Visa & Passport Information
 The
following is a listing by country of visa and passport
information for travelers to the Arctic region. As
with all the pages in this section, we will try to
keep you up-to-date on current regulations and procedures
but it is always a good idea to check with your local
travel agency about sudden or upcoming changes.
US
- Alaska
As a state
in USA, Alaska is subject to current US visa regulations. Canadians
do not need a passport but do require proof of citizenship. Citizens
from several countries can stay for up to 90 days without a visa, however,
everyone needs a non-refundable return ticket and may be required to
show financial solvency. Those not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program
will needa US Non-Immigrant Visitor Visa issued by a US consulate abroad.
To apply, you need a passport that's valid for at least six months longer
than your intended stay, a recent photo, and a US$35 fee.
Needless
to say, the US has all sorts of complicated regulations
regarding foreign visitors. Many who don't meet the
conditions are excluded from visiting. Honesty is
the best policy when dealing with immigration officials.
The latest US regulations are available at: http://www.travel.state.gov/
Canada
Only US
and Greenlandic visitors to Canada are exempt from needing passports,
though proof of citizenship is required. Visitors from most western
countries do not need visas.
Immigration
officers can, and often do, refuse entry to visitors they consider suspicious.
Good health, honesty, sufficient financial means, and return tickets
home, are often prerequisites for easing through customs. Those traveling
with rented vehicles from the US should bring a copy of the rental agreement,
stipulating permitted entry into Canada. Drivers of their own US-registered
vehicles must present a valid Non-Resident Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance
Card.
Finland
Valid passports
are required for most visitors to enter Finland. EU citizens (except
Greece) and certain other European countries may use either a national
identity card or a passport. Citizens of the other Scandinavian countires,
including Iceland, do not need a passport.
Greenland
Greenland's
visa requirements, which include many African and Asian countries, are
the same as those for Denmark. Scandinavian visitors are only required
to show valid international identity cards. Citizens of other countries
not required to obtain visas only need valid passports for stays of
up to three months. Customs officials may ask you show sufficient funds
for you intended length of stay.
Iceland
Visitors
from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, and Switzerland only need a valid identity card to
tour Iceland. Scandinavian visitors must only carry proof of citizenship
when entering from another Nordic country. Other western Europeans and
citizens from many other western countries, including Australia, the
US, Japan, New Zealand, and Canada, only need a valid passport. Others
need a visa from the Icelandic consulate.
Visits
of up to 90 days during any 9 month period are normally allowed provided
proof of sufficient funds is supplied. A roundtrip ticket will ease
passage through customs for travelers on a tight budget.
Norway
Citizens
of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden may enter Norway freely without
a passport. US, Canadian, British, Irish, Australian, and New Zealand
visitors need a current passport but do not need a visa, provided their
stay is less than 3 months. This is also true for most western and Latin
American countries.
Russia
Visas and
passports are required for all foreign visitors to Russia. To get one,
you must show confirmed accomodations for virtually every night of your
visit, though there are ways around this. It is imperative that you
keep your visa safe as its loss can make it quite difficult to leave
the country.
To apply
for a Russian visa, you will need a passport that is valid for at least
one month beyond the time of your stay. Full face photos, a completed
application form, and a handling fee are all required. The longer you're
willing to wait to receive your visa, the less you will have to pay;
fees vary by consulate. Tourist visas are relatively easy to obtain,
though they are also the most rigid in terms of what is permissible.
Business visas require an invitation from a Russian firm, which can
be issued for a fee. One month, On-the-Spot visas are available at certain
airports. Cruise passengers can visit Russia for up to 4 days without
a visa, provided they sleep aboardship.
Hotels
require you to surrender your passport and visa upon check-in (it is
returned when you depart). For independent travelers, all visas must
be registered with the Otdel Viz i Registratsii (OVIR) within three
working days after entering Russia.
Sweden
Citizens
of the EU, Norway, or Iceland do not need passports or work permits
for visits to Sweden although identification is recommended. Most other
western and Latin American citizens are required to have passports.
Temporary residence visas are generally required for stays of longer
than 3 months and are issued for free. Visitors from many African and
Asian countries are required to obtain 90 day tourist visas.
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