Important Travel Advisory

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all travel to Russia.1 Before planning any trip, carefully consider the following risks:

• Security threats including the risk of arbitrary detention
• Limited consular support: The UK government’s ability to provide assistance to British nationals in Russia is severely limited
• Dual nationals: Those with Russian-British nationality may face particular difficulties
• Travel insurance: Your travel insurance may be invalid if you travel against FCDO advice
• Flight disruptions: Direct flights between the UK and Russia are currently suspended

If you choose to travel despite this advisory, ensure you have comprehensive contingency plans and register with the British Embassy in Moscow.

UK Citizens and the Russian E-Visa

Unlike citizens from 64 other countries, British nationals are not eligible for the Russian unified e-visa.5 The e-visa programme, relaunched in 2023, allows simplified electronic visa applications for citizens of countries including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and most EU member states.

UK citizens must apply for a traditional tourist visa through the full consular process, which requires:

• An invitation letter from a registered Russian tour operator
• In-person biometric data collection
• Longer processing times (6-20 working days vs 4 days for e-visa)
• Higher costs (approximately £250-350 vs $52 for e-visa)

Application Process

1. Obtain Your Tourist Invitation Letter

Before starting the visa application, you must obtain a “tourist invitation” or “visa support” document from a Russian travel agency registered with the Federal Tourism Agency.3 This can be purchased online from providers such as Russia Support, Real Russia, or Way to Russia for approximately £15-30. The invitation contains your travel dates, accommodation details, and itinerary.

2. Complete the Online Application

Fill out the electronic visa application at visa.kdmid.ru.2 Select “United Kingdom” as your country of application and choose London as your visa application centre. Print the completed form and sign it in blue or black ink. All information must match your invitation letter exactly.

3. Prepare Your Documents

Gather all required documents: original passport, printed and signed application form, passport photo (glued to the form), passport copy, invitation letter, and travel insurance certificate.3

4. Book Your Biometric Appointment

If you have not provided biometric data for a Russian visa in the past 5 years, you must attend the visa application centre in person for fingerprint collection.1 Applicants under 12 years old are exempt from biometric requirements.

5. Submit Your Application

Submit your application at the IBS VP Russian Visa Application Centre in London.3 Pay the consular fee and service charges. You can choose standard or express processing based on your travel timeline.

6. Collect Your Visa

Once processed, collect your passport with the visa from the application centre or arrange for postal delivery (additional fee applies).

Fees

Note: Additional fees apply for postal services and optional extras.3 Fees are non-refundable if your application is denied.

Processing Times

Processing time is measured from when your documents are submitted to the Russian Consulate and does not include the day of submission.3 During busy periods, processing may take longer. Express processing is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

After Your Visa is Approved

Once you receive your visa, verify all information is correct before traveling:4

• Entry and exit dates: Your visa shows exact validity dates in DD.MM.YYYY format. You must enter and exit Russia within these dates.
• Number of entries: Confirm whether you have single, double, or multiple entry.
• Personal details: Check your name and passport number are correct.

At the Russian border, you will receive a migration card. Keep this card safe as you must present it when departing Russia. Losing it can result in fines and significant departure delays.

You must register your visa within 72 hours of arrival in Russia. Hotels typically handle registration for their guests. If staying in private accommodation, your host must register you at the local migration office.

If Your Visa is Refused

Russian visa refusals for British citizens are relatively uncommon when applications are properly prepared. If refused:

1. No explanation required: The Russian Consulate is not obligated to provide specific reasons for denial
2. No refund: Consular and service fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome
3. Review your documents: Most refusals result from documentation errors or inconsistencies
4. Reapply: You can submit a new application with corrected documents after addressing any issues

Common issues causing refusals include mismatched information between documents, damaged passports, invalid invitation letters, missing travel insurance, and incomplete application forms.