Tourist
Holidays and sightseeing. Single or double entry for up to 3 months, or multiple entry for up to 6 months2.
Needs: tourist confirmation from a registered tour operator
Get the invitationRussia entry rules · United Kingdom
Do British citizens need a visa for Russia?
Yes. British citizens need a regular visa from a Russian embassy, consulate or authorised visa centre before travelling. The United Kingdom is not on the official eVisa list and has no visa-free regime for ordinary passports.1
Detailed guide: how to get a Russian visa in the UK
Documents
Russia visa requirements for British citizens
Whichever visa you apply for, every consulate asks for the following.
| Passport | Valid, as a rule, for at least 6 months after the visa expires, with two blank visa pages2 |
|---|---|
| Application form | Completed online at visa.kdmid.ru, printed and signed2 |
| Photo | 3.5 × 4.5 cm, colour or black and white, full face2 |
| Supporting document | Depends on the visa type: see below. For a tourist visa, the invitation (visa support) |
| Medical insurance | A policy valid in Russia, unless a treaty says otherwise3: policies valid in Russia |
| Fee | Paid at the office where you apply, and not refunded if the visa is refused2 |
Which visa type?
Private
Visiting friends or relatives. Single or double entry for up to 3 months, or multiple entry for up to a year2.
Needs: invitation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs
How it worksBusiness
Meetings and trade fairs. Single or double entry for up to 3 months, or multiple entry for up to a year2.
Needs: official invitation
Business visaStudy or work
Arranged by the university or the employer in Russia. The passport must be valid for at least 18 months, and an HIV test certificate is required2.
Needs: official invitation
Whatever the visa, the total stay cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-day period, except on work and study visas2.
The eVisa is not available for British passports, so any website offering one should be ignored.
Step by step
How British citizens apply for a Russian visa
- Choose the visa typeIt depends on the reason for your trip.
- Get the supporting documentFor a tourist visa, the invitation. For work or study, the employer or university arranges it.
- Fill in the formOn visa.kdmid.ru, then print and sign it.
- Submit your fileIn person at the embassy, consulate or visa centre, with your passport and the fee.
- Collect your visaCheck the name, dates and passport number on the spot, and ask for a correction straight away if anything is wrong.
You apply where you permanently live2. Living outside the United Kingdom? See applying for a Russian visa if you live abroad.
Consular fees
How much a Russian visa costs for British citizens
| Visa (tourist, business, private) | 4 to 20 working days | Within 3 working days |
|---|---|---|
| Single entry | US$50 | US$200 |
| Double entry | US$80 | US$320 |
| Multiple entry | US$150 | US$600 |
These are the rates Russia set in Decree No. 1292 of 2 October 2026, applied since 14 October4. They are the base rates: each country’s tariff adds its own charge for costs, and you pay in local currency. A treaty on visa fees takes priority, so the amount at your office can differ. Check it on the office’s website.
Official offices
Where to apply in the United Kingdom
Contact details as published by the Russian Foreign Ministry5. Book before you go: most offices work by appointment.
Embassy of Russia in the United Kingdom
- Address
- 6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QP.
- Consular phone
- +44 (0) 203 668 7474 - Phone of the information and reference service on consular matters at the Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom.
- info@rusemb.org.uk
- Opening hours
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (passports), Thursday, Friday. The consular section is closed on weekends and on Russian public holidays.
Consulate General of Russia in Edinburgh
- Address
- 58 Melville St., Edinburgh, EH3 7HF.
- Phone
- +44 (0) 13 1225 7098 .
- edinburgh@dks.ru
- Opening hours
- Monday to Thursday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 17:30; Friday, 09:30 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 17:15.
Russian visa application centre
An authorised private company that receives applications for the consulate, for a service fee.
Book an appointment ↗The Manchester office of the visa centre is closed until further notice; London and Edinburgh remain open.
Consulate, visa centre or agency?
Consulate
Cheapest
- Only the consular fee, no service fee
- Appointment booked online, often weeks ahead
- No help with forms, photos or copies
Visa centre
Most convenient, where there is one
- Consular fee plus a service fee, not refunded if the visa is refused
- Staff check the file on the spot
- Often accepts applications by post or courier
Visa agency
Hands-off
- Prepares and submits the file for you
- Most expensive: its fee comes on top of the others
- Check its address, itemised prices and reviews before paying
Whichever route you choose, the decision is always taken by the consulate: neither a visa centre nor an agency can guarantee the visa or make the consulate process it faster.
By passport type
What the official list says
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s entry conditions for United Kingdom, translated line by line1. Crew and accredited staff arrangements are simplified.
| Who | What the official list says |
|---|---|
| Passports of all types | Visa required |
Before and after
Before you fly and after you arrive
Before you fly
- Government travel advice. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia (updated 18 September 2026)6.
- Medical insurance. Required for the visa3: policies valid in Russia.
- Money. Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad don’t work in Russia: bring cash, or see how foreigners get a MIR card.
- Flights. How to book flights to Russia with a foreign card.
- Internet. Get an eSIM and a VPN before landing.
After you arrive
- At the border. Show your passport and visa. Step by step: arriving at a Russian airport.
- Migration card. You fill it in on arrival and keep your part until you leave7.
- Registration. Mandatory within 7 working days8. Hotels do it for you; if you stay with friends or family, they have to do it. Registration of foreigners in Russia.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can British citizens travel to Russia?
Yes, with a regular visa issued before the trip. There is no visa on arrival and no eVisa for the United Kingdom.
Can British citizens apply for the Russian eVisa?
No. The United Kingdom is not on the official list of countries that can apply for the eVisa.
How much does a Russian visa cost for British citizens?
The base consular fee for a single-entry tourist, business or private visa is US$50, or US$200 within 3 working days. Each country’s tariff adds a charge for costs, so check the amount at your office. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
How long does a Russian visa take?
From 4 to 20 working days as standard, or within 3 working days at the urgent rate.
Do British citizens need a visa for Russia?
Yes. British citizens need a regular visa from a Russian embassy or consulate. The United Kingdom is not on the eVisa list and has no visa-free agreement with Russia for ordinary passports.
Where do British citizens apply for a Russian visa?
At the Russian embassy or a Russian consulate in the United Kingdom, or at the visa application centre where there is one. Their official websites explain appointments, fees and documents.
What documents are needed?
An invitation or other supporting document for the visa type, the application form from visa.kdmid.ru, the passport and the documents the consulate lists, such as a photo and medical insurance.
Can British citizens work in Russia?
Yes, with a work visa. The employer in Russia gets a work permit and an invitation, and the work visa is issued on that basis.
Sources
Official sources consulted
Each figure on this page comes from one of these sources. Entry rules can change at short notice, so check the official list again just before you travel.
- Conditions of entry and stay for foreign citizens in the Russian Federation (status: September 2026)Consular Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consulted 31 October 2026.
- Issuing visas for entry to Russia: documents, visa categories and rulesConsular Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consulted 31 October 2026.
- Medical insurance policyConsular Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consulted 31 October 2026.
- Government Decree No. 1292 of 2 October 2026 amending the consular fee rates of Decree No. 889Official Internet Portal of Legal Information. Consulted 31 October 2026.
- Russian consular offices in United KingdomConsular Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consulted 31 October 2026.
- Foreign travel advice: RussiaForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office, UK. Consulted 31 October 2026.
- Migration cardConsular Department, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consulted 31 October 2026.
- E-visa: frequently asked questions (validity, stay, insurance, registration)Russian e-visa portal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consulted 31 October 2026.
Different passport? Check Russia visa requirements for every nationality.