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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

  • Mark Flanagan

    In reply to David Lilley:

    Has anyone had any joy with this Fan ID, I'm still getting "invalid order number", I assume because its a conditional ticket.
  • Ian Dale

    In reply to Mark Flanagan:

    Tried out of curiosity and it didn't work though really not worried about this. Lot of JCLs seemed to get a last minute fan id easily enough for the World Cup semi.
  • David Lilley

    In reply to Ian Dale:

    I admire your cool !

    For the World Cup semi final, the 'last minute fans' were sitting at home with their computers and printers. No problem applying for and printing off a Fan-ID. Before the Euro 2020 quarter final in St Petersburg, fans will be in a Copenhagen hotel with probably only their mobile phones, and with an obligation to check out of their hotel the morning after the R16. This will pose difficulties in applying for and printing off the Fan-ID.

    For the World Cup semi final there were probably only a few dozen, perhaps even over 100, 'last minute fans' competing for flights to 3 Moscow international airports. For the Euro 2020 quarter final in St Petersburg there will be 5000 conditional ticket holders competing for last minute flights to 1 St Petersburg international airport.

    It really would make a difference if we knew when the electronic Fan-ID would be available for printing, so that we can plan around it.
  • Edward David

    In reply to Nicholas Small:

    Hi there,
    Just to say went through the proceeure just now and came back with the ansewer invalid ticket number.
    Like everyone else I have paid for aConditional ticket so have to wait and see, lets hope England finish top
    Regards Edward.
  • Ian Dale

    In reply to David Lilley:

    One thing everyone can do in advance is test whether they've got a photo that's acceptable, then save it on their phone, as it's pretty strict on what it accepts.
  • Edward David

    In reply to Ian Dale:

    Yes thank you for that.
    I have just emailed the Fan Id helpdesk and waitng for a reply concerning Conditioanl ticket., so see what happens. Will asdvise if any good news.
  • Edward David

    In reply to David Lilley:

    Hi David.
    Just to let you know that I have tried today 2nd February and failed to submit the form for a Fan ID reason being invalid ticket number, even though a bought a Conditiional one last week.
    So everyone must be in the same boat and also other countries as well
  • David Lilley

    In reply to Edward David:

    Other countries can use the free e-visa scheme introduced on 1.10.19 to enter St Petersburg without a Fan-ID or a standard tourist visa. See my post on this thread 22 Jan at 12:43.

    electronic-visa.kdmid.ru/spb_home_en.html
  • Peter Titmus

    In reply to David Lilley:

    David is right about this, the problem will only impact U.K. passport holders, all other countries are covered by the e visa scheme. The option to get a normal tourist visa anyway is not going to be practical for most as it involves a visit to the visa centre in person so they can verify biometric details, so the elusive (for this tournament at least) fan ID is the only option but cannot currently be applied for by holders of a conditional ticket.
  • Mark Flanagan

    In reply to Peter Titmus:

    If its the same as the world cup, we will still need a fan ID to get into the match, even if we sort a visa.
  • Team England
    WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FAN IDS IN THE EVENT ENGLAND PLAY IN ST PETERSBURG - HOPEFULLY THE BELOW HELPS YOU:

    A FAN ID is mandatory for every fan who attends a match in St Petersburg.
    To apply for a FAN ID you'll need your passport as well as your order number or ticket number (for a match in St Petersburg).

    For the avoidance of doubt, the England Supporters Travel Club membership card or FAN number are NOT FAN IDs and will not permit you entry into Russia for the purpose of attending EURO 2020.

    If England end up playing their Quarter Final match at St Petersburg Stadium and you do not have a valid match ticket but still wish to go to Russia, you will need to have a 30-day tourist visa in order to enter the country.

    Neither UEFA nor The FA are responsible for FAN ID applications - it is issued by Russian authorities as an alternative to a visa. You will not receive a refund on your match ticket in the event your FAN ID application is rejected.

    If you attended the 2018 World Cup in Russia, you will not be able to reuse your FAN ID from that tournament.

    You can certainly try and apply for a FAN ID now, however it may not be authorised until England's route is confirmed. Please do not panic about obtaining a FAN ID - should England end up playing in Russia, you'll be able to pick up a FAN ID at St Petersburg airport after you've submitted an application.

    This information is also published on our FAQ page
  • Ian Mays
    Doesn’t even give an option to upload a photo currently.
  • David Lilley

    In reply to Team England:

    Team England
    Please do not panic about obtaining a FAN ID - should England end up playing in Russia, you'll be able to pick up a FAN ID at St Petersburg airport after you've submitted an application.

    Thank you, Team England, for monitoring the forum and joining in this thread.

    Most fans will be intending to use the Fan-ID as a visa substitute in order to enter Russia. It's no good knowing that we can pick up a Fan-ID in St Petersburg if we can't enter Russia without one.

    #1  Are you saying that all airlines will allow you to board a flight to Russia even if you are not in possession of a valid visa or a Fan-ID ?

    #2  Are you saying that the Fan-ID issuing desk at St Petersburg airport will be before immigration / passport control ?

    Unless you can give us a cast-iron "yes" to both of these questions, then England fans will need a Fan-ID before their flight leaves for Russia, even if it is only the A4 PDF version. It is therefore critical that we know when a Fan-ID application approval email will be issued and the electronic version Fan-ID will be available to print. 

    Please, Team England, can you find the following information on behalf of fans.

    Question 1 : How soon after the match in Copenhagen would UEFA update the ticketing database to show that a conditional QF ticket is now an unconditional ticket to the St Petersburg QF ? I am assuming that this is a necessary step before an application for a Fan-ID can be submitted.

    Question 2 : Assuming that the ticket status has been updated by UEFA, how quickly would the Russian authorities approve a valid Fan-ID application and issue their approval email ?

    Once England qualify for a particular knock out round, there will be a very limited time frame in which to arrange transport and accommodation for the next venue. This will be much more difficult than for previous tournaments taking place in a single country or two adjacent countries because of the continent-wide nature of Euro 2020. If we can't act promptly after the Copenhagen R16 to book transport to St Petersburg because we don't know when a Fan-ID will be approved then we are entitled to panic.

    Thank you for your help.

  • Clarke Buckeridge

    In reply to David Lilley:

    David, did you go to Russia for the World Cup?
    If not then fans could apply for the Fan ID and print out the confirmation once approved. Immigration at the Russian airport would accept this. Then you could pick up your laminated Fan ID with lanyard at various pick up points which included airport terminals. There was definitely one at St Petersburg airport.

    Seeing how well organised Russia were 2 years ago I can't see any issues with this whatsoever.
  • David Lilley

    In reply to Clarke Buckeridge:

    For the avoidance of misunderstandings, when I talk about the Fan-ID I am referring to the electronic version which you can print off at home. I am well aware that we will need the laminated version to enter the stadium and that we will have to get the laminated version after we have arrived in St Petersburg. The electronic version is a PDF file and it needs to be printed off on A4 paper before we travel because this will be the visa substitute at immigration / passport control. The electronic version is what I am panicking about.

    Yes, I went to the World Cup. My Fan-ID application was approved about 4 hours after I applied for it. The email enabling me to download the A4 PDF version came 2 months later.

    For Euro 2020, you evidently cannot apply for your Fan-ID until your conditional QF ticket becomes an unconditional ticket for the St Petersburg QF and your ticket status in the UEFA ticketing database has been updated. What if UEFA don't update the ticket status until the morning of the match ? After all, their task is simply to get the ticket to your phone before the match. They're not directly involved with the Fan-ID system.

    Too pessimistic ? OK. My flight to St Petersburg leaves first thing on Wednesday morning for a Friday match. What if UEFA update the QF ticket status on the Wednesday, after my flight is due to leave ? That's plausible as it's less than 48 hours after the Copenhagen R16.

    Also, will the turn round time between application and confirmation still be only 4 hours if there are 5000 members all applying at the same time ? Then, how soon will the email with the A4 PDF link arrive ?

    Yes, I am concerned that I won't be in a position to print off my A4 PDF Fan-ID before my flight leaves. Naively, I assumed that a conditional QF ticket would enable me to get a proper laminated Fan-ID in advance of the tournament. I wouldn't have booked a flight in advance if I'd known that was not the case.

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