>>1344822For foreign yachts, Russia’s bureaucracy has a fearsome reputation. I cannot speak for past times, but I do not think that things are as bad as they used to be. Prime Minister Medvedev’s 2012 decree has foreshadowed a softening of attitudes, so that entrance into the Volga-Don river system is now definitely manageable. Our customs and immigration formalities in Archangel’sk were no worse than those you might encounter in Brazil. Importantly, we found officials there (as everywhere along the way) to be courteous and helpful.
Foreign skippers will need a 3-month business visa and, in addition, a 1-month tourist visa to cover the last bit. The voyage can certainly be done in less than 3 months, but you would need to hurry and so much would be missed en route.
I do not want to trivialise these bureaucratic barriers. A prime ministerial decree is one thing, but it takes a long time for that to percolate down to the maze of local and regional departments, offices and control sections. There are 6 separate authorities managing various sections of the rivers. When it exists at all, communication between them is far from seamless. You will spend a great deal of time and effort with each, explaining over and over again who you are, what you are doing, where you are going and why.