Is it possible to winter in Kaliningrad.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Tellus

so Poland is not Schengen area...???

Poland is Schengen.

If You enter Poland with Schengen visa, You can go without control to other Schengen countries and it is limited (normally three months, six months in some cases).
There is also non-Schengen visa (country visa) for Poland only.
You need to come from "extra Schengen", to not cross Schengen borders and to leave to "extra Schengen". Country visa is valid for up to one year.

[Tellus]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

Poland is Schengen.

If You enter Poland with Schengen visa, You can go without control to other Schengen countries and it is limited (normally three months, six months in some cases).
There is also non-Schengen visa (country visa) for Poland only.
You need to come from "extra Schengen", to not cross Schengen borders and to leave to "extra Schengen". Country visa is valid for up to one year.

...ok,ok, I know...I´m German living at Baltic Coast

But as far as I know for RU, even for Kalgrad, an invitation of friends or relations are needed, and it´s not so easy to get a visa, particularly for Kalgrad.
Private visa | The Embassy of Russian Federation in Canada

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

I do not know if it will be possible for You to get a permit for winter stay there, permit to live aboard during Your stay... Even if there is no formal legal demand for such a permits, at some day somebody will demand them from You. You can do only what permitted...

That's not actually true! The legal situation with registration of residence is very clear -- all foreigners have to register at the local OVIR within three days of arrival, specifying where they are living. By the way, it was exactly the same in West Germany when I lived there in the 1980's, so this is not peculiar to Russia. Whether or not you can register on a boat, I don't know, but I would guess that it is almost certainly ok.

In any case, the marina will be able to tell you exactly what you need to do.

Here's one:

Marina Kaliningrad

Google will give you a bunch more.

The marinas are -- if Sochi and St. Petersburg are anything to go by -- primitive and expensive. But I doubt if there is much demand for berthing in the winter, so probably you can find a cheap or free berth. There are extensive quays in the city which may be another place you could berth. If you call around the various yacht clubs, you will probably find someone willing to give you extensive advice. Russian yacht clubs are extremely friendly and welcoming, and are always willing to help a foreign yachtsman with such questions. You will undoubtedly make a lot of friends when you get there. Hope your liver is well prepared for all the vodka you'll have to drink.

Good luck!

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Poland is Schengen and EU, so staying there will not help you reset the EU VAT clock.

Oh, and one more thing -- it's Russia. So the girls are amazingly pretty.

Right about VAT clock completely.
Regarding visa - use of country visa is the possibility to stay longer in Poland without visiting other Schengen countries at the time.
I'm not a specialist at this and best to clarify at the Polish Consulate at Canada.

Reasons for retaining the separate country visa in Poland are simple (and EU accepted).
First:
About of 30 % population of Polish nationality (actively identifying themselves as such) live outside EU (mainly US and Canada). Many do not have double citizenship for numer of reasons. For lot of them three months for a homeland visit is a short term (if somebody is coming here once for ten or so years). They can use country visa.
Second:
As post communist country, rebuilding our economy we needed a lot of foreign investments, very often from outside the EU. There are loads of peoples coming in and out frequently from and to outside EU, spending often accumulated 5-6-7 months a year here. Country visa allows them to do it.
But - as far as I know - the issuing of country visa is not limited to such cases, but I was informed that policy differ for particular non-EU countries, based on symetry in relations principle.

And girls...
Yes.... You are right!
I believe we here are running for the mere third place in Europe, Russia surely for the first

[Tellus]

[QUOTE=barnakiel;1460111]One can. I would probably opt for out of water. The ice can be 2 meters thick at times./QUOTE]

...don´t draw the devil on the wall..
Kalgrad and Murmansk are known for its ice free areas Meeresströmungen

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Tellus

...ok,ok, I know...I´m German living at Baltic Coast

But as far as I know for RU, even for Kalgrad, an invitation of friends or relations are needed, and it´s not so easy to get a visa, particularly for Kalgrad.
Private visa | The Embassy of Russian Federation in Canada

You will want to talk to someone like these guys: Welcome to ATH

They will advise you about what type of visa you need, and can give you the necessary support. Probably you'll need a business visa, not a private visa. They are very easy to get if you have the proper documents.

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

The legal situation with registration of residence is very clear -- all foreigners have to register at the local OVIR within three days of arrival, specifying where they are living. By the way, it was exactly the same in West Germany when I lived there in the 1980's, so this is not peculiar to Russia.

The legal situation is similar for sure
On the other hand Russia and Germany differ somewhat. For example for understanding the law...
But I'm the last to discourage anybody from visiting the Kaliningrad and having a great adventure.
My remarks are pointing to the all situational awareness necessary to execute there.
Anyway - You are very right as the sailing clubs members in Russia are extremely friendly and the cooperation with the club can pave somebody ways there

[swan36doe]

because the Schengen rules seem draconian, and the OP wishes to winter
outside UK but in NW Europe, Kaliningrad looks attractive. We visited in
1998, checked in at Baltysk entrance from the Baltic--visas
required--proceeded upriver for a few days. No yacht facilities.
Security was nil. Supplies remote and hard to find.

recommended only for a short stay. Try your hand at the Konigsberg
Bridge Problem.

as for the Schengen rules: during last 3 years we have kept our boat in
Netherlands, nobody ever asked anything about the boat (unlike NZ, for
example) and we have discovered it is possible to extend the initial 90
day personal visa. Within 3 days, register with the local police
station. Call the Immigration Authorities for an appointment (we used
the Amsterdam office) document income, medical insurance &c. 90 days
additional has been routine--don't see why they wouldn't grant more
time.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by swan36doe

because the Schengen rules seem draconian, and the OP wishes to winter
outside UK but in NW Europe, Kaliningrad looks attractive. We visited in
1998, checked in at Baltysk entrance from the Baltic--visas
required--proceeded upriver for a few days. No yacht facilities.
Security was nil. Supplies remote and hard to find.

recommended only for a short stay. Try your hand at the Konigsberg
Bridge Problem.

as for the Schengen rules: during last 3 years we have kept our boat in
Netherlands, nobody ever asked anything about the boat (unlike NZ, for
example) and we have discovered it is possible to extend the initial 90
day personal visa. Within 3 days, register with the local police
station. Call the Immigration Authorities for an appointment (we used
the Amsterdam office) document income, medical insurance &c. 90 days
additional has been routine--don't see why they wouldn't grant more
time.

I suspect you are miss applying a number of laws. There is only a residence visa option after the Schengen visa. Also keeping your boat there for that time makes it liable to vat

Dave

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

Right about VAT clock completely.
Regarding visa - use of country visa is the possibility to stay longer in Poland without visiting other Schengen countries at the time.
I'm not a specialist at this and best to clarify at the Polish Consulate at Canada.

Reasons for retaining the separate country visa in Poland are simple (and EU accepted).
First:
About of 30 % population of Polish nationality (actively identifying themselves as such) live outside EU (mainly US and Canada). Many do not have double citizenship for numer of reasons. For lot of them three months for a homeland visit is a short term (if somebody is coming here once for ten or so years). They can use country visa.
Second:
As post communist country, rebuilding our economy we needed a lot of foreign investments, very often from outside the EU. There are loads of peoples coming in and out frequently from and to outside EU, spending often accumulated 5-6-7 months a year here. Country visa allows them to do it.
But - as far as I know - the issuing of country visa is not limited to such cases, but I was informed that policy differ for particular non-EU countries, based on symetry in relations principle.

And girls...
Yes.... You are right!
I believe we here are running for the mere third place in Europe, Russia surely for the first

Long stay national visas in the eU are usually now called type D visas ( a,b,c are Schengen ) they are typically residence visas. Application processes vary, but can be lengthy. It is not possible to convert a Schengen a,b,c visa type into a D.

Dave