Here’s how a foreigner can visit Russia’s restricted Chukotka and Taymyr Peninsulas

First things first, you won’t be able to reach either Chukotka or places like the Putorana Plateau just by showing up. The travel infrastructure is all there, and planes and ships regularly venture into the Arctic. They just won’t sell you the ticket.

A walrus on an ice floe off the shore of an island of the Franz Josef Land archipelago.

Vera Kostamo/Sputnik

Russia is chock full of towns and even entire regions containing so-called territories with a regulated visitation regime. And it’s not just border areas or strategic and scientific hubs. Even beautiful, pristine territories of the Russian north sometimes are off-limits without a permit. Among these places are: 

- Taymyr Peninsula (including the city of Norilsk and the Putorana Plateau)

- The entire Chukotka region (the capital Anadyr, as well as the main sights such as Wrangel Island, the Whale Bone Alley, Franz Jozef Land, the Berengiya National Park and Cape Dezhnev.

- Most of Kamchatka (including the iconic - and active - Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano)

But that’s not all. Some 18 Russian regions contain such places. Here is a full list (in Russian), which includes areas ranging from Kaliningrad Region all the way to Russia’s Far East. Remember, even if you arrive aboard a cruise ship - in which case you won’t need a visa - you still wouldn’t be able to disembark without the proper permits.

How to get a permit

Residents of Klyuchy village in Kamchatka. Background: Klyuchevskaya Sopka.

Alexey Kudenko/Sputnik

If your trip is work or family-related, they’ll have to get the regional office of the FSB and/or the city council to issue an invitation. The receiving side will also have to arrange a personal pickup from the airport or train station, and make sure you stay in the ‘green’ areas. On top of that - say, you arrive in Norilsk and obtain your FSB permit, but wish to further see the Putorana Plateau. In this case, you’ll have to do both - get the FSB/city council permit for Norilsk, and then go to a separate tourist office there to obtain another permit for your journey onward.

And if you’re simply a traveler with no relations in Russia, it’s best to consult a travel agency for all the necessary papers. They’ll have package trips ready. But take note: only select agencies have the authority to issue permits for those areas.

Putorana Plateau.

Serguei Fomine/Global Look Press

Do plan your trip in advance: permits could take at least a month, and can easily take up to six months, according to the agencies.

“The last five-six years we’ve seen rising interest from tourists from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Greece and Poland”, Anna Sheller from Sayanring agency told Russia Beyond. “The difficult part is that a permit might be denied - or even given a day before departure, which can be stressful.”

And what happens if you don’t have a permit on arrival?

Norilsk.

Alexandr Kryazhev/Sputnik

Even if you manage to reach your desired destination, still, you most likely won’t be allowed to exit the airport and be advised to return. In early 2000s there had been cases when foreigners were deported at the cost of the airlines that sold them the tickets without checking for permits first. However, that’s not likely to be the case these days.

Plus, there are rarely return flights from northern cities. And you might have to wait a while. And we mean a while. Moreover, there’s still no guarantee of available seats. And finally, if you do somehow manage to make it, you’ll be facing a $30-150$ fine (2,000-10,000 rubles), depending on the location, as well as additional problems securing a Russian visa in the future.

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