Russia Visa and Passport Requirements

Passports

To enter Russia, a passport valid for six months after the visa expires, and with at least two blank pages, is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Visas to Russia are required by all nationals in the chart above.

Your visa for Russia is also an exit permit and must be presented on departure.

Visa Note

Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements for Russia.

Those who are travelling in groups and tours should submit all documentation to the tour operator making the travel arrangements. For visits to relatives/friends in Russia, enquire at the consulate for details of application procedures.

Cruise-ship or ferry passengers booked on an organised tour can visit Russia visa-free for up to 72 hours when arriving at the following ports: St Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, Sochi, Vyborg, Korsakov (Sakhalin Island) and Novorossiysk.

All travellers staying in Russia for longer than seven days must register their visas with the Federal Migration Service. Most major hotels will do this automatically. Private visitors must register with local police on arrival. For business/professional stays, foreign nationals may register under the address of the Russian business and do not have to provide the address of the actual accommodation.

Visitors requiring visas are advised to carry their visa registration documents with them during their stay in Russia. You must also hold onto your migration card, which you fill in at passport control on arrival.

Visitors must have confirmed accommodation or transit information for every night of their stay in Russia.

Border crossings between Russia and Belarus may only be used by nationals of Russia and of Belarus.

Biometric fingerprints are required by nationals of the United Kingdom and of Denmark when entering Russia. 

Types and Cost

Visa prices vary depending on the nationality of the applicant. See http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk or contact your nearest Russian embassy for details.

Single-entry tourist/business visa: £50; double-entry visa: £65; multiple-entry visa (business only): £200. These are the current fees for UK nationals. 

As well as the visa fee there is a service charge of £38.40 for seven-day processing or £45.60 for one-day processing. (Note that for next-day processing, the visa fees increase too.)

Validity

Single- or double-entry tourist visa: 30 days.

Single- or double-entry business visa: 90 days. 

Multiple-entry business visa: up to one year with unlimited entries/exits. 

Application to

Consulate (or consular section at embassy). You can apply initially online at https://visa.kdmid.ru. Handwritten visa forms, or online forms from other sources will not be accepted. The Russian embassy in the UK has outsourced its visa application to VFS Global (http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk) so UK nationals should apply for a visa via this route; you must be able to visit a visa centre in London or Edinburgh in person for biometric data collection.

Working days

Processing times depend on nationality, type of visa and amount paid. Allow at least five working days for straightforward applications.

Sufficient Funds

Depending on your nationality, you may be asked to provide bank statements from the previous three months when applying for a visa.

Australians, Americans and Canadians and EU-nationals no longer need a proof of income when applying for a visa.

Compulsary Registration

Compulsory registration for international visitors during Confed Cup 2017 (1 June - 12 July 2017)

Registration within 24 hours is mandatory for international visitors in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kasan and Sotschi during the Confed Cup 2017 lasting from 1 June until 12 July 2017. The registration is done automatically for hotel guests. In all other cases inviting persons or organizations need to register their guests with the migration authorities.

Entry with children

Children under 18 travelling alone must submit a letter from one of their parents authorising them to travel unaccompanied and must also supply a copy of the parent's passport with their visa application.

This page reflects our understanding of current rules for the most common types of travel to the said country. However, please note that each authority sets and forces entry rules, hence we strongly recommend that you verify critical information with the relevant embassy before travel.

Embassies and tourist offices

British Embassy in Russia

Telephone: +7 (495) 956 7200.
Website: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-moscow
Address: , Smolenskaya Naberezhnaya 10, 121099 Moscow, ,
Opening times:

Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and Fri 1400-1700.

Embassy of the Russian Federation in the USA

Telephone: (202) 939‑8907
Website: https://washington.mid.ru/en/
Address: , 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC, NW 20007,
Opening times:

Embassy of the Russian Federation in the UK

Telephone: Embassy: (020) 7229 6412 Consulate: (020) 3668 7474
Website: http://www.rusemb.org.uk
Address: , 6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QP,
Opening times: