too am very interested in any news about these visas. Having had a colleague refused entry and a relative deported from Russia in the last few years, I am keen not to have a similar experience!!
  • David Lilley

    In reply to Peter Titmus:

    Unless Russell Duffin can come back with an answer, the only way to find out would be to submit an application for a Fan-ID and see whether it's successful. I would try it myself but I'm going to need a new passport in the Spring so I'll have to wait.

    If anyone does give it a try, please come on this thread and tell us the outcome.

    As a supplementary issue, your passport must have an unexpired term of at least 6 months in order to enter Russia or Azerbaijan. This is why I'm having to renew my own passport before the tournament.

  • Nicholas Small

    In reply to David Lilley:

    I got an error for an invalid ticket or order number.

    I did, however, manage to get a photo which fulfilled the validity criteria at the first time of asking. Which is quite something given my efforts, two years ago...
  • Peter Titmus

    In reply to Nicholas Small:

    Were you applying with a conditional ticket and via what link?
  • Nicholas Small

    In reply to Peter Titmus:

    Yes- the only St Petersburg ticket in my order was the conditional quarter final. There's only one place to apply, which is www.fan-id.ru.

    I might try again later, as I did the application within half an hour of paying for my tickets, and the IT might not have been quite lined up.

    Given the Fan ID allows *entry* to Russia up to 23:59 on 3 July (after the QF is finished) it seems daft not to allow those with conditional tickets to apply.
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