Russians were told about the pitfalls of a long-term stay in Turkey and the UAE

Russian tourists are more actively using visa-free destinations for long-term trips abroad. According to the FSB Border Service, in the first nine months of 2025, Russian citizens made 10 million tourist trips — 15.2% more than a year earlier. Kirill Grigoriev, the founder of the Asseal law firm, told Izvestia on December 9.

"The visa—free regime with popular destinations really works for us: Turkey allows you to stay for 60 consecutive days and up to 90 days per half-year, the UAE - up to 90 days, and Georgia is generally open for a whole year. This creates opportunities not only for a classic two—week vacation, but also for a longer stay — a month, two, three," Grigoriev said.

He noted that housing is becoming a key factor in the logistics of long-term travel. According to him, short-term daily rentals should be used only for the first few days, after which they should switch to long-term conditions: in Turkey, the cost of such accommodation may be lower than a week in a hotel. He stressed that "it is important to study local sites like Sahibinden in Turkey or agencies in the UAE in advance, in most cases contracts are concluded for at least a month, a deposit is required."

The long—term rental market in the UAE has a special feature, where housing can be rented for up to six months without an Emirates ID - a passport is enough. Grigoriev drew attention to the need to check the cost of Internet and air conditioning, which "unlike in Russia are not included in the general utility bill and can add several hundred dollars to monthly expenses."

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At the same time, the bulk of bookings — almost 86% — are made within Russia.

The expert also highlighted the visa nuances. In Turkey, you can extend your stay in the country by contacting the migration service, but it's easier to just leave for a couple of days in a neighboring country and return with a new stamp. In the UAE, delay is strictly punishable by fines and a possible ban on entry, but there is a clear scheme for updating the stamp through departure to Oman or Bahrain.

"Georgia is the most flexible in this regard: a year of stay, then a simple visa. The main thing is not to postpone these issues until the last moment. Study the rules of a particular country in advance, prepare the documents, and then your long—term trip will be hassle-free," Grigoriev said.

It is equally important to comply with the documentary requirements. The lawyer reminded that even in visa-free countries it is necessary to have proof of financial viability, a reservation for housing and medical insurance. He stressed that border guards rarely check all this in practice, but if they ask and you don't, they can deploy it. Starting from June 1, 2024, Georgia, for example, requires a medical policy for the entire stay with coverage of at least €5,000.

On November 27, the Russian government approved a draft agreement with Saudi Arabia on the mutual abolition of visa requirements for citizens of the two countries. The draft noted that citizens of the countries can continuously stay in the territory of another state without a visa for 90 days. It will also be possible to divide this period into several periods, but the total duration during one calendar year should not exceed the established period.

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