How to send money to Russia

Adamksi

Hi,

My wife is Russian and is still in Russia while we wait for our Visa. Is there any option available for me to send her money from the UK?

sheramber

A previous thread  about the same thing here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79293678#Comment_79293678

CKhalvashi

It's (quite rightly) almost impossible at the moment to send money to Russia.

Bitcoin transactions are illegal in Russia for banking purposes and the only mainstream option commercially is Tinkoff locally, which will charge ridiculous fees (I believe around 30% with a minimum fee of something like US$200).

Other than an abnormally large transaction which will have fees at both ends and probably in the middle, the only other option would be cash, however as a warning, EAEU border agents have always opened even paperwork we've posted although I have no business dealings with either Russia or Belarus since February or financial transactions since March, so please double check the information before proceeding.

Voyager2002

Adamksi said:

Hi,

My wife is Russian and is still in Russia while we wait for our Visa. Is there any option available for me to send her money from the UK?

Russians can travel visa-free to Turkey (I am in Istanbul now, in a hostel full of delightful Russian visitors). Perhaps she could wait somewhere in Turkey, where the weather is better and money-transfer services work as normal. (Similar remarks apply to Georgia.)

You could explore whether her visa could be issued from the embassy in Turkey to save a return journey. Be warned that the Home Office is in chaos and the wait could be very long indeed. I suggest you seek assistance from your MP.

CKhalvashi

Voyager2002 said:

Adamksi said:

Hi,

My wife is Russian and is still in Russia while we wait for our Visa. Is there any option available for me to send her money from the UK?

Russians can travel visa-free to Turkey (I am in Istanbul now, in a hostel full of delightful Russian visitors). Perhaps she could wait somewhere in Turkey, where the weather is better and money-transfer services work as normal. (Similar remarks apply to Georgia.)

You could explore whether her visa could be issued from the embassy in Turkey to save a return journey. Be warned that the Home Office is in chaos and the wait could be very long indeed. I suggest you seek assistance from your MP.

She will not get a Georgian bank account without a residency card, even then the chances of success are probably 50/50.

Georgia is also imminently planning a visa scheme for Russian citizens and she won't get the warmest welcome. We fear we are next to be 'protected' by the Russian state in the same was as Ukraine is being currently and we last were in 2008.

Voyager2002

CKhalvashi said:

Voyager2002 said:

Adamksi said:

Hi,

My wife is Russian and is still in Russia while we wait for our Visa. Is there any option available for me to send her money from the UK?

Russians can travel visa-free to Turkey (I am in Istanbul now, in a hostel full of delightful Russian visitors). Perhaps she could wait somewhere in Turkey, where the weather is better and money-transfer services work as normal. (Similar remarks apply to Georgia.)

You could explore whether her visa could be issued from the embassy in Turkey to save a return journey. Be warned that the Home Office is in chaos and the wait could be very long indeed. I suggest you seek assistance from your MP.

She will not get a Georgian bank account without a residency card, even then the chances of success are probably 50/50.

Georgia is also imminently planning a visa scheme for Russian citizens and she won't get the warmest welcome. We fear we are next to be 'protected' by the Russian state in the same was as Ukraine is being currently and we last were in 2008.

It sounds as if Turkey would be a better option then. Do you know if it is still possible/practical to use the land crossing into Georgia and then onward overland to Turkey? Is this route a good idea for a young woman travelling alone?

eDicky

Russian women are usually quite intrepid and resilient...

CKhalvashi

Voyager2002 said:

CKhalvashi said:

Voyager2002 said:

Adamksi said:

Hi,

My wife is Russian and is still in Russia while we wait for our Visa. Is there any option available for me to send her money from the UK?

Russians can travel visa-free to Turkey (I am in Istanbul now, in a hostel full of delightful Russian visitors). Perhaps she could wait somewhere in Turkey, where the weather is better and money-transfer services work as normal. (Similar remarks apply to Georgia.)

You could explore whether her visa could be issued from the embassy in Turkey to save a return journey. Be warned that the Home Office is in chaos and the wait could be very long indeed. I suggest you seek assistance from your MP.

She will not get a Georgian bank account without a residency card, even then the chances of success are probably 50/50.

Georgia is also imminently planning a visa scheme for Russian citizens and she won't get the warmest welcome. We fear we are next to be 'protected' by the Russian state in the same was as Ukraine is being currently and we last were in 2008.

It sounds as if Turkey would be a better option then. Do you know if it is still possible/practical to use the land crossing into Georgia and then onward overland to Turkey? Is this route a good idea for a young woman travelling alone?

At the moment yes, only via the Kazbegi checkpoint (further transport will be refused entering Georgia at Adler or Akhalgori.

USD or Euro will be the preferred currency to change, Rubles will not be accepted in many (if any) exchange offices.

Insert standard warning about not using banks or changing money on the street here, wait until inside Tbilisi/Kutaisi, go to an exchange office, show a banknote and ask (in English or Georgian) for the current rate. The rate will be better than asking in Russian

CKhalvashi

Just to add to this, I've just spent tonight with a senior AML lawyer for a large (EU, wont say the country as this probably shouldnt have been disclosed to us) bank in Georgia.

The only accounts that they will reasonably open accounts with Russian connections at all is Georgian dual citizens returning home and businesses who do trade with Russia, but only after verifying the company exists, the contracts were signed before February 23 and there are past Russian and Georgian Customs documents in place.

There are some other exceptions and checks but those won't apply to this situation.

On that basis I would suggest Georgia to be highly likely to be a non-starter for most. The ultimate limit in Georgian law for individuals is 100000 Georgian Lari and this bank is including the value of cars etc in this as they are highly movable and easy to sell.

TELLIT01

Voyager2002 said:

. I suggest you seek assistance from your MP.

I doubt any UK MP would help facilitate what is currently illegal activity.

Westin

TELLIT01 said:

Voyager2002 said:

. I suggest you seek assistance from your MP.

I doubt any UK MP would help facilitate what is currently illegal activity.

Tend to agree.

BTW the OP has not logged back on since 22 November so I suspect has move on in life.