Customs
All foreigners arriving in Russia require a Russian Visa to enter the country. Passport control officers will ask you for your documents (passport, visa and immigration card). Immigration cards are given when you are on the plane, train or in the arrival hall and should be filled in.
If you don’t carry any valuables with you, you do not need to complete the “Customs and Currency Declaration Statement” upon arrival or departure. In this case, go to the GREEN (nothing to declare) channel.
If you are carrying valuables, or are the argumentative type, then it is wise to fill in the customs declaration and have it stamped. In this instance you need to get in the RED (goods to declare) queue.
You can bring in up to US$3,000 in cash without declaring it.
Art should be cleared before departure at the Ministry of Culture. It’s illegal to take out Icons or paintings or printed materials which are more than 100 years old.
If some printed material was published between 1903 and 1953, you will need an “expert report”, either from the Ministry of Culture or an accredited shop. If you go to the Ministry of Culture, take the sales receipt of the item you are getting checked with you, as well as your passport or the passport of the person taking it out of the country. Ministry of Culture,
17 Malaya Morskaya Ul.,
Tel. 571 51 06. Open 10:00 - 17:00.
Closed Sat, Sun.

Prohibited imports
Military weapons and ammunition, narcotics and drug paraphernalia, pornography, loose pearls, fruit and vegetables and live animals.

Prohibited exports
As prohibited imports, as well as annulled securities, state loan certificates, lottery tickets, works of art and antiques (unless permission has been granted by the Ministry of Culture), saiga horns, Siberian stag, punctuate and red deer antlers (unless on organized hunting trip), and punctuate deer skins.

Visas
Almost all foreigners need a visa to enter (and exit) Russia. To apply at a Russian consulate, you need an invitation from your hotel, a travel company, business partner, or Russian friend. Russian Tourist Visas are best for short visits and are valid for maximum 30 days. For longer stays, a Business (multiple entry) Visa is the best option; such visas can be had for 3, 6 or 12 months. Student Visas are lengthy and entitle you to Russian prices for different services, for plains, trains and the theaters. A Private Visa is valid for single entry only and is issued for no longer than 90 days. A Transit Visa permits to travel through the Russian territory without stay. It can be issued for up to 72 hours, if you travel by air, or for up to 10 days, if other means of transportation are used. But don’t forget you need proof of a health insurance and a document certifying that you are HIV- negative if you want a visa for longer than three months.

Visa Registration
If you are staying in the country for more than 3 working days remember to register your visa and immigration card. Registration is usually done by placing a stamp on the back of the immigration card. Don’t lose this stamped card as you will need it to leave the country.  If not you will encounter problems upon departure. If you are staying at a hotel, the hotel is legally obliged to register you with 24 hours arrival. Our company also registers visas. If your visa and immigration card is not registered in time, you can expect serious problems when leaving, ranging from paying a fee to missing your flight.

 Airports
St. Petersburg has two airports, both in the southern part of the city. International flights arrive at Pulkovo-2; local flights (including most former Soviet republics) arrive at Pulkovo-1. Both airports have currency exchange offices (obmen valyuty) and ATMs machines (bankomaty), but bring some dollars with you just in case the ATMs aren’t working.

Pulkovo-1
Information: + 7 (812) 104 38 22
Official Delegations Suite: +7 (812) 123 86 63
Business lounge: + 7 (812) 123 85 45
Metro: Moskovskaya
Bus № 39
Route taxi: K – 39

Pulkovo-2
Information: + 7 (812) 104 34 44, 104 34 57
Business lounge: +7 (812) 104 34 34
Metro: Moskovskaya
Bus № 13
Route taxi: K – 13

Metro: Sennaya Ploshchad
Route taxi: K – 213

Driving
International Driving Permit in Russian is required used in conjunction with National Driving Permit

Train stations
St. Petersburg has 5 main train stations. All stations are close to metro lines (most have metro stations attached).

Moskovsky Train Station (Moskovsky Vokzal) – for Moscow and most Russian long-distance journeys.
2 Ploshad Vosstaniya
tel: +7 (812) 168 01 11, 168 45 97; 055
Metro: Ploshchad Vosstanya

Vitebsky Train Station (Vitebsky Vokzal) – is the destination for trains from the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, including Germany.
52 Zagorodny Prospekt
tel: +7 (812) 168 01 11, 168 28 59; 055
Metro: Pushkinskaya

Ladozhsky Train Station (Ladozhsky Vokzal) – for trains from Finland and other northern directions.
73 Zanevsky prospect 
tel: +7 (812) 168 79 00; 055
Metro: Ladozhskaya

Finlandsky Train Station (Finlandsky Vokzal) – for local trains
6 Ploshchad Lenina
tel: +7 (812) 168 01 11, 168 75 39, 168 76 87
Metro: Ploshchad Lenina

Baltiysky Train Station (Baltiysky Vokzal) – for local trains.
120 Obvodnogo Kanala Nab.  
tel: +7 (812) 168 01 11, 168 28 59
Metro: Baltiyskaya