Short answer: 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. The process is the same as for most nationalities, and almost everything can be prepared online.
Source: the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official conditions of entry by country. Entry rules can change at short notice, so check that page again just before you travel.
Detailed guide: how to get a Russian visa in the UK
How British citizens apply for a Russian visa
- Choose the visa type that matches the trip: tourist, business, private (visiting friends or family), study or work.
- Get the supporting document for that type. For a tourist visa, that is an invitation (visa support). For work or study, the employer or university in Russia arranges the invitation.
- Fill in the application form on visa.kdmid.ru, print it and sign it.
- Submit it at the Russian embassy or consulate (see below), or at the visa application centre it works with, if it has one.
Fees, processing times and the documents each office asks for (photo, insurance, bank statements…) depend on the consulate and the visa type. Check them on the official website of the office where you’ll apply before booking anything.
Which visa type?
Tourist visa
- Sightseeing and holidays
- Tourist invitation (visa support)
Private visa
- Visiting friends or family
- Invitation from the host in Russia
Business, study or work
- Business: meetings, trade fairs
- Study: arranged with the Russian university
- Work: the employer gets a work permit and an invitation
The eVisa is not available for British passports, so any website offering one should be ignored.
Where to apply in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, a regular visa can be requested at the visa application centre or directly at the consulate. Visa centres open and close often: check on the consulate’s or the centre’s website that it is still accepting applications before booking.
Consulate, visa centre or agency?
Consulate
- Only the consular fee, no service fee
- Appointment booked online, often weeks ahead
- Usually in person; no help with forms, photos or copies
- A missing document means coming back another day
Visa centre
- Consular fee plus a service fee, not refunded if the visa is refused
- Usually longer opening hours and easier appointments
- Staff check the file on the spot; forms, photos and copies on site
- Often accepts applications by post or courier
Visa agency
- Prepares and submits the file for you, often by post
- Most expensive: its fee comes on top of the others
- Useful if the consulate or centre is far away
- 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.
The Manchester office of the visa centre is closed until further notice; London and Edinburgh remain open.
Official websites as listed by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Each one explains how to book an appointment, the current fees and the documents it asks for. Living outside the United Kingdom? A visa can usually be requested where you live legally: see applying for a Russian visa if you live abroad.
Before you fly from the United Kingdom
Medical insurance valid in Russia. Required for the visa. 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.
After you arrive
At the border you show your passport (and visa, if you have one). Step by step: arriving at a Russian airport.
Once in Russia, you must be registered at your address within 7 working days. Hotels do it automatically; if you stay with friends or family, they have to do it. More details: registration of foreigners in Russia.
FAQ
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.
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 Russian eVisa.
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.
How much does a Russian visa cost for British citizens?
It depends on the visa type, the number of entries and the office where you apply. The embassy or consulate website lists the current fees.
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.
Different passport? Check visa requirements for every nationality.