South Ossetia visa Q&A

[geom.calboni]

I attend often the South Ossetia for a series of reasons and personal connections (i accompany groups of travelers there too) and i can help with the permit of entry for italian travelers and maybe for foreigners too.

I confirm that the permit is submitted to the control of the russian FSB and take around it must be asked about 45 days / 1 mounth in advance.
To be clear, unfortunately, the request does not guarantee the granting of the permit or even if granted, it is possible that it will be given for a day different from the one requested. A trip to South Ossetia requires a lot of organizational flexibility...but you will be repaid from a unique trip...
Very Important: don't forget to get there you need a russian double entry or multi-entry visa.

Here, aniway, the report of my first trip (but is written in italian language):
http://www.viaggiatorindipendenti.it/os ... 016/06/12/

[geom.calboni]

Between North (Russia) and South Ossetia there is a border on the russian side and a check point on the southern Ossetia. It is the only access point to the Caucasian republic and it is compulsory to require the Ossetian permit and the Russian multi-entry visa.

[Mjgoali]

Dear Travel-Buddy,
I try to get a LOI for South Ossetia in June (it seems to be hard work, without tourist agency). I contacted the ministry, but it seems only a local could apply for a LOI? I would be very thankful if you could help me with that matter of getting a LOI. I plan to go there in June from Vlakiavkaz (russia double entry visa I apply too).
Would be thankful if you could contact me.
Thank you very much and best regards,
Michael

[Mjgoali]

andy ideas of getting a LOI? would be very thankfull. No one (even no the ministery of foreign affairs) can tell me how to get a LOI.

[geom.calboni]

Hi,
People that would like to entry in South Ossetia can contact me.
I can't promise for sure the entry permit becouse there is a big bureaucracy and a "hidden" control first but i can help you with the procedure and travel arrangements since is not allowed to visit the country by yourself.
I often go to Ossetia (as in all the rest of the Caucasus: Chechnya, Dagestan, etc.) and am on excellent terms with the locals being in the official representation in Italy. The procedure is free but having to visit with a local agency you must "buy" a tour, which you can organize at will and on which i can also give advises.

IMPORTANT:
The permit request must be made about 2 months in advance.

[getslate]

Hey guys, I'm an American and run English-speaking tours in the North Caucasus (we live here). I can connect anyone interested with local folks who take foreigners into South Ossetia. They handle the invitation and permit process for you. Like has been already written on here, this is the least visited area of the entire Caucasus region by foreigners, and so the process has to be done through locals who already have a working relationship with the South Ossetia Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You essentially have to be escorted by locals as well, so it can be more expensive than one would like, but I haven't heard of another way into this republic......After reading previous posts, I see that some of the contacts I have who can take folks to South Ossetia have already been mentioned (Vadim & Dima), but nonetheless, happy to help if you have questions........

[eyescrime13]

I got a visa to South Ossetia through a contact found on Couchsurfing. I explained him the situation, he got my visa, but unfortunately I did not go to South Ossetia as I was coming from Georgia with a double-entry Russian business visa, and the Russian FSB did not let me get into Russia (because I had a business and not a tourist visa), so I had to go back to Georgia. It took also something like 45 days for him to get the permit for me. He told me that I just had to go to the border, show my passport, and that they would be advised that I'm regisetred in the visa database. No paper.
I am fluent in Russian, what helped me a lot.

[Tot hier en verder]

“Are you absolutely sure you are heading this way?” a surprised Russian customs officer asks. “This road doesn’t lead to Georgia, but to South Ossetia! I doubt they will even let you in.”

Last summer, I visited South Ossetia to research a tour for my own travel agency. A trip report can be found at the website of De Facto, a Dutch project that explores the realm of unrecognized states, micronations and curious border zones: https://defactoborders.org/places/south ... ses-of-war

[Droog]

Hey guys, I'm an American and run English-speaking tours in the North Caucasus (we live here). I can connect anyone interested with local folks who take foreigners into South Ossetia. They handle the invitation and permit process for you. Like has been already written on here, this is the least visited area of the entire Caucasus region by foreigners, and so the process has to be done through locals who already have a working relationship with the South Ossetia Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You essentially have to be escorted by locals as well, so it can be more expensive than one would like, but I haven't heard of another way into this republic......After reading previous posts, I see that some of the contacts I have who can take folks to South Ossetia have already been mentioned (Vadim & Dima), but nonetheless, happy to help if you have questions........

Hi. How much do they charge for a tour in SO ? Looking at staying for a couple of days. Thank you.

[getslate]

Hi, it depends on # of people going. I can give you Dima's contact info if you'd like to get more details, private message me.